Victoria's Metropolitan Fire Brigade chief was "mortified" and offered to resign after racking up seven speeding fines over just a few weeks, three of them on the same day.
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Dan Stephens moved from the UK in May to take up the senior Melbourne-based job and this week offered to leave the role, but the MFB board refused.
The fines relate to speeding at up to 115km/h on the M1 Freeway between Melbourne and Geelong, which has a maximum speed limit of 100km/h.
"Speeding is wrong," Mr Stephens said in a statement on Friday.
"I have attended enough motor vehicle incidents to know that.
"My actions have fallen well short of what is expected of me and I offer all of you my sincere apologies.
"I feel that I have let you down and for that I am truly sorry."
The speeding infringements occurred at the end of June during the Briton's first month in the country.
Mr Stephens said the speed limit is higher on UK motorways at 70 miles per hour, equivalent to 112.6 km/h, but said there are no excuses.
"I have a 28-year unblemished driving record in the UK and am mortified that this has occurred," he said.
Mr Stephens has been advised he will not lose his licence but will incur a fine which he accepts "completely".
MFB Board President Jasmine Doak said Mr Stephens had done an "outstanding job" in the short time he'd been at MFB.
"While the board understands the gravity of speeding and its impact on road safety, we do not believe Dan's conduct warranted dismissal or acceptance of his resignation on this occasion," she said.
Australian Associated Press
