Millions warned over huge change to speed cameras
For years, drivers in New South Wales have relied on the point-to-point speed camera rule, which only captures the speed of heavy vehicles, but that rule is set to change as part of a new trial as the state attempts to lower their death toll.
The point-to-point, also known as average speed cameras are set to be turned on for all vehicles in two regional locations during the trial.
The first location will be 15-kilometre stretch on the Pacific highway between Kew and Lake Innes in Port Macquarie, and the second location will be on the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai, with 16km between the two cameras.
“NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to use average speed cameras but restrict their use to heavy vehicles only,” Roads Minister John Graham said.
“In the context of a rising road toll, now is the time to trial these cameras for light vehicles and understand if we can keep more people safe on the road more of the time.”
He added that all other states in Australia, as well as the UK and Norway have found the average speed cameras to be effective.
“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.”
“Rather than test your speed at a particular point in time, like a mobile speed camera, these test the speed you’re driving over 15 or 16 kilometres,” he said.
“That means it’s a truer reflection of how quickly people are driving.”
He added that the trial is focused on regional NSW as it has suffered a disproportionate amount of road fatalities, with six road deaths and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022.
“Although only a third of people live in regional New South Wales, that’s where two thirds of the deaths from road crashes happen," he said.
Speeding contributed to 44 per cent of NSW road fatalities last year, three-quarters of which were in the regional parts of the state.
The trial will run for six months, and for those caught speeding, they will be given a 60-day warning letter period, before financial and licence penalties kick in.
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