MORE than £172,000 of fines were paid during the 21 months that 50 mph average speed cameras were installed on the M4 around Newport.

Between September 2009 and June 2011, a total of 6,541 fixed penalty speeding notices were issued to people caught driving over the speed limit in between junctions 24 and 28 where the speed cameras were fitted.

Figures released from the Wales Road Casualty Reduction Partnership show that from these, 2,880 drivers were issued with £60 fines and three penalty points resulting in a total of £172,800 being paid.

Other people caught opted to go to court while others were automatically referred to court if they were travelling 26 mph or more above the speed limit.

These offences and the subsequent penalties are then dealt with by the court service.

Motorists travelling a few miles per hour over the speed limit have the opportunity to attend a speed awareness course instead of paying a fine and receiving points.

In November 2009 we reported how 100 drivers had been caught speeding by the cameras in just one month with some caught travelling at 95mph. The average speed limit system has now been replaced with a variable speed limit system depending on road conditions.