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Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Major change to speed cameras in one state
Drivers across one Aussie state will be forced to exercise further caution while driving on two major stretches of highway after state-government approved changes to speed camera functions come into effect on Tuesday. The NSW Minns Labor Government announced on Monday both light and heavy vehicles would receive penalties for speeding at two sites on two major NSW highways as part of a trial which has expanded the ability for standard traffic cameras to ping speeding light vehicles for the first time. Standard speed cameras will now be able to penalise light vehicle drivers for the first time in state history. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Until recently, 'average speed' cameras have only been used in NSW to detect the speeds of heavy vehicles like buses and semi-trailers, but this will expand on Tuesday to fall in line with the procedures of every other state and territory and include small vehicles like cars and bikes. The trial cameras are located on the Pacific and Hume highways in regional NSW, which disproportionately bears two thirds of the state road toll despite being home to a third of the population. Trial sites for average speed cameras have been set up on the Pacific and Hume Highways. Both sites extend capabilities for speed cameras to detect speeds of both heavy and light vehicles. NSW Government Credit: Supplied In the first week of the two month 'warning period' in which drivers would be formally cautioned rather than fined, one in every 122 cars and motorbikes were detected speeding on the Pacific and Hume Highways. Drivers were still fined occasionally during this period, but only if they were caught exceeding the speed limit by over 30km/hr. By the end of the seventh week, there was a notable increase in improved behaviour, with recorded speeding light vehicles dropping to one in every 235 on the Pacific Highway and one in every 194 on the Hume. Standard highway speed cameras in NSW have historically only penalised heavy vehicles for road misconduct. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said the severity of the road toll has been – and remains – a major point of focus for the Minns Labor Government. 'Speeding contributes to around 42 per cent of road fatalities every year and so far this year, speeding has contributed to 33 per cent of all road fatalities. That's 59 lives lost due to dangerous driving, just this year,' Ms Aitchison said. NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison speaks during Question Time at New South Wales Parliament House, in Sydney. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'Last year we committed to investigate ways to lower road trauma at our Road Safety Forum, including trialling the use of average speed cameras for light vehicles.' 'NSW is the only jurisdiction that has limited the use of average speed cameras to heavy vehicles, creating confusion across border communities and establishing a different standard for drivers.' The trial will continue for another 12 months, and all drivers caught speeding at the test locations will receive penalties during that period. Transport NSW keeps a running tally of annual road fatalities, which as of June 30 2025 is 182 – almost 30 more than the same time last year.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Average speed cameras will target drivers and riders in NSW
Drivers and riders on two major NSW highways have been put on notice. Average speed cameras have begun operating in 'warning mode' for light vehicles caught speeding. The move comes as part of the NSW government's trial to expand the use of average speed cameras from heavy vehicles to light vehicles in order to reduce the death toll on busy roads. The cameras measure a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) and a 16km stretch of the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai. If a vehicle's average speed exceeds the speed limit for the length of road between two cameras, the driver or rider will initially receive a warning for speeding. From July 1, penalties will apply. Transport for NSW executive director of road safety regulation Duncan Lucas said the trial was part of the government's commitment at last year's Road Safety Forum. 'Motorists are reminded that from today the cameras will begin capturing light vehicle speeding offences. Warning letters will be issued to those caught for the first two months before penalties will begin on 1 July,' Mr Lucas said. 'I would also like to remind heavy vehicle drivers that these cameras will continue to operate in enforcement mode for heavy vehicle offences during the entirety of the trial.' The trial will help the NSW government determine if average speed cameras improve safety and minimise speeding. 'Signage is in place at the two sites and a communications advertising campaign is under way to educate drivers on the trial. We want to ensure the community understands how the technology works and has confidence in its road safety benefit,' Mr Lucas said. 'Speeding is the biggest cause of death and serious injury on NSW roads and it's imperative that everyone obeys the speed limit, not only when passing enforcement sites but everywhere on our roads.' Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said her office was determined to bring down the road toll in regional NSW when speaking about the trial. 'Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen,' she said. 'With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions, we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users. 'I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing. 'We will have a communications strategy in place, including the use of print, radio and social media, as well as variable messaging signs and mobile billboards to help communicate the trial details to drivers and riders.' The trial aligns NSW road rules with Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not use point-to-point speed cameras. The NSW government will report back to parliament on the outcomes of the trial in 2026.
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Big change on one state's roads
Drivers and riders on two major NSW highways have been put on notice. Average speed cameras have begun operating in 'warning mode' for light vehicles caught speeding. The move comes as part of the NSW government's trial to expand the use of average speed cameras from heavy vehicles to light vehicles in order to reduce the death toll on busy roads. The cameras measure a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes (Port Macquarie) and a 16km stretch of the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai. If a vehicle's average speed exceeds the speed limit for the length of road between two cameras, the driver or rider will initially receive a warning for speeding. From July 1, penalties will apply. Warning letters will be sent to drivers along two major NSW highways before penalties apply. NewsWire/ Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia Transport for NSW executive director of road safety regulation Duncan Lucas said the trial was part of the government's commitment at last year's Road Safety Forum. 'Motorists are reminded that from today the cameras will begin capturing light vehicle speeding offences. Warning letters will be issued to those caught for the first two months before penalties will begin on 1 July,' Mr Lucas said. 'I would also like to remind heavy vehicle drivers that these cameras will continue to operate in enforcement mode for heavy vehicle offences during the entirety of the trial.' The trial will help the NSW government determine if average speed cameras improve safety and minimise speeding. Average speed cameras will come into full force on July 1. NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe Credit: News Corp Australia 'Signage is in place at the two sites and a communications advertising campaign is under way to educate drivers on the trial. We want to ensure the community understands how the technology works and has confidence in its road safety benefit,' Mr Lucas said. 'Speeding is the biggest cause of death and serious injury on NSW roads and it's imperative that everyone obeys the speed limit, not only when passing enforcement sites but everywhere on our roads.' Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said her office was determined to bring down the road toll in regional NSW when speaking about the trial. 'Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen,' she said. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said her office under the Minns government is determined to make roads safer in NSW. NewsWire/ Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia 'With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions, we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users. 'I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing. 'We will have a communications strategy in place, including the use of print, radio and social media, as well as variable messaging signs and mobile billboards to help communicate the trial details to drivers and riders.' The trial aligns NSW road rules with Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not use point-to-point speed cameras. The NSW government will report back to parliament on the outcomes of the trial in 2026.
