Man wants clearer Maroondah Highway speed signs before Lilydale camera

A driver who was nabbed by the notorious Lilydale traffic cameras wants clearer signage warning people about the Maroondah Highway speed trap.

Ashwood’s Colin Robertson is annoyed speed signs warning drivers to slow to 50km in Lilydale are not visible enough. Picture: Stuart Milligan

A driver who was nabbed by the notorious Lilydale traffic cameras wants clearer signage warning people about the Maroondah Highway speed trap.

Ashwood resident Colin Robertson was clocked doing 58km/h through the 50km/h section of the road near Hutchinson St, while driving into Lilydale on his way to Mt Buller.

But Mr Roberston said it was pitch black at the time, with cars and trucks surrounding him on the road and no sign illumination.

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“It’s really unfair and revenue raising,” Mr Robertson said. “I thought the speed limit was 60km/h and I was under the limit at 58.”

The cameras are in the top 50 state revenue earners with more than 6000 people nabbed city-bound, while almost 10,500 drivers were fined driving toward the valley in the 2017-18 financial year. Mr Robertson said upon reinvestigation of the site, the big sign was hidden partially behind a tree and only visible at about 30m away. “If you want a 24 hour zone, illuminate both signs rather than have people caught out, he said.

But Yarra Ranges highway patrol leading Senior Constable Chad Bullock said the speed was well signed coming in and out of Lilydale. “The cameras are completely justified,” Sen-Constable Bullock said.

The controversial speed cameras on Maroondah Highway in Lilydale. Picture by Steve Tanner.

“There has been two fatals there … within five years. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic, shops and schools.”

There was a mixed response on Facebook on whether the cameras were well signed, with almost 180 comments on the Yarra Valley Noticeboard.

Grant Brown said while the cameras were sensitive, drivers need to be aware. “My secret is to do 40 through them, just to be extra sure.”

Julie Howell said: “I seen them go off when cars are just taking off from the lights clearly not speeding.” Nicole Wright said “Raising money? No money to collect if you don’t speed. Fact — speed kills. The only people that need a warning of speed cameras are those that are speeding.”

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