In Australia, from the year 2025, the national fine for severe speeding or other serious driving offences will be set at $960 Traffic Penalty. This is to ensure uniform enforcement across states and territories for the benefit of motorists. As safety on the roads remains a major concern, knowing how and when this fine is imposed can certainly aid in avoiding unwanted expenses—and more importantly, help prevent accidents.
When Is the Fine Enforced?
The fine of $960 will be enforced for the following:
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h in cities and 40 km/h on highways.
Using a phone without hands-free in a moving vehicle.
Red light driving or failing to give way to oncoming traffic and creating a high risk of collision.
Infringements are generally sent out within 1 to 2 weeks of the offence and are issued automatically. Automatic penalties are sent out via email or post. If the fee remains unpaid, additional penalties might be added along with a suspended lience.
How to Contest or Make a Payment for the Violation
If a driver feels a notice has been issued mistakenly, they can dispute the charge within a 28-day period. Options include:
Submitting a request for review with supporting documentation (dashcam footage or witness statements)
Requesting to be heard, however, this may come with additional penalties
Paying the charge in full through the website, over the phone, or at any designated payment center
Failure to act within the stipulated period more often than not leads to a 10% surcharge and the total cost would be over $1050.
Preventing the $960 Fine
Ensuring that posted speed limits and not driving while distracted are the easiest ways to avoid the hefty penalties. Consider:
Installing a GPS speed alert application
Use of hands-free mounts for attending phone calls
Minimize route changes through proper prior planning
The Bigger Picture: The Impact of Road Safety
The goal is to ensure that responsible driving is used at all times to reduce the trauma that is experienced on Australian Roads. Although $960 seems steep, the goal of this initiative is to promote responsible driving behaviours. Statistics suggest that areas with tough measures have a record of lower repeat offences and serious crashes. The more road rules are treated as non-negotiable, communities are able to enjoy lower emergency calls and safer streets.
Under the enforcement rules which have been revised recently, there’s a straightforward set of instructions explaining the new $960 fee structure. The motivation behind the fee structure, from the enforcing agency’s point of view, is to streamline the work of monitoring the drivers and make it easier for them to inform and alert the drivers to the dangers of negligent fee structure violations.