NSW government to install 1000 new mobile speed camera warning signs

After a controversial decision to stop warning driversabout one thing last year, NSW has ‘backflipped’ and made some big changes.

Hundreds of signs will be installed to warn drivers about mobile speed cameras across NSW after a controversial decision to remove the cautions caused fines to skyrocket.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the nearly 1000 new permanent signs, as well as 360 digital signs used to warn drivers about speed cameras, would remind drivers they could be caught speeding “anywhere, anytime”.

“Speeding is the biggest killer on our roads, with almost 50 per cent of fatalities last year caused by someone travelling at an inappropriate speed,” he said on Tuesday.

That number dropped to about 40 per cent in 2021.

Mr Constance also said the number of drivers caught speeding dropped from five times per hour of enforcement in February to 3.5 in June.

NSW Roads and Transport Minister Andrew Constance said drivers should be aware they can be caught speeding “anywhere, anytime”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns called the move a “partial backflip” and urged the government to bring back portable warning signs as well.

“We all want to see drivers slow down and our roads safer,” he said.

“But the data is showing clearly that warning signs work to change driver behaviour and the fact the government is now putting signs back up is proof of this.”

Figures obtained by Labor show fines exploded after the government decided to remove warning signs in November last year.

From an average of 1634 fines handed out per month over a six-year period ending last year, NSW officials handed out more than 27,000 speeding tickets for low-range offences in March 2021.

NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns called the move a “partial backflip” and called for the government to bring back portable warning signs as well. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Mr Minns said May 2021 was the highest month on record for low-range speeding offences, capturing drivers clocked going less than 10km per hour over the limit.

Drivers pinged for the offence forked out $4 million in fines.

The motorists’ association NRMA also backed the move to reintroduce warning signs.

“The NRMA has always argued that warning signs were a critical part of the mobile speed camera program, and we maintain that view today,” spokesman Peter Khoury said.

“This is a positive and necessary outcome.”

Fatalities on NSW roads have increased so far this year, with 147 deaths in the first half of the year, compared with 143 in the first half of last year, according to Transport for NSW figures.