Australia Considers Income-Based Traffic Fines for Fairness

A new report suggests adopting Finland's model to address the financial burden of flat-rate fines on low-income earners.

The Australia Institute's report argues that the current flat-rate traffic fine system disproportionately impacts low-income Australians.
Proposed changes would see fines adjusted based on a driver's income, similar to the Finnish model, to promote equity.
Research highlights that flat-rate fines can be financially devastating for low-income earners, while merely inconvenient for the wealthy.
Income-based fines in Finland are calculated using a driver's monthly income and number of dependents, with significant penalties for high earners.
The report suggests that revenue from fines could be redirected to road safety initiatives, enhancing the public benefit.