Driver receives hefty $2,710 fine over 'confusing' signs in controversial motorway

The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


SDC 5.png
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways
  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
 
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Well if the speed signs clearly said 40km/hr then he is in the wrong.
There may well have been a 2nd incident further down the road.
A fine 5x bigger for a company car, what's that all about?
Here in Perth we dont have toll roads or traffic congestion as bad as Sydney thank goodness.
 
My ex copped a similar fine about 12 years ago on the expressway between Sydney and the Central Coast. Apparently the speed limit drops from 110 km/h to 90 or 100 km/h due to "reduced visibility" or some such bullshit.

The road might have been wet but she was driving in blazing sunshine. Having worked in the legal system, she fought the fine and won. The score? 1 nil for the good guy....or in this case, the gal!
 
Company vehicles always get charged a huge amount because that makes the Company stand up, name the driver, have the Company name removed from the offence - so what. Shock tactic and it works, job done. He was speeding - end of.
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
THE WHOLE " MEN AT WORK" SITUATION NEEDS A DRAMATIC OVERHAUL. THESE SIGNS START WAY BEFORE ANY WORK ACTIVITY AND REMAIN FAR TOO LONG AFTER ANY ACTIVITY. OFTEN EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO ACTIVITY. OFTEN THE SPEED REDUCTION IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AS THERE ARE MASSIVE CONCRETE BLOCKS PROTECTING ANY WORKERS. SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOBODY THERE.THE SPEED REDUCTION IS OFTEN TOO LOW A SPEED THAN NECESSARY. THIS BLATANT REVENUE RAISING IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF TAXATION. GOVERNMENTS NEED TO"GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
Nanny State with low discretion (IQ) Cops, out to grab your money. Drive defensively and ignore the hooting behind you. Despise them enough, never to get caught.
 
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Reactions: Jarred Santos
Well if the speed signs clearly said 40km/hr then he is in the wrong.
There may well have been a 2nd incident further down the road.
A fine 5x bigger for a company car, what's that all about?
Here in Perth we dont have toll roads or traffic congestion as bad as Sydney thank goodness.
We don't in Tasmania either
 
It is the same problem when speed signs are left up when there is no work being done, including at the weekend. I agree that speed signs should be up a distance before the site to give advanced warning, but after should be shorter after the site to allow a normal speed limit to be obtained.
 
It's all about revenu. The cops are low life when it comes to this. I don't believe speed cameras are accurate and the cops can program them to any speed they like to catch you. The other issue here that the ADR (Australian Design Rules) allow speedos to be out by as much as 10% plus 4kph so they are having a field day catching you. Nobody knows for sure how fast they are going.
 
We don't in Tasmania either
The Midlands Highway has such signs extending speed limits way past the roadworks, which is frustrating and hence an incitement to break the limit. Victoria pulls the same trick.

Oddly enough speed doesn't kill as the Earth rotates at about 25 000 mph and we are still alive . It's violent deceleration that kills whether it is at 30mph or faster. Just watch a motorcycle race; when riders crash at more than 200kph and don't hit anything they often get up and walk away. It's when they hit things, or when the bikes lands on them that they get hurt badly.

This rigidly enforced restriction to 100kph or 110 kph has people passing each other at relative speeds of 2-5 kph, which takes a long time, especially if a B-double is doing the overtaking and I would suggest that is dangerous. Maybe Australia should build a network of railways for fast trains and use a roll-on roll-off train ferry for crossing Bass Strait and stop wasting money of freeways? What with the $750 000 000 AFL stadium and the umpteen hundreds of millions being wasted on the Tasmanian Midlands Highway, that would go a long way to resolving a number of REAL problems in Tasmania.

Maybe only import cars with a top speed of 80kph if we are really worried that speed kills?
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
Eff the revenue raising arm of the government, same as 40 zones in the middle of the night in rural areas where nobody is working, pissin down rain in 100k zone and one lonely Highway Patrol booking as many as he can fit into his revenue raising book.
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
On a side note,The M4 is already paid off, but we will keep paying tolls until 2032 or something ridiculous like that, our government just loves taking our money, whomever arranged this massive profit making deal is richer than the Vatican and I bet retired on a fat nest egg.
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
I’d be contesting it too, main Road, Shaw know how to take your money, but when to fixing a pothole take six months and by then it’s a crater and you’ve done two tyres and a wheel but do they pay to get them fixed?
 
The M4 Motorway in Sydney, one of Australia's busiest roads, has become a hotbed for controversy.

Hundreds of drivers have been caught by a 'sneaky' speed camera in its infamous 'nightmare' speed limit zone.

The result? A flurry of hefty fines, including one motorist who was slapped with a whopping $2,710 penalty.



Fayaz Khan, the unfortunate recipient of this hefty fine, was driving through the M4 East Tunnel at around 7 pm last November 15 when he was caught travelling at 64km/h in a temporary 40km/h zone.

The speed limit had been reduced due to a broken-down car in the left lane, causing traffic to merge into the middle and right lanes.


View attachment 38621
A driver received a hefty fine of $2,710 while driving along Sydney’s M4 Motorway. Image source: Freepik.


However, the reduced speed limit was enforced for over a kilometre after the obstruction, leading many drivers, including Khan, to accelerate, believing they were clear of the restricted zone.

'They were just towing one little car…but when [drivers] drove past [the tow trucks], the 40 sign [was left] on until after the [speed] cameras,' he said.

'We slowed down to 60 and then 40 for the incident, and once we passed the incident, the 40 [zone] should have been abolished.'



Khan, who runs a rental car business, was driving a white Audi sedan registered as a hire car at the time of the incident.

This resulted in his fine being five times the normal amount due to the vehicle being registered to a company.

Khan plans to contest the fine in court and has even considered forming a class action with other drivers who were also fined.

The incident has sparked a debate about the fairness and clarity of variable speed limits in the M4 East Tunnel.



Khan argued that the speed limit changes are confusing and can lead to accidents.

He also criticised the extension of the 40km/h zone well past the location of the incident, calling it 'unnecessary'.

'If you're driving [on the] M4 when you're approaching Parramatta, the speed changes three times,' Khan said.

'You don't want to cause accidents... that's what this [variable speed limit] does.'



This incident is not an isolated one. Several motorists have been hit with hefty fines recently while driving in the tunnel, unaware they were clocked going above the variable speed limit.

A week after Khan was booked, his friend was fined for a similar infringement after being caught driving 56km/h in a 40km/h zone in the tunnel.

In 2019, an Uber driver was hit with a $481 fine after being caught going 72km/h in the same zone. He also sustained four demerit points from the incident.



A spokesperson from Transport for NSW said that several signs had already been installed along the motorway to inform the drivers of the changes in speed limits.

'Transport for NSW has measures in place to ensure motorists are aware variable speed limits are enforced in the tunnels, through the use of advisory signs such as “Speed camera ahead in tunnel” and “Variable speed limit enforced”,' the spokesperson said.

'[There are also] illuminated, electronic variable speed limit signs which display the current speed limit, throughout the tunnels.'

It is understood that the speed limits are shown through electronic signs along the motorway with the speed limit inside a red circle.

Drivers who are caught going more than 20km/h above the limit are subject to a $542 fine, while drivers in NSW can be fined a maximum of $2,794 if they go 45km/h or more on roads in NSW, including tunnels and motorways.



The M4 East Tunnel is part of the $16.8 billion WestConnex road and tunnel project introduced by the NSW government to reduce traffic from Sydney's West to the East.

The tunnel, which opened in July 2019, connects the M4 in Sydney's West, including Parramatta, to the city's East, saving drivers more than half an hour in travel time.

However, the latest figures from Revenue NSW show more than 4,800 fines were handed to motorists caught speeding in the M4 East Tunnel heading eastbound, totalling more than $2.3 million.

More than 2,400 drivers were fined in August alone, amounting to about $1.3 million in penalties.
Key Takeaways

  • Motorist Fayaz Khan was fined $2,710 for speeding 20km/h over the temporary 40km/h limit in the M4 East Tunnel, following a car breakdown incident.
  • The reduced speed zone remained enforced past the point of the obstruction, leading to confusion among drivers who accelerated after passing the scene.
  • Fayaz Khan intends to contest the fine in court and is considering forming a class action with other affected drivers.
  • Transport for NSW stressed it has installed multiple signs to alert drivers to variable speed limits. However, motorists continue to receive fines, raising questions about the clarity of speed restrictions in the tunnel.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you been caught out by a speed camera in a similar situation? Share your experience with us in the comments below.
Revenue raising..... that's all it is...
 
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the multiplication only applies when the corporation doesn't nominate the driver. Information the rental car company would have as part of your acceptance to hire. Once that name is provided, it is then converted back to the original fine.
 
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On a side note,The M4 is already paid off, but we will keep paying tolls until 2032 or something ridiculous like that, our government just loves taking our money, whomever arranged this massive profit making deal is richer than the Vatican and I bet retired on a fat nest egg.
The M4 is a mix of public & privately built roads. Transurban operated 'private toll way' so the State gets nothing from the tolls (except GST) The government ceased building it when it was realised at the time wasn't going to benefit the State so a private consortium build the remainder and imposed a toll. It runs parallel to the Greater Western Hwy, if you don't want to pay the toll use that.
 
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It's all about revenu. The cops are low life when it comes to this. I don't believe speed cameras are accurate and the cops can program them to any speed they like to catch you. The other issue here that the ADR (Australian Design Rules) allow speedos to be out by as much as 10% plus 4kph so they are having a field day catching you. Nobody knows for sure how fast they are going.
What's the design rule reference number of the 10% allowance? If you're speedo is out by that a court would dismiss charges.
 
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THE WHOLE " MEN AT WORK" SITUATION NEEDS A DRAMATIC OVERHAUL. THESE SIGNS START WAY BEFORE ANY WORK ACTIVITY AND REMAIN FAR TOO LONG AFTER ANY ACTIVITY. OFTEN EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO ACTIVITY. OFTEN THE SPEED REDUCTION IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AS THERE ARE MASSIVE CONCRETE BLOCKS PROTECTING ANY WORKERS. SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOBODY THERE.THE SPEED REDUCTION IS OFTEN TOO LOW A SPEED THAN NECESSARY. THIS BLATANT REVENUE RAISING IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF TAXATION. GOVERNMENTS NEED TO"GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
Agree completely and as for this bit of of road it is best to avoid it entirely As it is a private owned road that there to fleece people not assist them
 

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