An ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry has recommended waiving speeding fines for some of the many motorists caught out after speed limits were reduced to 40 kilometres per hour in parts of Canberra's city centre last year.
A committee appointed to consider a petition lodged by affected motorists has recommended fines be waived for drivers only where they have resulted in financial hardship or similar circumstances.
The report further recommended the ACT government also proceed with its plan to lower the speed limit to 40 kilometres an hour across other parts of Canberra to reduce the number of accidents and crashes in areas of high pedestrian activity.
$4.8 million in fines issued in three weeks
In late June, the speed limit was lowered from 60 kilometres per hour to 40 for parts of Northbourne Avenue, Cooyong Street, Barry Drive and a large section of the Braddon commercial precinct, in a bid to improve road safety.
In the following 48 hours, about 5,000 drivers were detected travelling above the new speed limit and 20,000 in the amnesty period, which lasted until July 5.
Once infringements became applicable from July 5, about 18,400 penalty notices were issued in a three-week period, amounting to $4.8 million.
The minimum fine was for $300.
Some of those who received fines claimed they had no idea of the change to the speed limit until after their letter arrived in the mail.
Some received multiple fines for a period of just a few weeks.
"Two $300 fines for going 46 km/h on Barry Drive just after Northbourne," JJ Baker said on social media.
But others were unsympathetic.
"There were signs up for ages ahead of the change being implemented," Hugo Walker said.
"Drivers just need to slow down."
Petition claimed warnings and signage were lacking
A petition signed by more than 1,300 affected motorists was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in September, sponsored by Canberra Liberals MLA and opposition transport spokesperson Mark Parton.
The petition asked for a reprieve for those who received fines in the month of July and for more to be done to ensure drivers were warned of upcoming speed limit changes.
It stated that the imposition of the additional speed limit zones had "produced extremely perverse outcomes for Canberrans" and that there had been a "lack of effective warning and signage" before their introduction.
The petition also said the "massive number of fines" demonstrated "a callous government failure".
It was referred to the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services, which has now issued a number of recommendations for the Assembly to consider, including waiving some of the fines.
"The government should consider whether all fines and associated penalties be waived, or whether the government should leave the initial fine and demerit points in place but waive subsequent fines and demerit points."
Despite the criticisms levelled at the government regarding warnings and signage, the committee determined that communication to the public had in fact been thorough.
But it suggested that more be done in future, acknowledging the large number of people affected.
They also suggested the government "consult on the adoption of a NSW system for waiving traffic fines, where the individual is a vulnerable person due to financial hardship, for mental health reasons or otherwise".
The committee went on to recommend the government proceed in rolling out its ACT Road Safety Action Plan policy of expanding 40kph speed limit areas — introduced in an effort to reduce road deaths and protect vulnerable road users.
The report referenced the fact that there had been a noticeable reduction in road crashes in the area of the city after the speed limit change came into effect, according to data from ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel.
"Based on the preliminary reported crash data, there was a reduction in crashes of approximately 36 per cent since the introduction of the 40kph posted limit areas in Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and Cooyong Street," the committee said.
