The Queensland Government says its road works zone speed cameras will finally start issuing fines, more than 18 months after they were first set to be rolled out.
ABC News reports the cameras haven’t been issuing fines even as, per a Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson, they have been capturing “vehicle speed data”.
“During operational trials and further industry engagement, industry requested a solution able to be deployed at shorter term roadworks,” said a TMR spokesperson.
“An alternative camera type was subsequently sourced and is now being installed.
“Following the conclusion of operational trials, it is anticipated the roadworks cameras will commence issuing infringement notices in May 2024.”
First announced in August 2021, the Government announced in August 2022 the cameras would go live in September that year along with new school zone speed cameras.
It also confirmed the road works cameras would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week – unlike the school zone cameras, which only operate during the times specified on school zone signs.
TMR says it has liaised with industry to identify road works sites where speeding posed a problem to worker safety.
The cameras – both the road works units situated on a converted excavator and the school zone units integrated into fixed signs – are part of the same pilot program, set to finish in June 2025.
But it isn’t just the road works cameras that have had a delayed rollout, with the Government confirming in July 2023 that the school zone cameras had been impacted by technical issues, resulting in no fines being issued over a seven-month period.
After coming online, the cameras issued 1607 fines to speeding drivers over a three-week period from August 7 to 28.
TMR has subsequently confirmed these cameras have issued over 10,000 fines since going into operation.
“The pilot will be evaluated to determine the road safety benefits and technical performance of the technology,” a TMR spokesperson told ABC News.
“The results of the evaluation will inform any decision to continue the program.”
In addition to these new cameras, Queensland also uses both fixed and mobile speed cameras, as well as cameras that can detect the use of mobile phones behind the wheel and whether a vehicle’s occupants are correctly wearing their seat belts.
Speeding fines in Queensland are set to increase from July 1, 2024, as the value of a penalty unit rises from $154.80 to $161.30.
A list of some of the driving offences to be impacted by Queensland’s new penalty unit pricing is found below.
| Driving offence | Current fine (until June 30, 2024) | New fine (from July 1, 2024) | Demerit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving less than 11km/h above the posted speed limit | $309 | $322 | 1 |
| Driving between 11km/h and 20km/h above the posted speed limit | $464 | $484 | 3 |
| Driving between 20km/h and 30km/h above the posted speed limit | $696 | $726 | 4 |
| Driving between 30km/h and 40km/h above the posted speed limit | $1161 | $1210 | 6 |
| Driving more than 40km/h above the posted speed limit | $1780 | $1852 | 8 |
| Failing to wear a seat belt while driving | $1161 | $1210 | 4 |
| Using a mobile phone while driving | $1161 | $1210 | 4 |
| Failing to stop for a red traffic light | $619 | $645 | 4 |