Major change to speed cameras in one state

Perth Now

11 hours ago

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.