Queensland drivers receiving millions of dollars more in fines amid new road safety strategy. Source: Kgbo, Wikimedia Commons
Queensland drivers have been issued an extra $87 million in speeding fines over the past year after a significant increase in penalties by the state government and a change in the fine brackets.
Stricter penalties were introduced in July last year as well as a new road safety strategy with the aim of eliminating fatalities on Queensland roads by 2050.
After these new penalties were introduced, authorities issued $332 million in fines to speeding drivers in 2022 to 2023.
This was a 35.7 per cent increase from the $244.7 million in infringement notices given out in 2021 to 2022 before the fines were increased.
While the total value of issued fines has risen, the number of actual infringement notices issued by authorities decreased from 973,727 to 806,794 during the same period.
299 people lost their lives on Queensland roads in 2022, the highest road toll since 2009.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said that the decrease in the number of fines issued was a sign that the tougher penalties are working.
“The number of lives lost at this point this year is 10 less than this time last year, which is showing some improvement,” Bailey said.
“I make no apologies for doing everything I can to save lives on our roads and there is no doubt that speeding kills.
“Penalties were increased to ensure there is a sufficient deterrent for dangerous driving behaviours and align with other similar offences.
“Research shows that the use of monetary penalties, demerit points and the potential of licence loss is effective in deterring motorists and changing driving behaviour and attitudes.”
The state government has also changed speeding fine brackets.
Before, drivers caught speeding in Queensland were fined according to where they sat on a five-tier penalty system, with the lowest tier applying to drivers caught driving 1 to 12kph over the speed limit, resulting in a fine of $183.
However, under new penalties introduced last year, the fine bracket was lowered to 1 to 10kph over the speed limit, and the fine itself increased to $287. The next tier up, which used to be 13 to 20kph, was also widened to 11 to 20kph, with the fine increasing from $257 to $431.
