By Andrew Brown
ACT drivers were fined a record amount for speeding offences detected by mobile speed cameras in 2018.
More than $10.2 million in fines was collected from speeding drivers last year, from Canberra's eight mobile speed vans, up from $6.5 million the year before.
There's been a more than 300 per cent increase in fines issued for speeding since 2014.Credit: Andrew Sheargold
Figures from the Justice and Community Safety Directorate revealed more than 30,000 speeding tickets from mobile cameras were handed out to drivers, an increase of almost 10,000 from 2017.
In four years, speeding fines from mobile cameras increased by almost 350 per cent, up from 6776 issued in 2014.
It wasn't just speeding offences from mobile cameras that raked up record fines last year, with 2018 yielding the largest amount of fines from fixed cameras.
More than $12 million was raised from speeding fines from more than 36,000 incidents, rising from $8.8 million during 2017.
An ACT government spokesman said Canberra's increasing population was among the reasons for the steep rise in fines issued to drivers.
"The reason for the increase in the amount of infringements issued and the fines paid would be a combination of factors," the spokesman said.
"The factors include population growth, growth in tourism, increase in the fine amount and the increase in the number of cameras and hours of camera operation."
In some incidents, drivers were clocked going more than 100km/h over the speed limit.
One driver was fined for driving 186km/h in an 80km/h zone, while another was recorded doing 85km/h in a 40km/h zone.
Out of the more than 1200 locations mobile speed cameras were placed in Canberra last year, the main arterial roads were the biggest hotspots for speeding drivers.
The Majura Parkway recorded the largest amount of fines, with more than 2300 in 12 months, followed by Athllon Drive with 1722, the Monaro Highway with 1462, with Gungahlin Drive and Jerrabomberra Avenue near Narrabundah College rounding out the top five.
Canberra's highways dominated the list for the most speeding fines for fixed cameras, with locations on the Barton, Monaro and Federal Highway making up six of the top 10 locations in terms of fines.
The Barton Highway between Curran Drive and Gold Creek Road had the most fines recorded with 4845, followed by the Monaro Highway between Mugga Lane and Isabella Drive and the same highway between Lanyon Drive and Sheppard Street.
The government spokesman said they were working with ACT Police to monitor speeding offences in Canberra.
"Road safety is everyone's responsibility as we strive for Vision Zero: that is no deaths or serious injuries on our roads. Every death on our road is preventable," the spokesman said.
"Speeding and running red lights are a major contributor to injury and death on ACT roads, as they reduce the ability to control the vehicle and lengthens stopping distance, increasing the likelihood and severity of a collision."
There were more than 5200 drivers caught running a red light at major intersections in Canberra last year, with more than $2.5 million in fines issued for the offence.
However, red light offences have dropped to a three-year low, down from the record of 6400 in 2017.