‘The message is not getting through’: Disappointment at $4m in speeding fines issued at Tiger Brennan Dr and Berrimah Rd

SPEED cameras at an intersection where a horrific double-fatal crash took place have issued almost $4m in fines this year

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SPEED cameras at the Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road intersection – where a horrific double-fatal crash took place – have issued almost $4m in fines this year, more than the combined earnings of all NT cameras last year.

The three new cameras have pinged more than 11,000 motorists since going live on January 16 until the end of November, adding about $3.8m to Territory coffers.

In comparison, all 17 of the fixed red light cameras that were live across the Territory in 2019 generated about 8000 infringements and issued $3.6m in fines.

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A horrific double fatal crash at the intersection of Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road, which killed Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos, 7, and Wade Williams, 21, last May prompted road safety initiatives by the government.

This included the 100km/h speed limit being reduced to 80km/h and installing speed and red light cameras.

An NT Police spokesman said they were disappointed that so many drivers were still speeding through the notorious intersection.

“Given the horrific fatal crash at that location and the attention surrounding the change of speed limit at the location, along with the extensive awareness campaign prior to the cameras going live, it would appear that the message is not getting through,” he said.

The scene of a tragic double fatal crash at the Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Rd intersection last year. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

“Hopefully, once those fines filter out to those offenders, we will see a dramatic change of driver behaviour at that intersection, but hopefully on all roads across the NT.”

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the government was committed to working towards zero deaths and injuries on NT roads. “Road safety is everyone’s business, and we all need to do our part to make sure everyone using our roads gets home safe,” she said.

It comes after a traffic study held over 35 days at the Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road intersection last year detected a staggering 20,358 motorists speeding – on average 582 times a day – for the period.

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During the same time frame, 192 drivers were found to run a red light, more than five motorists a day.

AANT chief executive Anthony Hill was shocked by the figures.

“Speed and red light cameras are absolutely relevant in those sorts of areas to deter people, but again, it doesn’t stop behaviour up the road,” he said.

“With red light and speeding cameras, people get to know it’s there. It helps the intersection there but as soon as they go through they continue their bad behaviour up the road.”