NSW reinstates speed camera warning signs

Warning signs alerting drivers of an upcoming mobile speed camera have now been reinstated across NSW after record speeding fines and a public backlash. 

The decision to remove mobile speed camera warning signs was announced last November in an attempt by the Berejiklian state government to crack down on speeding drivers.

At the same time, the mobile speed camera vehicles already in operation were stripped of their reflective markings and had their hours of operation tripled, from 7000 to 21,000 hours per month.

The camera cars in use across the state were also said to be modified to be able to capture speeding drivers going in both directions.  

Since the government’s stealthier approach, NSW drivers have racked up record fines with some reports revealing the camera cars had raised more than $20 million in revenue since January for low-range (less than 10km/h) speeding offences.

According to Channel Nine, 2300 drivers were caught by mobile speed cameras in June 2020 before the new measures were in place. That figure increased by 22,000 drivers in June 2021 with the less visible camera cars.

Despite claiming driver behaviour has improved, the NSW government says fixed warning signs will start rolling out across the state this month.

“We are already seeing a change in driver behaviour, with 3.5 drivers caught by the cameras per hour of enforcement in June, compared with five drivers per hour in February, and we want that downward trend to continue with these new signs,” said NSW roads and transport minister, Andrew Constance.

Along with a ‘comprehensive advertising campaign’, the NSW government will erect around 1000 permanent road-side warning signs where mobile speed cameras are used, as well as the portable warning signs.

Of the extra cash it’s raised catching more speeding drivers, the NSW government says every dollar goes back to the Community Road Safety Fund, which is “in reinvested back into road safety, including audio tactile lane markings, flexible safety barriers, wide centre lines, speed humps and raised pedestrian crossings”.

A proponent of the eliminated warning signs late last year, state minister for regional transport and roads Paul Toole said at the time that the new measures would allow the government to reinvest revenue raised from speeding fines into life-saving infrastructure on the state’s roads.

This month, the minister revealed upcoming plans for regional areas.

“We’ve got 17km of flexible median barrier being installed on the Kamilaroi Highway from Baan Baa to Turrawan by 2023, and more than 2000km of rumble strips going on to the Newell Highway from Tocumwal to Boggabilla by 2022,” said Mr Toole.