The Queensland government claims it is the first jurisdiction in the world to incorporate speed cameras into school zone signs, launching a two-year trial this week.
A ‘world first installation’ of speed cameras embedded in school zone signs has started in Queensland, to coincide with the start of a new school year.
School zone undercover speed camera test began on 23 January 2023 in certain locations in Queensland, after being foreshadowed in August 2022.
In Queensland, school zones operate from 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm.
During active school zone hours, the speed limit is reduced to 40 km/h on roads with a normal limit of 50 km/h to 70 km/h. Highways with a normal speed limit of 80 km/h or more are reduced to 60 km/h.
According to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, between 1 January 2018 and 30 April 2022, 70,132 speeding tickets were issued to drivers caught breaking the posted speed limit in school zones.
The figures show that 36,326 tickets were issued to drivers who exceeded the school zone speed limit between 13 km/h and 20 km/h, representing more than half of the tickets in the 51-month period, while 27,493 drivers were caught driving less than 13 km/h. h.
The school zone speed camera test will run until the end of April 2024 in conjunction with a police operation that aims to catch motorists speeding in roadwork zones.
Bright yellow roadwork speed cameras (shown below) have been camouflaged to look like heavy equipment on a job site.
In a press release, Queensland’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said the new speed cameras would help enforce the speed limit in areas with the most vulnerable pedestrians.
“Speed kills and there are no apologies for enforcing speed limits in school zones and road construction sites,” Bailey said in a news release.
“Nobody wants to take the blame for the death or injury of a child walking to or from school, or a road worker just doing their job.
“These new speed cameras force drivers to slow down to avoid a fine or incur demerit points, there is no penalty for doing the right thing.”
Bailey also reiterated the state government’s new financial and demerit point penalties that went into effect on July 1, 2022.
“In keeping with our strong stance on road safety, we have increased the penalties,” Bailey said.
“Now if you speed 1 to 10 km/h over the limit, you’ll get a $287 fine and one demerit point, and between 11 and 20 km/h the fine is $431 and three demerit points.”
In 2022, Queensland recorded its highest road toll since 2009, with 299 road users killed over the 12-month period, the most of any Australian jurisdiction despite being the third most populous state.
From January 1, 2023 to date, 13 people have been killed on Queensland roads.
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