Police have urged drivers to slow down as new statistics reveal fixed speed cameras in Wyndham continue to catch thousands of drivers every month.
Figures released last week on the state government’s Cameras Save Lives website showed several cameras in the west were among the top-20 highest earning in Victoria between October and December.
Eight cameras covering the Princes Freeway – located on the Geelong and Melbourne-bound sides of the Forsyth Road bridge – issued a total of more than 5600 fines.
The combined revenue from the cameras, which are on the border of Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook, was more than $1.26 million.
Between July and September 2016, the cameras earned $2.6 million.
Also on Victoria’s latest list of high-earning fixed speed cameras was another on the Western Ring Road. The camera, which covers the third north-bound lane of Boundary Road in Laverton North, issued 2725 infringements valued at $625,100.
Within the previous three months, the camera issued penalties totalling $509,052.
Near Wyndham, in Altona North, four westbound cameras on the West Gate Freeway – east of Millers Road – issued more than 3050 infringements between October and December. The four cameras earned $774,771 within the three months. Between July and September, the cameras earned $683,798.
Fixed speed cameras in Footscray and Brooklyn were also listed among the top-20 highest earning in the state, between October and December.
Wyndham police Inspector Marty Allison said speed cameras played a “critical part in road safety and changing driver behaviour”.
He said motorists had already died on Wyndham’s roads this year – including a six vehicle accident on the Princes Freeway, near Forsyth Road, in March.
“I think everyone has a responsibility to just slow down and be more courteous on the roads … we will see a reduction in our road trauma if everyone slows down,” Inspector Allison said.
“Even on a 10-kilometre journey, you would save only 30 seconds if you increased your speed from an average of 100km/h to 110km/h.”
A Department of Justice and Regulation spokeswoman said that speed contributed to about 30 per cent of deaths on Victoria’s roads each year.
“To be honest, we’d be happy if no one received a fine, because it would mean that people are sticking to the speed limit and obeying the road rules,” the spokeswoman said.
