Aussies warned of new ‘revenue-raising’ speed cameras

One state’s move to snatch cash from Aussie motorists has been slammed ahead of plans to drastically expand the program.

Motorists in one Australian state are being warned about a potential speed camera overhaul, as average speed cameras begin targeting light vehicles for the first time.

Drivers in New South Wales are being advised of two average speed cameras, which are now in warning mode for light vehicle speeding offences.

The move marks a significant expansion of the system, which has previously only been used to monitor heavy vehicles in the state.

Cameras on a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes (near Port Macquarie) and a 6km section of the Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundagai began calculating the average speed of all passing vehicles as of May 1.

From May 1, some average speed cameras will target all passing vehicles.

MORE: ‘Direct threat’: Temu hits back over ‘fake’ claims

Avinash Singh, Principal Lawyer at Astor Legal, has revealed there are plans to expand this trial so that all average speed cameras across the state will target all vehicles.

“It should also be noted that both areas are regional, so the cameras will disportionately target drivers in these locations,” Singh said.

“However, the plan is to eventually expand this trial so that all average speed cameras target all vehicles.”

From July 1, the average speed cameras switch to full enforcement.

According to the NSW Government, the decision to start trials at the two locations has been made due to their extensive crash history.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said her office was determined to bring down the road toll in regional NSW.

MORE: Why Australia’s new ute faces an ugly truth

NSW roads minister Jenny Aitchison during NSW parliament question time. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

“Regional NSW is home to a third of the population but is where two-thirds of all road deaths happen,” she said.

“With the majority of road trauma occurring in our regions, we have chosen two regional locations to test the impact these cameras could have on road safety for all road users.

“I know this trial will be a change, particularly for regional people who travel through the areas where these two camera lengths are in place, which is why we are committed to ensuring that the community is aware of what we are doing.”

However, Avinash Singh has slammed the expanded use of average speed cameras, calling it a “transparent revenue-raising ploy” rather than a genuine road safety initiative.

“There has not been a spate of accidents in the average speed camera areas that would warrant them being expanded to target regular drivers,” Avinash said.

“It is difficult to see this as anything other than another transparent revenue-raising ploy to target drivers.”

MORE: Huge blow for P-platers as popular car banned

Average speed cameras in NSW exclusively target heavy vehicles.

There were a combined total of six fatalities and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 at the two locations, according to the NSW government.

NSW is currently the only jurisdiction that uses average-speed cameras to exclusively target heavy vehicles.

The trial brings the state in line with Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, where the system has been successfully targeting all motorists on specific lengths of road.

Tasmania and the Northern Territory do not currently use point-to-point speed cameras.

Originally published as Aussies warned of new ‘revenue-raising’ speed cameras