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NSW fines surge as speed camera signs gone

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Fines in NSW have skyrocketed after the removal of warning signs for mobile speed cameras.
Camera IconFines in NSW have skyrocketed after the removal of warning signs for mobile speed cameras. Credit: AAP

A NSW government decision to remove warning signs for mobile speed cameras resulted in $4 million worth of fines for low-range offences in May alone, the state opposition says.

The monthly revenue haul for breaches of less than 10km/h is the highest on record, says NSW Labor leader Chris Minns.

By way of comparison, 1547 fines were issued by NSW police for such offences in May last and 27,144 in May 2021 - an increase of 1655 per cent.

Mr Minns claims the state government is also deploying secret multi-directional cameras for triple the time than they were previously.

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He says a decision was made to remove camera warning signs last November and they have raised $20.2 million in revenue since January 2021 in speeding fines less than 10km/h.

The fine for 'under 10km' speeding offences is $123.

"People slow down when they see proper warning signs - and that makes our roads safe," Mr Minns said.

Executive Director Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlon said the focus should not be on fines but on speed which was a factor in 54 per cent of fatalities between March and July last year.

"By comparison it was a causal factor in 35 per cent of fatal crashes for the same period in 2019," he said.

Mr Carlon said drivers were beginning to change their behaviour because of road safety changes.

"Early indications are the changes to the mobile speed camera program, along with other initiatives, are contributing to a reduction in trauma with the number of deaths on our roads down by 58 in the 2020/21 financial year, compared to the average of the three previous financial years."

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