No need for speed

Police are cracking down on low-range speed offenders. 77512 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By ANEEKA SIMONIS

MORE motorists are expected to be fined for low-level speeding offences in Cardinia Shire, following advice from the state’s top traffic cop to tighten speed enforcement.
Member-issued fines for drivers travelling just over the limit increased slightly in the past 12 months but that figure is expected to rise following Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill’s call for police to crack down on low-range speeders.
“I expect there to be an increased number of low-level speeding infringements issued by our members in the future until the attitude is changed on our roads,” he said.
According to police statistics, there were 1249 drivers fined by a police member for travelling less than 10km/h over the speed limit in a non-heavy vehicle in 2012-’13.
In 2013-’14, the number of police-issued low-level speeding fines rose slightly to 1264. Mr Hill expects the number to rise in the coming months following a planned increase to the number of traffic operations, focusing on low-level offenders across the state.
“What we have said to our members is to focus on speed enforcement. The speed limits that are set at the maximum speed you can travel at, having regard to the road conditions,” he said.
“Whether you’re 5km/h or 15km/h over, if you speed, you can expect to be stopped by police.”
Cardinia Highway Patrol Sergeant Allen Inderwisch said more patrols would be carried out in high-risk areas to avoid road injuries.
“We know low-level speed does contribute directly to road trauma in these areas,” he said.
Mr Inderwisch said increased policing in the past 12 months had contributed to a reduced number of serious collisions and injuries and that drivers should continue to expect a police presence.
“We are going to increase our enforcements efforts around shopping centres and schools where vulnerable road users (kids, pedestrians) frequent.”
Police cracked down on high-speed hoons over the past 12-month period, issuing 470 more fines to drivers travelling more than 11km/h over the speed limit in 2013-’14.
Interestingly, low-level speed infringements issued by cameras in Cardinia Shire almost halved over the past 12-month period. From 2013-’14, 4495 motorists driving less than 10km/h over the speed limit were caught by mobile speeding cameras – down from 7909 infringements issued in 2012-’13.
Camera issued speed notices for drivers travelling more than 10km/h over the speed limit also plummeted from 2368 in 2012-’13 to 1324 in 2013-’14.
Drivers who exceed the speed limit by less than 10km/h are fined $180 and one demerit point, while speeding over the limit between 10-15km/h will cost $289 and three demerit points.
Cardinia Highway Patrol will launch a new road safety operation next month, targeting early morning speeding drivers.
“The posted speed limit is the max, not a minimum,” reminded Mr Inderwisch.