Page 17 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 8 February 2022
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• additional repeater speed limit signs prior to each of the camera sites to assist driver awareness; and
• large pavement markings on Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and Cooyong Street.
In addition, to assist drivers to understand that the speed limit had changed the permanent signage was augmented with mobile VMS on Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and Cooyong Street which inform motorists of the speed limit change and that the speed limit is now 40 km/h. VMS have been in place, and remain in place, on all approaches to speed cameras within the 40km/h zone. VMS informing drivers of changes to the traffic environment are typically only deployed for short periods of time, but have in this case been used for an extended period.
In response to community feedback during and after the grace period, further permanent signage has been installed, including:
• additional 40 km/h road signs immediately in advance/on the speed camera poles located on Northbourne Avenue southbound and Barry Drive westbound to remind drivers of the reduction in speed limits, installed in July 2021. This is beyond the minimum standard practice in the ACT; and
• additional pavement markings at mid-blocks on Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and Cooyong Street, installed in September 2021.
The ACT Government will continue to consider further additional measures as appropriate to continue to warn Canberrans to slow down in built up areas and high pedestrian traffic zones in the city, town and group centres.
Infringements
Between 5 July 2021 and 1 August 2021 over 20,000 infringement notices were issued to offending motorists. Given the passage of time since July 2021, many Canberrans have taken up the legislative options available to them including:
• paying or entering into a payment plan (accepting liability);
• seeking withdrawal; or
• disputing their infringement. These are now a matter for the court.
The Road Transport (General) Withdrawal of Infringement Notices Guidelines 2019 (the Withdrawal Guidelines) sets the process under which Access Canberra can consider withdrawing infringements. One of the core provisions is that ‘disagreeing with a law, or finding it inconvenient, to adhere to it, are not grounds for having an infringement notice withdrawn’.
In relation to the enforcement of the 40km/h zones, Ministers do not have the legislated authority to assess or grant applications for speeding fine waivers. This is an important safeguard against inappropriate intervention and supports the appropriate enforcement of the law.
Once a traffic infringement notice is issued, Access Canberra as delegate of the Road Transport Authority can only waive the infringements for reasons outlined in the Withdrawal Guidelines.
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