UPDATE: Motorists in South West Australia are raising alarms as local police ramp up enforcement on new speed limits introduced in a recent Safer Speeds trial. Residents claim they are being caught off guard by speed traps on roads where limits have just been reduced.
Starting this week, speed limits on approximately 500 roads in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River have been lowered due to a collaboration between the Shire and the RAC. This three-year initiative, which includes notable locations like Redgate and Cowaramup Bay roads, aims to enhance road safety but has sparked accusations of “revenue raising” by law enforcement.
Social media is buzzing with complaints as many drivers express frustration over the timing of police patrols, coinciding with the end of the month—a period where officers may be under pressure to meet quota targets. One resident, Shane Vowels, criticized the enforcement timing, stating, “Just happens to coincide with it being the end of the month and having to make those quotas too.”
WA Police have firmly rejected the notion that their actions are profit-driven. A spokesperson emphasized that “all speed camera revenue goes to the Road Trauma Trust Account” and is used to fund initiatives aimed at reducing road trauma in Western Australia. They reiterated that speed is a significant contributor to road crashes and that police have discretion regarding enforcement, taking recent speed limit changes into account.
Local police are conducting high-visibility patrols as part of a targeted initiative to promote safer driving behaviors. “Police will be conducting patrols anywhere, anytime, with a strong focus on areas identified as high risk for speeding-related incidents,” the spokesperson confirmed.
The Shire President Julia Jean-Rice acknowledged that the new speed limits may frustrate residents accustomed to previous speeds, but she urged drivers to provide feedback during the trial’s first annual review. Residents can submit their comments online at yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au/safer-speeds-trial-2.
While some residents support the speed reductions for safety reasons, others are voicing concerns about broader road safety issues. Peter Simmonds pointed out, “There is a hell of a lot more to road safety than driving a few kays over some arbitrary speed limit.” The sentiment reflects a growing apprehension among motorists about the impact of changing speed limits alongside deteriorating road conditions.
As this situation unfolds, residents continue to discuss the implications of these changes, with many fearing that the ongoing reduction of speed limits will only exacerbate traffic issues in the years to come. “All the huge volume of traffic coming to the area over the coming decades is going to slow everything down naturally,” warned Andrew Home.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds, and consider sharing your thoughts on the new speed limits and police enforcement in your area.
