WA considers rapid expansion of speed camera network

Western Australia’s Road Safety Commission is considering a rapid expansion of the state’s speed camera network, with private technology companies encouraged to partner in the project.

The market-sounding exercise invites applicants to pitch new and emerging safety camera technologies to assist in the commission’s target of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on WA roads by 50 to 70 per cent by 2030 and zero by 2050.

The WA government is considering emerging speed camera technologies, including cameras similar to these ones operating in Queensland.Credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads

“The commission is interested in not only the road safety technology solutions but also in the commercial engagement models that could be offered, such as alliance, co-investment, ‘as a service’, etc,” the request document said.

But opposition road safety spokesman Martin Aldridge said he was concerned the project showed the commission was considering outsourcing the operation of some of its speed cameras.

“Why is it that we need to commercialise this aspect that has been an in-house government function for a long time?” he said on Radio 6PR.

“We certainly have public confidence issues in cameras and also the use of the revenue that comes from cameras in WA.”

However, Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the state government had no intention of privatising safety cameras, with 100 per cent of the revenue from speed and red light camera fines to continue going into the Road Trauma Trust.

“This is not what it’s about, we’re looking around where we can develop WA and Australian-based companies to move into an important space which is road safety and saving people’s lives,” he said.

“Where we think the market is developing, and where other states and territories have already moved, is to using cameras for other offences like mobile phones and seatbelts and unlicensed vehicles.”

He said a three-month trial of artificial intelligence cameras earlier this year picked up thousands of drivers on their mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts.

Warner said the trial showed positive results.

“The Road Safety Commission supports the use of more safety cameras, to detect more offences in more locations, particularly regional WA,” he said.

WA currently operates fixed and mobile speed cameras, red light cameras and one point-to-point camera on Forrest Highway, which has reduced the highway’s crash risk by 40 per cent since being introduced.

The technology has already been rolled out in Queensland, along with custom-built solar-powered roadworks and school zone speed cameras.

WA has one of the highest road fatality rates in the country, with only the Northern Territory and Tasmania experiencing more deaths per person.

In 2021, 166 died on WA roads, 14 of whom were not wearing a seatbelt. Another 1587 were seriously injured.

Speed was the most common behavioural factor in fatal crashes. Regional roads were also over-represented in the statistics, accounting for 60 per cent of deaths in the last six years.

More than $100 million goes into the Road Trauma Fund account each year to reduce harm on WA roads.

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