NSW motorists to heed average speed cameras

Unlike all other mainland states in Australia, NSW currently uses average speed cameras to only catch speeding heavy vehicle drivers. This could be about the change with the NSW Government expanding its application to light vehicles in an upcoming trial to assess their benefit to road safety.

The trial is an attempt to address the state’s rising road toll, which currently stands at 227 fatalities, two more than at the same time last year. Regional roads are overrepresented in the statistics, accounting for two-thirds of deaths, and speeding has been shown to be the biggest contributor to fatal crashes in NSW – 41 per cent in the last decade.

The 60-day trial will take place on two stretches of regional highway chosen partly because of their crash history: the 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes (Port Macquarie), and the 16km stretch of the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai.

Average speed cameras calculate how fast a vehicle has travelled between two points, taking a photo of a vehicle if it has exceeded the speed limit across the distance. Road signs on the point-to-point trial stretches will warn motorists their speed is being monitored and offending drivers in the trial period will be sent a letter, rather than a fine and demerit points.

Minister for Roads, John Graham, says NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to have average speed cameras that restrict their use to heavy vehicles only. “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.”

NRMA director of policy and public affairs, Robert Giltinan, says the NRMA has always supported average or point-to-point speed cameras for heavy vehicles and there has been a meaningful reduction in associated fatalities since their introduction in 2010.

“While average speed cameras were originally installed and targeted at heavy vehicles, it’s not unreasonable to investigate the opportunity to reduce the incidence of light vehicles speeding. Around two-thirds of road fatalities in NSW occur in the regions,” says Mr Giltinan. “For each road fatality or serious injury, there are serious impacts on family members, friends, colleagues and communities.”

The NRMA is working closely with community, industry and government on innovative ways – using data and evolving technologies – to reduce the road toll. Mr Giltinan adds: “The best outcome of the trial is having demonstrable data to show that crash numbers are lowering and the incidence of speeding is reducing. Ultimately it’s about encouraging and enforcing positive behavioural change. To be caught by an average speed camera, a driver must be wilfully speeding over an extended stretch of roadway, not just having a momentary lapse of concentration.”

The trial has broad industry support from road experts across the country and the NRMA will ensure motorists are represented in helping to measure its effectiveness. As part of the assessment protocol, the NRMA will be interpreting the data collected over the trial period and making a recommendation to the government on the level of its success in preventing speeding and reducing crashes.

Due to legislation needed in Parliament for the trial to begin, it’s not expected to be put in place until around mid-2025.