MOTORISTS have been slugged more than $3 million in traffic fines in the first three months of the year as police unveil a lucrative new speed camera site at Mudgeeraba.

Exasperated police have rel­eased the report card for the Gold Coast district, revealing more than 21,000 drivers have been caught by speed cameras across the city.

The top three speed camera sites have been revealed to be Wardoo St, the Pacific Motorway off ramp at Exit 66 and Ashmore Rd, Benowa.

The highest speed detected is a staggering 176km/h on Hope ­Island Rd, while a new speed camera site on the M1 at Mudgeeraba snapped five drivers in one dep­loyment at speeds more than 150km/h.

media_camera Hundreds of motorists have been caught speeding through road works area of the M1. Photo of Senior Sergeant Bradyn Murphy performing speed checks. Photo: Richard Gosling

Gold Coast road policing boss Senior Sergeant Bradyn Murphy was appalled by the results and warned drivers to slow down during the school holidays.

“Travelling at 176km/h on Hope Island Rd is a recipe for disaster,” Sen-Sgt Murphy said.

“The outcome if he has a crash at that speed will be death for him or someone else. It’s that simple.”

Sen-Sgt Murphy said a massive police traffic operation targeting the Fatal Five was under way in a bid to keep the roads safe this school holidays.

He urged people driving long distances to be aware of fatigue and take a break every two hours.

“Every available officer will be out on the roads this school holidays and we are pleading with drivers to slow down and drive sensibly,” Sen-Sgt Murphy said.

“If you speed, drink-drive, don’t pay attention, don’t wear a seatbelt or drive while tired, you will not only be caught by police, but you risk your life and the life of others.”

Sen-Sgt Murphy rejected any suggestion of “revenue raising” and said it was a “self-contributing fund”.

“No one is forcing people to speed, no one is forcing them to not wear a seatbelt or to use their mobile phone while driving,” he said.

He said that in real terms, 1.3 per cent of the millions of drivers who pass through the speed camera sites were caught breaking the law.

“But it is that minority of drivers who are endangering the safety of the majority.”

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