Navigating the roads can be a challenge, and for Australian drivers, there’s a significant change on the horizon that’s bound to impact how we drive.
The New South Wales Government is gearing up to introduce a major shift in the enforcement of speeding fines, and drivers must be aware of what’s coming.
Starting next week, a new system will be implemented that could increase the number of fines issued to drivers who exceed the speed limit.
This change, initially announced in September of the previous year, will take effect on May 1 and is part of a broader effort to combat the high rates of speed-related fatalities on NSW roads.
Speeding remains the leading cause of death on NSW roads, accounting for a staggering 42 per cent of all road fatalities.
In response to this grim statistic, the NSW Government has decided to expand the use of average speed cameras to include all drivers, not just heavy vehicles, as has been the case until now.
For those unfamiliar with the technology, average speed cameras are quite different from the traditional speed cameras that drivers might be used to.
These cameras are positioned at two separate points along a stretch of road, and the time it takes for a vehicle to travel from the first point to the second is calculated. The vehicle’s average speed is then determined, and if it exceeds the speed limit for that section of road, the driver will be issued a speeding fine.
The rationale behind this system is to discourage drivers from slowing down only when they spot a speed camera and speeding up again once they’ve passed it. By monitoring average speed over a distance, it’s hoped that drivers will maintain a consistent and legal speed throughout their journey.
This new enforcement measure will initially be trialled on two highway stretches: a 15-kilometre section of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes and a 16-kilometre portion of the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai.
During the first two months of the trial, drivers who exceed the speed limit by 30km/hr or less will be issued a cautionary letter rather than a fine. However, those who exceed the limit by more than 30km/hr will not be spared and can expect to face the full legal consequences.
Come July 1, the gloves will come off, and all speeding offences captured by the average speed cameras will result in fines. The NSW Government plans to review the trial’s results next year, and if deemed successful, we could see a broader rollout of average speed cameras tracking light vehicles across the state.
As we approach the implementation date, it’s crucial for drivers to be vigilant and adjust their driving habits accordingly.
The introduction of average speed cameras is a clear signal that the government is taking a tougher stance on speeding, and it’s in every motorist’s best interest to heed the warning.
We understand that changes like these can be a lot to take in, especially for drivers who have been on the roads for decades and are accustomed to a certain way of driving.
However, the safety benefits of such measures cannot be overstated. By encouraging drivers to maintain safe speeds, we’re protecting ourselves and our fellow road users.
We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this new approach to speed enforcement. Do you think average speed cameras will significantly improve road safety? Have you had experiences with this type of technology in other states or territories? Let’s discuss in the comments below, and remember, safe driving is everyone’s responsibility.
Also read: An Australian dad got a shocking $700 fine—it’s not just child’s play!
The Headline says “Australians”, the Article is about New South Wales !!
These Speed Averaging Cameras have been used in NSW for Heavy Vehicles since 2010, so they’re not ‘new’. It was announced in September 2024 that these cameras would be expanded to light vehicles too.
These cameras can be used to ‘catch’ any drivers, no matter which state they’re from, so no one’s immune to the cameras and subsequent fines.
If ALL drivers were to ‘stick to’ the speed limits, then there’d be no need for these cameras. I regularly drive the M31 (Hume Highway), A20 (Sturt Highway) & A41 (Olympic Highway) and no matter what, I’m doing the speed limit of 110kph (M31) or 100kph (A20 & A41), and ‘maniacs’ and ‘hoons’ regularly speed past me as if I was standing still.
I say ‘good on the government’ for introducing these cameras for regular vehicles, thus trying to curb the mounting road toll, especially on the motorways.
‘City’ drivers don’t have the experience in driving on motorways (except in their own city, as at much slower speed – 80kph), like we ‘country’ drivers who drive the motorways far more often than them.
From my many years of driving experience, it’s the ones who live in the major cities who cause the most accidents on ‘country motorways’, as they’re in far too much of a ‘hurry’ to get where they want to go.
There’s a saying ‘it’s better to be late than dead on arrival (time)’, which is so very true.
BTW All other mainland Australian states and the ACT use average speed cameras for heavy and light vehicles as part of their speed enforcement programs. Currently, only heavy vehicles are detected by average speed cameras in NSW. Therefore NSW is just catching up.