WODONGA motorists are donating more than $6000 to the Victorian government every day courtesy of the Border’s new fixed speed camera.
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The speed and red-light camera at the Lincoln Causeway-Hume Freeway ramp intersection is one of the busiest in Victoria.
It dished out 32 fines a day on average between October and December last year.
Motorists were fined 2951 times for a total of $566,527, or an average of $6157.90 each day, in that quarter, becoming the second-most lucrative camera in country Victoria and the 14th best cash cow from across the state.
The statistics were released yesterday on the Baillieu government’s new website camerassavelives.vic.gov.au, which details the effectiveness of the government’s 263 speed and red-light cameras.
Wodonga’s camera is on track to deliver the Baillieu government more than $2?million in its first year since being switched on in September, but police say it is also preventing collisions.
“Prior to the camera’s installation, that intersection was a major concern for accidents,” Sgt Cameron Roberts, of Wodonga highway patrol, said.
“It felt like we were there very often.
"Anecdotally, I don’t think we’ve had a collision there for a long time.
“You only have to look at the surface leading up to the lights.
“The marks on the road aren’t burnout marks.
“They’re from drivers who are pretty determined to stop before the light turns red.”
Member for Benambra Bill Tilley was disappointed by the results.
“I am shocked that Wodonga’s fixed speed camera has caught so many drivers breaking the law and, as a former traffic cop, I hope this revelation will reinforce the need for a cultural change among local drivers towards safety and obeying the traffic laws,” Mr Tilley said.
“A driver’s licence is a privilege, not a right, and all road users must use our roads in a safe manner because we all want to see road death and injury levels cut.”
The two most prolific speed and red-light cameras are at the Forsyth Road Bridge on the Princes Freeway, at Hoppers Crossing.
These issued 139 fines each day between October and December for a total of $2,234,260.