Police warm to variable speed limits for Airport Link and Gateway Motorway

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Police warm to variable speed limits for Airport Link and Gateway Motorway

by: Robyn Ironside From: The Courier-Mail April 04, 2012 12:00AM 35

REVENUE RAISER: A screen-grab of the altered speed limits in the Clem7 tunnel on May 13, 2011. Source: The Courier-Mail
VARIABLE speed limits that have incurred the wrath of drivers in the Clem7 are to be rolled out on other major roads.

The revelation comes as police statistics show that, on at least one day last year, revenue from speed fines in the tunnel outstripped money generated by tolls in the Clem7.

The variable limits are set to operate in Brisbane Airport Link when it opens mid-year and there also are plans to enforce the signs on the Gateway Motorway at Nudgee.

Motorists are currently given four minutes to adjust their speed when limits are dropped by as much as 40km/h in response to crashes, breakdowns or roadworks before fines are imposed.

Police have indicated that any enforcement of the variable limits elsewhere would be accompanied or preceded by an awareness campaign.

In the first four months of their enforcement in the Clem7, 8862 motorists were snapped in excess of the changed speed limit. It comes as the embattled owners of the Clem7 tunnel are considering raising tolls for cars to $4.50 - up from $3.95.


RiverCity Motorway Chief Executive Mark Snape has confirmed the company has permission to raise tolls in 2012, to a maximum of $4.54 for cars and $12.03 for heavy commercial vehicles.

Although no decision has been taken, Mr Snape said that tolls were reviewed periodically.

"If changes are proposed these will be implemented in accordance with the requirements of the project deed (with Brisbane City Council)," he said.

"Under the deed, RiverCity Motorway is permitted to levy tolls on the Clem7 up to a theoretical maximum amount which is increased annually based on movements in CPI."

Although traffic volumes have fallen by about 5000 vehicles a day since last year's toll hike from $3 to $3.95, toll revenue has increased by about $7000 a day.

An increase to $4.50 would add an extra $11,000 to toll revenue providing traffic volumes remained the same.

In May, an average of $28,428 worth of fines a day were issued, compared with just $27,274 in tolls collected on the Labour Day public holiday.

Since May, when enforcing variable speed limit signs resulted in 3694 tickets being issued, the number of offending motorists has fallen steadily.

In January, only 600 speedsters were snapped in the tunnel at a cost of $3638 a day.

Most drivers caught speeding in the Clem7 are photographed doing less than 13km/h over the limit which is generally 80km/h.

Paul Turner, from motoring body RACQ, said a decision to raise tolls because of RiverCity Motorway's desperate financial position would hurt motorists.

"Based on their original projections the Clem7 should be carrying about 50,000 more vehicles a day than it is. That would make a real difference to Brisbane's congested inner-city," he said.

RCM has been in receivership since last February with debts of $1.3 billion.
My comment : This is about safety !! BS!! BLATANT revenue raising...