Mobile speed camera warning signs to return in major government U-turn

NSW drivers will see a big change in the use of mobile speed cameras, but the slow rollout is no defence for motorists caught in the hidden speed traps in the meantime, lawyers warn.

Warning signs will be reinstated before and after mobile speed cameras from January next year after the government caved to public outrage at hidden speed traps- but the move to wait until after the holiday season to make the change has been criticised.

Drivers will once again be warned as they are approaching a mobile speed camera, after cabinet ministers unanimously backing a policy U-turn in a bid to nullify a major source of voter anger six months before the election.

Roads Minister Natalie Ward insisted the announcement showed the government was “listening to the community”.

“We want the opportunity to provide drivers with the chance to adjust their behaviour,” Ms Ward said.

It comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet told The Daily Telegraph in December that he did not want speed cameras to be “revenue-raisers”.

The old warning signs will be back from January 1 next year. Picture: AAP Image/Vincent Morello

So far this year, 199,000 fines have been issued by mobile speed cameras, earning the government almost $27 million for road safety initiatives.

That’s despite the government progressively adding extra warning signs to mobile speed cameras, including on the top of the vehicles.

The signs had been phased out since the end of 2019. Supplied

Ministers had until now resisted a complete backflip by reintroducing warning signs that were in place until the end of 2019.

Mobile speed cameras will have more warning signs than ever from January 1, with roof-mounted warning signs to remain.

But lawyer Sam Macedone said the delay in rolling out the warning sign will not be a free pass for speeding motorists looking to escape a fine.

“The law is the law and if you breach it while it’s in place that’s what it is,” he said.

“The offence isn’t complying with the speed sign, its speeding. If you’re speeding now, whether you’re warned or not, they can book you.”

The number of mobile speed cameras fines issued to drivers skyrocketed by 834 per cent in 2021, with almost 362,000 fines issued the year after warning signs began to be phased out.

Ms Ward would not say whether cabinet ministers had considered any modelling on whether the policy reversal would cost lives.

Premier Dominic Perrottet signalled a change in policy in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in December.

“I’m obviously bound by cabinet confidence,” she said.

“Cabinet has made a decision to balance the community’s feedback together with the parliamentary inquiry recommendations.”

The NRMA is calling on the government to put out speed camera warning signs “as quickly as possible” but acknowledged that logistic issues may prevent a fast rollout.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said there were more mobile speed cameras in NSW than before which may explain why the government needs until January to put the warning signs up.

“We’re not aware of the logistics that are required to bring the signs back. We know that since the number of signs have increased,” he said.

Mr Khoury is urging the government to take immediate action on the signs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“It’s important to note that the cameras are run by operators, so we’re not sure about the logistics of the timeline but what we would say to the government is get them out as quickly as they possibly can.

“If they can get them out in January, we would welcome that … If that's the absolute limit, let’s make sure we hit that deadline.”

Labor leader Chris Minns accused the government of a last minute holiday season “cash grab” for failing to roll out the new warning signs sooner. “The idea that you can have a last minute cash grab just prior to Christmas is ridiculous,” he said. “ If there is a logistical problem, be honest about it.”

NSW Mobile speed camera. Picture: Supplied

A government-led parliamentary committee broke ranks in May slamming the decision to remove warning signs.

Former Transport Minister Andrew Constance first announced that warning signs would be removed from mobile speed cameras in November 2020.

At the time, he cited independent modelling which showed removing warning signs and tripling enforcement hours “may save” between 34 and 43 lives each year.

The decision to again put signs before and after mobile speed cameras also follows increasing evidence of operators doing the wrong thing, including by hiding behind obstacles.

One video published to social media in September appeared to show one car operating without its roof-mounted warning sign erected, until the driver noticed he was being filmed.

“We want the chance for drivers to take that opportunity to slow down on our roads, giving them additional signage will do doing exactly that, rather than getting a speeding fine three weeks later,” Ms Ward said.

Mobile speed cameras will also revert to fining drivers only on one side of the street.

Nationals MP Wes Fang, who sensationally lashed out at Mr Constance over the original decision, applauded the government for “listening” to the community.

Mobile speed camera failures have become social media fodder for aggrieved drivers.

“We were lumbered with Andrew Constance’s poor decision and once it was in place the bureaucrats were clearly reluctant to let it go,” he said.

“However we are a government that listens and we are a government that has taken the advice from the public that they don’t mind speed enforcement, they just want it to be fair.”

The decision also clears away what would have been a major policy battle at the next election.

Labor Leader Chris Minns had pledged to reintroduce mobile speed camera warning signs if he wins government in March.

He welcomed the move on Monday.

“We believe the signs should be out so that motorists change their behaviour in real time and not commit the offences in the first place,” he said.