MOTORISTS who have been caught by the notorious speed camera at the intersection of Nepean Highway and Davey Street in Frankston will have their fines waived.
Following a recommendation by the road safety camera commissioner, Victoria Police has elected to withdraw speeding infringements issued at the intersection between 15 April and 16 June this year. Motorists who were travelling southbound between 40 kmph and 60mph will have their fines excused. Lost demerit points will also be reinstated.
The speed limit at the intersection was reduced from 60 kmph to 40 kmph in October 2021. The speed camera enforcing the new limit was switched on in April of this year.
Following complaints about the new speed limit and the accompanying signage, road safety camera commissioner Neville Taylor began investigating the matter. His report was released last week.
The report recommended that fines incurred by drivers at the intersection who did not exceed 60 kmph should be waived. It also recommended that drivers who received multiple fines before notice of their first infringement should have all their fines before the first notice waived.
Refunds are expected to be processed within 60 days. People eligible to have their fines waived will be contacted by email.
The road safety camera commissioner investigation probed the processes followed in the setup of the new speed limit. The decision to change the speed limit itself was out of the scope of the investigation.
Taylor concluded that “the communication and signage informing motorists of the new speed limit of 40 kmph on the Nepean Highway, southbound through the intersection of Davey Street, Frankston, was less than effective.” The report read that two projects to reduce the speed limit in the area occurring at the same time led to significant confusion.
“During 2021, two overlapping projects were underway to reduce the speed limit along the Nepean Highway in Frankston from 60 kmph to 40 kmph. Frankston City Council managed one of the projects, which was a temporary speed limit reduction event to support the introduction of outdoor roadside dining. The other project was for a permanent speed limit reduction as a part of a broader safer speed limit strategy to reduce road trauma, particularly with pedestrians, on the Nepean Highway. This project was managed by the Department of Transport,” the report executive summary read. “Both projects incorporated a speed limit reduction for southbound traffic through the Davey Street intersection that is the site of the fixed digital road safety camera system enforcing speed, red-light, and unregistered vehicles offences.
“The investigation found that there were significant complexities brought about due to the unique nature of the two overlapping and concurrent speed limit reduction projects, along with less than effective collaboration, information sharing, and communication within and amongst the agencies involved, to be fully aware of the impact of these circumstances on the enforcement by the road safety cameras. It was also found there was less than effective communication to the community to sufficiently inform road users of the two projects and the timing for implementation of the new lower 40 kmph speed limit.”
Frankston Council CEO Phil Cantillon said that the release of the report was “greatly welcomed”.
“We thank Mr Taylor for his thorough investigation and recommendations, which followed ongoing advocacy from and engagement with senior Frankston City Council officers,” Cantillon said.