South Australian road train operators will be hit with significantly higher fines and more demerit points for exceeding the speed limit
May 30, 2012
Drivers in South Australia will be whacked with more demerit points from September this year under speeding reforms that will lower fines in some cases.
The state’s government has announced changes to speeding infringements as part of efforts to improve road safety.
The changes are due to take effect on September 1 and will double demerit points to two for all motorists caught travelling less than 10km/h over the speed limit.
Drivers caught exceeding the limit by 10km/h but less than 20km/h will receive three demerit points, and five demerit points if detected travelling over the limit by 20km/h but less than 30km/h.
“Speeding more than 45km/h will see the fine increase from $671 to $900 with demerit points increasing from six to nine points,” Treasurer Jack Snelling says.
However, the government will reduce the fine for those caught travelling less than 10km/h over the limit to $150. The current comparable fine is $260.
The fine falls from $413 to $400 for road train drivers. They will be fined $1000 if caught driving 45km/h over the speed limit.
Snelling says he hopes increasing demerit points will discourage people from speeding.
Road Safety Minister Jennifer Rankine says there are about 100 fatalities each year and 1000 casualty crashes in South Australia.
“The message should be clear. Speed has long been recognised as being a major factor in the cause and severity of road casualties. Creeping by a few kilometres over the speed limit is unacceptable,” she says.
Rankine says speeding was identified as a contributing factor in about 36 percent of fatal crashes between 2009 and 2011.
The changes will reduce the speed bracket from 15km/h to every 10km/h between 10km/h and 30km/h.
Currently, the speed bracket begins at 15km/h below the speed limit and goes up in 15km/h brackets.
Existing penalties in South Australia:
• Less than 15km/h over the speed limit – $260 fine ($413 for road trains), one demerit point
• By 15-29km/h – $383 fine ($517 for road trains), three demerit points
• By 30-44km/h – $550 fine ($671 for road trains), four demerit points
• By 45km/h and above – $671 fine ($775 for road trains), six demerit points
Penalties from September 1, 2012
• Less than 10km/h over the speed limit – $150 fine ($400 for road trains), two demerit points
• By 10-19km/h – $330 fine ($500 for road trains), three demerit points
• By 20-29km/h – $670 fine ($770 for road trains), five demerit points
• By 30-44km/h – $800 fine ($900 for road trains), seven demerit points
• By 45km/h and above – $900 fine ($1000 for road trains), nine demerit points
The $60 Victims of Crime levy also applies to each offence.
