Driver fumes at 'costly' $507 mistake on toll road: 'Kicking myself'
The frustrated motorist said he was 'driving to the conditions' on the Eastern Distributor motorway in Sydney, but a simple oversight caused his undoing.
A Sydney driver said he's "kicking himself" after realising his costly mistake that landed him a $507 speeding fine.
The motorist was driving through the Eastern Distributor tunnel in Sydney's Darlinghurst one night last month, and knowing the usual 80km speed limit, was travelling at a safe 73km instead.
But he "definitely missed the 40km/h sign" and was "definitely going way above the temporary speed limit," he explained online this week after coping the costly fine, noting variable speed limits that were in place at the time.
Variable speed limits were introduced throughout the tunnel in 2017 and mean the speed limit can change from a usually fixed 80km/h to less at any time. The error means he was travelling "more than 20km/h" above the lower speed limit in place, which in NSW attracts a $507 fine and four demerit points. He shared an image on Reddit of his vehicle breaching the temporary speed limit.
First driving offence for Sydney driver
The frustrated motorist joked he copped a "$507 toll charge" after driving through the tunnel, but said in the post there are "no excuses" for his costly mistake. He admitted it's "really annoying" since he thought he was "driving to the conditions".
"These are my first ever demerit points in 18 years of driving," he wrote online. He said there was not a "single car" in sight, suggesting a change in traffic conditions could not have been the reason for the slower speed.
"It makes you wonder what the lower limit was for — I presume they'd just finished up roadworks or something," he said.
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Eastern Distributor 'has clear signage' Transport NSW says
The speed camera photo shows a Ford Ranger travelling southbound through the tunnel. Two 40km speed limit signs are clearly hanging from the ceiling and a "turn on radio sign" is up ahead. But some people on Reddit wondered why a slower speed was in place, to begin with.
A spokesperson for Transport NSW when contacted by Yahoo News Australia did not explain the reason for the 40km/h speed limit that night, but said "the Eastern Distributor has clear signage in place to ensure motorists are aware of the variable speed limits and any changed driving conditions ahead".
"The speed cameras in the Eastern Distributor enforce variable speed limits to ensure the safety of all road users and roadside workers. The speed limits can vary based on road conditions in and around the tunnels, such as traffic congestion, crashes, or maintenance work," they said.
What are the rules around variable speed limits?
In many cases, Variable Speed Limit (VSL) signs are fitted with flashing amber lights. When a reduced speed limit is applicable inside the Eastern Distributor tunnel, the inner red circle surrounding the lower speed limit flashes instead. Other signage includes static advisory signs such as 'Speed camera ahead in tunnel' and 'Variable speed limit enforced'.
Variable message signs which display electronic messages include 'road work ahead' and 'turn on radios' if public announcements are required.
When questioned about the radio sign visible in the photo by a Reddit user, the poster said it was "after the speed camera" so he missed it. He also said he didn't see any signage at the onramp.
"Oh well — you live and you learn. This is one expensive mistake I will not be repeating," he concluded, adding, "I will take this one on the chin".
Variable speed limits cause fines to 'explode'
The Eastern distributor is said to have raised a whopping $4,561,403 in revenue in 2018, the Daily Telegraph reported. This is partly due to variable speed limits being introduced in 2017, causing the number of fines to explode. In early 2018, the Transport Department was made to refund 3500 fines worth almost $1 million.
The government reportedly failed to give the public adequate warning of the new system and thousands of drivers were caught out including Rod Oxley who was caught driving 79km/h at a time a variable 40km/h limit was in place.
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