Currently, New South Wales is the only mainland state using its point-to-point cameras solely for heavy vehicles – but that could all be about to change.
All other mainland Australian states and the ACT already use point-to-point cameras – also known as average speed cameras – for light vehicles too, as part of their speed enforcement programs.
The NSW Government has now announced it will trial expanding the use of these cameras to all vehicles.
“NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to use average speed cameras but restrict their use to heavy vehicles only,” said Minister for Roads John Graham.
“All other mainland Australian states and countries like the UK, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands have found average speed cameras to be effective and we aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW.”
Two trials will be conducted on limited stretches of highway in regional NSW to assess whether these measures reduce speeding at these locations, improving safety and preventing injuries and fatalities. The trial areas will take place at:
Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) – 15km between cameras
Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai – 16km between cameras
These two stretches were chosen based on a number of factors, including known crash history. There were a combined total of six fatalities and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 at these locations.
Road safety experts had called for the use of average speed cameras at the NSW Road Safety Forum held earlier this year and as a result, the NSW Government is investigating their use on a broader scale, rather than just for heavy vehicles.
Safer Roads and Highways (SARAH Group) president, Peter Frazer supported to the move. “These cameras promote safer driving habits by encouraging drivers and riders to stick to the speed limit. This not only lowers their risk of being involved in a serious crash, but also protects the lives and wellbeing of everyone on the road,” he said.
“At SARAH we have been lobbying for the introduction of point-to-point (average speed camera) systems to apply to all vehicles in NSW for more than a decade. We therefore congratulate the NSW Government on announcing this life-saving trial.”
Trials are proposed to begin with a 60-day period in which speeding drivers will receive a warning letter rather than a fine before. Following that period, normal enforcement will begin, including fines and demerit points.
Legislation will be needed to facilitate a trial phase, or any future decision to use them permanently.
The NRMA will be part of the assessment process to ensure drivers have a voice in the review of the trial led by Transport for NSW and other road safety experts.
A comprehensive communications campaign will be implemented to inform motorists about the trial.
This includes road signs to alert all drivers that their speed is being monitored by average speed cameras on the trial stretches, giving them the opportunity to adjust their speed as needed.
Currently, the road toll in NSW for 2024 sits at 227, which is two more than at the same time last year.
Speeding remains the biggest killer on NSW roads, contributing to 41 per cent of all fatalities over the past decade.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison explained, “The trial of the average speed cameras for light vehicles is about encouraging all drivers – regardless of the size of their vehicle – to rethink their attitudes to speeding on our roads and change their behaviour.”
“In 2023, speeding contributed to 44 per cent of road deaths in NSW, three-quarters of which were in regional NSW. What’s more upsetting is that this behaviour is within drivers’ control.
She added, “Our goal is to assess how effective the cameras can be in changing speeding habits and potential trauma benefits.”
[signup]
The post NSW’s point-to-point speed cameras to target cars as well as trucks in new trial appeared first on Big Rigs.