This program is a joint partnership between the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Queensland Police Service.
It is an important component of the Queensland speed management strategy and overall approach to improving road safety in Queensland. The Camera Detected Offence Program has a proven record in reducing the road toll.
Why are speed limits enforced on Queensland roads?
The Department of Transport and Main Roads and local governments are responsible for setting speed limits on Queensland roads. Queensland speed limits have been set to balance the needs of all road users and promote road safety. Speed limits are enforced on all Queensland roads, including in tunnels.
Speeding kills, maims, disables and disfigures people. Driving at any speed above the posted speed limit or at an inappropriate speed for the conditions is illegal and potentially dangerous. Speeding is a major cause of road crashes. A Queensland speed survey† conducted in 2010 has indicated that approximately one in every three (or 35 per cent) of motorists state-wide are not complying with posted speed limits, dramatically increasing their risk of being involved in a crash.
There is no one quick fix to reducing Queensland’s road toll. International experience clearly shows a combination of education, enforcement and engineering initiatives are effective in improving road safety.
It is important that the Department of Transport and Main Roads, together with the Queensland Police Service continue activities that will help to decrease the potential for crashes, including speed management initiatives. Speeding is not tolerated on Queensland roads. More information is available on the speeding web page.
Speed and red light camera revenue – where does the money go?
The revenue from speed and red light cameras is minimal compared to the costs that speed related crashes inflict on the community each year.
The distribution of revenue from camera detected offences is restricted by the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. This requires that all money collected for penalties imposed for camera detected offences, in excess of the administrative costs, must be used for specific road safety purposes, specifically:
- road safety education and awareness programs
- road accident injury rehabilitation programs
- road funding to improve the safety of the sections of state-controlled roads where crashes happen most frequently.
In 2010-11, surplus revenue from camera detected offences was used to fund the following:
Road accident injury rehabilitation programs
Queensland Health: to support trauma/rehabilitation for road crashes and the costs to Queensland for blood and blood products |
A$4.500M |
Improvements to the safety of state-controlled roads
Department of Transport and Main Roads |
A$27.639M |
Road safety education and awareness
Department of Transport and Main Roads |
A$2.500M |
Road safety public education program funding
Department of Transport and Main Roads |
A$5.979M |
Queensland Motorbike Safety Strategy 2009–2012
Department of Transport and Main Roads |
A$6.819M |
Heavy vehicle rest areas
Department of Transport and Main Roads |
A$2.718M |
Digital platform and digital camera technology
Queensland Police Service |
A$8.819M* |
The Department of Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Police Service incurred additional expenditure in 2010–2011 which was paid out of prior year surpluses.
The financial overview for 2010–11 of the Camera Detected Offence Program is included in the Department of Transport and Main Roads Annual Report.
For more information about infringement notices issued for camera detected offences visit the Queensland Police Service website.
Protection of personal information
The Department of Transport and Main Roads collects information under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 so that the identity of a person who is alleged to have committed an offence may be established. The Department of Transport and Main Roads usually gives some or all of this information to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Queensland Police Service and interstate driver licensing authorities. Your personal information will not be disclosed to any other third party without your consent unless required to do so by law. For more information visit the Queensland Police Service website.
