One speed camera on the Western Ring Rd in Broadmeadows nabbed 30,000 fines from October to December
A single speed camera in Melbourne’s north has raked in nearly $11m in fines in just three months. See the full list of Victoria’s top-grossing cameras.
Victoria
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Motorists in Melbourne’s north were slugged nearly $11m in fines over just three months last year, as the number of speeding infringements rises across the state.
New figures show a camera on the Western Ring Rd in Broadmeadows nabbed the most offenders from October to December, collecting a whopping $10,934,850 and issuing more than 30,000 fines across four lanes.
The worst lane to get pinged was the third, with more than 12,000 fines and $4m collected.
During the quarter, speed limits were reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h along the spot due to roadworks upgrading the M80 Western Ring Rd between Sydney Rd and Edgars Rd.
Victorian Transport Association president Peter Anderson said he has received numerous complaints from transport companies whose drivers have been nabbed along freeways where speeds have been reduced due to roadworks, but no construction is taking place.
“We are understand compliance of speed,” he said.
“However if we are going to put up temporary cameras we need to understand where they are and what they are doing.
“And we need to listen to the public if the cameras are treating us unfairly.”
Director of Freestone’s Transport Paul Freestone said examples of old roadwork signs not being taken down were “everywhere”.
“You get the private roadwork guys that put signs up and don’t put them down – it’s just laziness,” he said.
“If there’s a police car there they’ll probably get you for it.
“We want someone to have an independent look at how these cameras are being set up.
“Who is setting them up? It is a private interprise? Are all these cameras set up properly?”
A camera at the intersection of Rosanna Rd and Darebin St in Heidelberg came in second, totalling nearly 10,000 infringements and $2,879,699 worth in fines.
Thousands of drivers in St Kilda were also busted with a camera at the intersection of Fitzroy St and Lakeside Dr handing down 6,681 infringements, costing motorists $1,895,061.
A camera at the Melbourne Airport located after the Tullamarine Fwy on at the intersection of Terminal Dr and Centre Rd made the top ten for most fines issued.
Across four lanes, 2,791 infringements were handed down, costing Victorians $789,828.
Infringements detected by both fixed and mobile cameras increased by more than 16 per cent compared to the same period last year.
They also increased by 31 per cent from the previous quarter, July to September last year.
The number of fines increased for all top ten fixed camera locations this quarter, with the exception of Rosanna Rd.
A total of 376,316 fines were issued to drivers over the three month period, costing more than $100 million.
A spokesperson from the Department of Justice and Community Safety said speed reductions were designed to help keep those working on roads and motorists safe.
“As more Victorians get back out on the roads, we’re urging all motorists to take it easy and drive safely – including paying attention to speed limit reductions during times of roadworks,” they said.
“It is disappointing to see so many motorists disregarding the safety of those working on our roads and other road users by ignoring reduced speed limits during roadworks.”
“As more Victorians get back out on the roads, we’re urging all motorists to take it easy and drive safely – including paying attention to speed limit reductions during times of roadworks,” they said.
“It is disappointing to see so many motorists disregarding the safety of those working on our roads and other road users by ignoring reduced speed limits during roadworks.”
Shadow Police Minister Brad Battin said the state government is attempting to “squeeze” money out of Victorians.
“When Victoria’s debt is larger than New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania combined, it’s no wonder the Andrews Labor Government is trying to squeeze as much revenue as possible out of Victorians,” he said.
A spokesperson from the Department of Justice and Community Safety said speed reductions were designed to help keep those working on roads and motorists safe.
“As more Victorians get back out on the roads, we’re urging all motorists to take it easy and drive safely – including paying attention to speed limit reductions during times of roadworks,” they said.
“It is disappointing to see so many motorists disregarding the safety of those working on our roads and other road users by ignoring reduced speed limits during roadworks.”
The spokesperson said the state’s road safety camera network was a vital tool to assist Victoria Police in keeping the community safe and holding dangerous drivers to account.
“The message is clear – if you are driving dangerously, you will be caught and you will be held to account,” they said.
“Every dollar received from road safety cameras goes to the Better Roads Victoria Trust where it is spent on road projects such as roads restoration, road surface replacement bridge strengthening and other roads safety improvements.”
RACV Policy Lead for Safety Elvira Lazar said speed cameras were a “proven safety measure to deter speeding”.
“Road safety camera locations should prioritise problem areas or sites where safety has a higher potential to be an issue,” Ms Lazar said.
“Managing speed is particularly important in high activity areas and to protect other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, who may sustain more severe injuries when compared to vehicle occupants if there is a crash.”