Question and Answers about Portable Speed Measurement Devices

Enforcement of speed limits with the use of speed cameras is one of the most effective, evidence-based measures available for lowering speeds, saving lives, and preventing injuries.

The modifications to the mobile speed camera program in NSW were announced by the NSW Government on November 19, 2020. These modifications included increased enforcement hours as well as other program enhancements.

These alterations came about as a result of a review of how other Australian jurisdictions manage their programs and improved methods to lower the risk of injuries caused by speeding.

On December 17, 2021, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole and the Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes announced that signs will be placed on the roof top of all mobile speed camera vehicles across the state to inform drivers that their speed is being checked.

A further adjustment to the program was announced on 10 October 2022 by Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway. Starting on January 1, 2023, additional portable warning signs will be introduced on the approach to and after enforcement sites while mobile speed cameras are in operation across the state of NSW.

In order to lessen the severity of injuries caused by excessive speed, we want drivers in New South Wales to be aware that they should reduce their speed whenever and wherever they are on the state's road network.

1. Why does New South Wales make use of speed cameras that are mobile?

Mobile speed cameras have the potential to bring about a continuous change in driver behavior by sending the message that speeding violations can and will be enforced at any location, at any time. Mobile speed cameras have been shown to save lives, according to research conducted both in Australia and internationally.

Mobile speed cameras have the ability to be relocated to different parts of the network at different times. This means that drivers are less able to predict when and where enforcement will occur, and as a result, they are more likely to change their behavior across the entirety of the network, rather than just at locations where they are aware that enforcement will be present.

Programs that follow best practices and have sufficient hours, a high number of enforcement sites, and highly randomised deployment can deliver reductions in casualty crashes of up to 20-30 percent.

Mobile speed cameras are an essential component of the Automated Enforcement Strategy for Road Safety in New South Wales (PDF, 604KB), and they provide assistance to police operations and other forms of camera enforcement in that state.

2. On what kind of a scale is the program being run?

The changes to the mobile speed camera program in New South Wales that were announced on November 19, 2020 included an increase in the number of hours dedicated to enforcement from 7,000 to 21,000 per month. This increase was implemented in stages beginning in July 2021 and was finished by the beginning of January 2022. Since then, the total number of hours of enforcement that are performed each month has been impacted as a result of the significant flooding.

On the website of the Centre for Road Safety, you can find information regarding the current locations in New South Wales where mobile speed cameras may operate. In order to support the spread of enforcement across the network and to reduce speeding in areas where accidents have taken place, additional camera locations will continue to be added and updated over the course of time.

The placement of every mobile speed camera is determined according to the standards for road safety that are outlined in the New South Wales Automated Enforcement Strategy for road safety (PDF, 605KB).

3. How is the program coordinated and administered?

Transport for New South Wales, in close collaboration with the New South Wales Police Force, is in charge of managing the Mobile Speed Camera Program. This ensures that the cameras provide support for on-road police activities.

Private contractors are responsible for the operation of speed cameras and vehicles, as well as their maintenance. Mobile speed cameras are operated with the assistance of technicians. They navigate the vehicle to the destination, set up the camera, and check to see that it is functioning appropriately.

The camera operates in an automated manner to carry out the process of speed enforcement. A radar or another type of authorized speed measurement device is used to determine the speed of a moving vehicle. If a vehicle is observed going over the posted speed limit, a digital image of the offending vehicle is captured, and from that image, information regarding the speeding vehicle can be gleaned. This picture is being used in order to produce an infringement.

Transport for New South Wales is responsible for managing the certification of speed measuring devices in order to ensure the accuracy and dependability of mobile speed cameras.

The processing and issuing of infringements is the responsibility of Revenue NSW. This is done to ensure that a third party will not be able to obtain or use the personally identifying information of motorists.

4. Are there any warning signs for drivers who are getting close to the cameras?

The New South Wales State Government is committed to raising awareness about the use of speed cameras on New South Wales roads, which are installed to slow down drivers traveling at unsafe speeds and save lives.

On the rooftops of all mobile speed camera vehicles are fixed retractable signs with double-sided messaging that reads, "Your speed has been checked."

Mobile speed cameras will be required to have portable warning signage on the approach to and after enforcement sites while they are in operation beginning January 1, 2023. This comes on top of the livery and rooftop signage that are already installed on all mobile speed camera vehicles.

In addition, approximately one thousand permanent signs have been placed on roads throughout NSW by the NSW Government. Every driver will see these permanent roadside reminders to remind them to reduce their speed.

In addition, variable message signs are used across the road network in NSW to warn motorists that speed cameras are in use throughout the state of NSW.

These signs, in conjunction with community education initiatives such as advertising campaigns and social media, can assist in modifying drivers' speeding behaviors and thereby improving road safety.

The Speed Adviser app is a free download for smartphones that can help drivers better manage their speed and encourage safer behaviors while they are on the road. When approaching an area with a mobile speed camera, Speed Adviser will provide both audible and visual warnings.

5. What will happen to the money that is made from the mobile speed cameras?

The Community Road Safety Fund receives the proceeds from the payment of fines for all speeding offenses that are detected by mobile cameras. This fund supports priority road safety programs.

The majority of investments in infrastructure safety upgrades are made in New South Wales's rural roadways, which are the locations of two-thirds of all fatalities that occur on the state's roads.

6. How can we be sure that the images captured by the cameras are accurate?

Mobile speed cameras are subject to stringent regular testing, certification, and calibration in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation. Maintaining the accuracy of cameras requires that they be tested on a regular basis.

7. What exactly are the cameras capturing?

Images captured by mobile speed cameras not only record the following information but also clearly show the color, type, and manufacturer of the vehicle as well as the license plate number.

• The date the offense was committed
• When the offense occurred
• Specifics regarding the position of the camera that captured the image.
• Which way was the vehicle traveling when it committed the offense?
• The speed of the vehicle that committed the violation
• Where the camera is located, there is a speed limit that applies to that road.
• Additional safeguards and checks on the system's integrity

8. What if I was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation?

If you were not operating the vehicle at the time of the offense, you are required to provide the name and details of the driver by filling out the statutory declaration form that was included with the penalty notice and sending it to Revenue NSW for processing. If you were operating the vehicle at the time of the offense, you are not required to provide this information.

Details are available here.

Contact the Camera Enquiry Line at 1300 782 230 (available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) for any additional information regarding mobile speed cameras operated by Transport for NSW. 30am to 4 30pm, Monday through Friday), or you can send an email to [email protected].

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