Speeding In NSW: How A Trip From Surry Hills To Sydney's West Can Cost Motorists Thousands Of Dollars

Did you know that travelling just 10km/h over the speed limit from Surry Hills all the way to Sydney’s west could cost you as much as $1,860? If you think that’s crazy, read on.

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Based on NSW’s road regulations, light vehicles exceeding 10km/h and under should pay a fine of $124, but with more than a dozen cameras placed from Surry Hills to Blacktown, motorists committing a speeding offence could pay that fine 15 times more.

Aside from paying a fine, offenders will also receive one demerit point. Those who hold a learner or provisional licence will receive at least four demerit points.

At present, there are six red light cameras and nine speed cameras along Parramatta Rd, the M4 motorway and Prospect Highway.

Red light cameras are installed at high risk intersections where there are traffic lights. These cameras also detect and record when a vehicle crosses the white stop line after the traffic lights have turned red.

nsw speed cameras — Photo credit: NSW Speed Camera Locations/Facebook

In Surry Hills alone, there are a total of five red light cameras including one along Cleveland Street and Chalmers Street, which is a school zone.

Other roads with red light cameras include Cleveland Street and South Dowling Street; Crown Street and Albion Street; Foveaux Street and Crown Street; and South Dowling Street and Fitzroy Street / Moore Park Road.

nsw speeding — Photo credit: Cameron Yartz/Pexels

Speed cameras, which can be either fixed or mobile, are used at locations where there is high risk of crashes, such as tunnels. Fixed speed cameras are also used at school zones, where increased fines and demerit points apply if speeding is committed.

If caught speeding by a fixed or mobile speed camera, the camera will clearly show the colour, type, make and number plate of the driver’s vehicle.

Surry Hills Speed Limit

The NSW Government reduced the speed limit in parts of Surry Hills, from 50 km/h to 40 km/h to ensure a consistent speed limit on side streets and main roads.

nsw speed limit — Surry Hills Reduced Speed Zone Map (Photo credit: NSW Government)

There are a total of 201 red light cameras installed at intersections throughout NSW, generating millions of dollars in fines revenue for the State Government.

In 20221, Service NSW’s overall revenue from people failing to pay their fines reached $11 million. It includes money collected from all penalty infringement notices, including driving offences.

Still, authorities continue to remind road users to slow down as well as pedestrians to always use pedestrian crossings, obey traffic signals, look both ways before crossing and are not being distracted by phones or music.