Melbourne speed cameras: More Victorians to be nabbed

Revenue from speed and red light camera fines is set to spike by a whopping $88 million. Here’s what’s behind the sharp jump.

Revenue from speed and red light camera fines is expected to surge more than 25 per cent in a year amid a mass expansion of the technology on Victoria’s roads.

The Herald Sun can reveal fines from road safety cameras are forecast to rise to $418 million for the financial year that ended on Wednesday — up from $330 million.

A 75 per cent increase in mobile road safety camera hours is being attributed for the hip pocket hit.

The hours were expanded after a horror road toll two years ago.

“We need every motorist to make the right decisions when they’re behind the wheel,” a Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said.

“When they don’t, road safety cameras and Victoria Police are there to hold them accountable.’’

The spokeswoman said the cameras played a “critical role” in changing driver behaviour, preventing road casualties and reducing the number of motorists putting lives at risk.

New fixed road safety cameras will be installed at 35 “dangerous” intersection sites, as well as two point-to-point highway camera systems under a $49.4 million invest­ment announced in the recent state budget.

Shadow Treasurer Louise Staley said the government didn’t have a plan to grow the economy, instead raising taxes and the cost of living.

“Speeding fines and other road safety fines always need to be directly linked to improving road safety outcomes,” she said.

Camera technology to catch out distracted drivers using their phones would be rolled out by 2023 after a three-month trial found one in 42 motorists breaking the rules.

Craigieburn Rd East in Wollert, Calder Park Dve in Hillside and Old Geelong Rd in Laverton had the highest rate of offences across the surveyed areas.

RACV spokesman Andrew Scannell said the motoring body supported the use of mobile speed cameras as a “proven deterrent” to speeding.

The results of trauma on the roads cost Victoria between $4 billion and $6 billion a year, with money raised through fines funnelled through for the construction and maintenance of roads.

Complete revenue data for the financial year just ended would be released later in the year.

The Transport Accident Commission has found that drivers who speed by just 3km/h have a 25 per cent greater crash risk.