New technology catches out many more speeding drivers

A new generation of almost invisible mobile speed cameras is catching far more drivers, causing an explosion in fines. See our worst fine hot spots.

Almost invisible mobile speed cameras are catching far more drivers, causing an explosion in fines during the last year.

No longer are cameras bulky and visible to approaching motorists – but many are embedded in the front bumper bar of police cars and barely visible even up close.

And police have criticised some drivers who were taking advantage of low traffic congestion because of Covid-19 to speed more.

Using police data released for the last financial year, the RAA has studied the effect of the cameras on speeding fines, despite far less traffic on roads because of Covid-19.

RAA road safety expert Charles Mountain said the police figures showed mobile cameras had become the worst enemy of speeding drivers.

“Comparison of the way motorists were caught reveals a decrease in the number of roadside fines and cautions issued by police officers and fines generated by fixed cameras, but a significant 32 per cent increase in motorists caught on mobile cameras,’’ he said.

In the last financial year there were 118,622 mobile camera fines totalling $48.8m, compared to 89,786 in the previous year costing $34.5m and in 2018/19 81,701 fines totalling $30m.

The new cameras were rolled out late in the 2019/20 financial year, having their full effect in 2020/21.

From the front, the new camera is so hard for passing traffic to see because it is built into the vehicle bumper bar and hidden except for a small plastic reflective window.

From the rear, the cameras shoot through the window and can only be seen close up.

Their introduction was a departure in policy for police, who had favoured high visibility to change driver behaviour when approaching the cameras.

The cameras are replacing the tripod-mounted devices external to the operating vehicle, and much more visible to passing traffic.

The new cameras have allowed police to deploy in many more locations, to photograph the front and back of passing vehicles, on multiple-lane roads, and in both directions at the same time.

Officer in Charge of traffic services Superintendent Bob Gray, criticised drivers for doing the wrong thing.

“The new cameras have more capabilities than the previous cameras which may have contributed to the increase in detections,’’ he said.

“In addition while at times the traffic volumes have decreased during Covid-19 it has been a concern that police have observed a significant increase in people exceeding the speed limits and particularly travelling at high speeds.”

Mr Mountain said motorists should be especially careful in suburban areas where the 60km/h speed limit reduced to 50km/h.

“Many drivers are still not clear where 50km/h applies and are being caught by that,’’ he said.

“Of course the answer is in urban areas that it is 50km/h when you don’t see a speed sign that is higher or lower.”

Mr Mountain said catching speeding motorists even in 50km/h zones was important.

“The speed reflects the environment so for example where there is more activity to the side of the roads like pedestrian activity, more parking,” he said.

“But also if these roads continue to be a problem and this is reflected in the figures, we need to look at what can be done with signs to stop people speeding and getting caught.

Cutting edge mobile speed cameras are believed partly responsible for a huge increase in fines. Pictures: 9 NEWS

All speeding fines from all sources recorded a less dramatic increase over the last financial year, reflecting that police only spent 52,000 hours on the case not the expected 74,000 because of Covid-19 policing demands.

Of all speeding fines, in 2020/21 there were 214,426 issued, costing speeders $88m, and in 2019/20 196,799 costing $75.4m.

The number of motorists caught speeding by fixed cameras fell to 57,778, a decrease of 5747 – or 9 per cent – during the same period.

There was also a fall in speeding offences issued by officers to 39,648, a decrease of 5132 – or 11 per cent – during this period.

Mr Mountain agreed another factor which had caused an increase in speeding fines was lower Covid-19 traffic volumes, allowing people to drive more quickly.

“Police have issued 980,731 speeding fines worth around $395 million and 76,214 cautions since 2016/17, the latest figures show,’’ he said.

Mr Mountain said mobile speed cameras allowed police to better target areas where bad behaviour became more known.

“Fixed camera fines detections are noticeably fewer, but you can argue they are serving their purpose and people know they are there and won’t speed through them,” he said.

Police move mobile cameras to locations based on intelligence about the area.

This includes the number of casualties, how many fines were issued for more than 30km/h over the limit.

Public complaints about speeding also add to the intelligence.

Originally published as New technology catches out many more speeding drivers