A MOBILE speed camera on Racecourse Road, Pakenham, has clocked 2754 speeding motorists and reaped the State Government a windfall of more than $400,000 in just three months.

Almost one in 10 motorists travelling along the section of road, between Bald Hill Road and the Princes Freeway, have been caught doing 6km/h or more above the 60km/h limit.

Some motorists have been surprised to receive a speeding fine in the mail, previously under the impression that the area was an 80km/h zone.

Acting Sergeant Mal Marsden, of Cardinia TMU, said the mobile safety camera site, introduced on 1 July, was a hot spot for speeding motorists.

The camera isn’t set up continuously but it has a strike rate of 7.6 per cent. It has checked 36,186 vehicles between 1 July and 30 September and 2754 of those have been caught travelling at 66km/h or more – a rate of 28 per day.

“The figures were really high to begin with and are moderately high still,” Acting Sgt Marsden said.

Pakenham resident Michael Porter said he received his first fine in a decade after speeding through the 60km/h zone.

“I am usually very careful but I swore that was an 80km/h zone,” he said.

“No one to blame but myself, but others should definitely be warned – it is a 60km/h zone.”

Anne Benson said she now avoided the Racecourse Road off-ramp after being caught out recently.

“I didn't realise it was 60km/h then either ... I try to avoid that exit now unless I am going to the shops, then I take it,” she said.

Drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h, with an alleged speed more than 3km/h above that limit, lose one demerit point and cop a $146 fine. This means the camera has issued at least $402,084 in fines during its three months of operation.

Acting Sgt Marsden said the easiest way to avoid a speeding fine was to stick to the speed limit. He said the 60km/h zone was clearly signed, but too many motorists ignored the limit.

“I think people coming off the bypass just aren’t adjusting their speed,” Acting Sgt Marsden said.

“Motorists see the paddocks and think we can do 80km/h on the way to town.”

When asked whether the current 60km/h zone was appropriate, Acting Sgt Marsden said: “I think it is. Given the factories and number of trucks turning in I have no problems with it.”

Dean Zabrieszach, acting regional director of VicRoads Metropolitan, said the road authority hadn’t received any complaints about the speed limit being too low in that area.

“VicRoads has reviewed the speed limit on Racecourse Road and determined that the existing speed limit is in accordance with current speed zoning guidelines,” he said.

Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said he hadn’t received any complaints, but was concerned about what the camera was achieving.

“I don’t remember the last fatal accident we had on Racecourse Road,” he said.