Speed cams catch 5500

Bass Highway earns big as drivers lose $440k

SPEEDING drivers in Tasmania were busted almost 5500 times by the state’s network of fixed speed cameras during 2020.

Tasmania Police data requested by the Mercury revealed the camera on the Bass Highway at East Devonport reeled in the largest number of fines with 1921 speeding offences detected.

It was more than double the number of the next most prolific camera, on the Brooker Highway at Rosetta, which captured 850 offences.

The two fixed cameras on the Tasman Bridge detected a combined 1169 speeding offences, but the one on the eastern side of the bridge pinged motorists almost 2½ times more than the camera on the western side.

In all, there were 5469 speeding offences for the calendar year, 87 per cent of them for speeding 15km/h or less over the limit.

Only 23 were for offences where motorists were caught speeding 30km/h or more above the limit. A Justice Department

spokeswoman said $443,979 in infringement notices were issued from Tasmanian speed cameras during that time.

Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Jo Stolp said the policing of speed was one of a range of measures to try to reduce trauma on the state’s roads.

“Speed remains the number one factor in fatal and serious injury crashes and is a significant focus for Tasmania Police,’’ Acting Assistant

Commissioner Stolp said.

“Speed limit compliance is undertaken through a combination of active police enforcement using marked and unmarked vehicles, employing a variety of speed detection devices, and by fixed cameras deployed across the state.

“Our aim is to educate motorists to keep within the speed limit. Speed cameras are not about revenue raising — if you obey the speed limit, you won’t be fined.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner Stolp said the police message to motorists was to slow down and drive to the conditions, pay attention, don’t drive while tired, wear a seatbelt and don’t drive after drinking or consuming drugs.

Thirty-six lives were lost on Tasmanian roads last year.

The first fatality of 2021 occurred on Monday when a motorcyclist died following a crash with a vehicle at Hamilton.