Man’s roadside sign ahead of speed camera divides Aussies

A man who took it upon himself to warn drivers of a nearby speed camera set off a war of words in the process.

Over the years, Aussies have come up with various ways to warn their fellow drivers of nearby speed cameras, from flashing their high beams to logging a sighting on various live traffic apps.

Now, one Aussie has taken matters into his own hands and hit the streets with a handwritten sign to alert motorists of an upcoming camera.

While his community-minded act was appreciated by many, others were left less than impressed at his efforts to help people avoid speeding fines.

Over the weekend, the man was spotted standing on the side of the road near a busy intersection on the Prices Highway in Melbourne’s southwest, apparently waving to passing cars.

He had a sombre expression and wore a fluoro orange singlet to ensure drivers saw him.

Above his head, he held a sign that read: “Beware Camera”.

An Aussie’s roadside sign has been met with mixed reviews. Picture: Instagram/@wyndhamtv

After the photo was shared to local news service Wyndham TV’s Instagram, praise immediately started pouring in for the man.

“Absolute bloody Aussie legend right there,” said one.

Others said he was “a good citizen” doing “God’s work” and deserved to be bought “a beer or 10.”

Locals then chimed in to identify their “local hero”, Daryl, who they said often stands by roads and does this.

But others questioned why he was interfering with road safety measures and asked why he didn’t have more important things to do with his time.

“Motorists need to take responsibility for not speeding,” one person argued, before others defended the move, saying it would reduce speeding and crashes, which is ultimately a positive thing.

In Victoria, there is no specific law that prohibits warning drivers about the presence of a speed camera, so the man’s actions are not illegal.

Interestingly, police officers have also informed drivers about speed cameras in recent years during industrial actions related to ongoing pay disputes.

And it’s definitely not the first time Aussies have done this, with one self-proclaimed “speed camera crusader” going viral in 2022 for exposing the “sneaky” way mobile speed cameras catch drivers in NSW.

Other Aussies in the past have warned motorists of upcoming speed cameras. Picture: A Current Affair

Beau Jackson posted a video to TikTok showing a mobile speed camera car parked next to another road sign.

“This is their tactics, parking next to other signs so they blend in,” the 17-year-old told his nearly 60,000 followers.

He once attached a “speed camera ahead” handwritten sign to his dirt bike along a road on the NSW Central Coast.

Mr Jackson said he targets cameras that are hidden, such as at the bottom of a steep hill or around a bend, and would not warn motorists of cameras in areas like school zones.

Victoria Police has approved approximately 2000 locations across Victoria where mobile cameras can operate at any time of any day.

An up-to-date list of approved mobile camera locations is published on the Victorian government website each month.