Are you speeding? This massive change in speed cameras could cost you a fortune!
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As we know, staying within the speed limit isn't just about avoiding fines—it's about safety.
However, for those who might occasionally let the speedometer creep up, there's a significant change on the horizon that could have a hefty impact on your wallets and driving records.
In a move that's set to shake up the way speed is monitored on New South Wales roads, the state is trialling a new approach to speed cameras that will affect not just the truckies who have traditionally been the focus of average-speed camera zones.
Australia’s largest jurisdiction has announced it will end its unique approach to point-to-point speed detection and its policy limiting enforcement to heavy vehicles only.
Instead, a new trial will cover all drivers along two highways where six fatalities have occurred in recent years.
This major shift means that the speed of every vehicle will be tracked through these zones, and while there's a grace period at first, penalties will soon follow.
For the first 60 days of the trial, drivers who exceed the speed limit will receive written warnings.
However, after that, it's time to brace for the possibility of fines and points off your licence.
Roads Minister John Graham noted that all other mainland Australian states, as well as countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands, have found average speed cameras to be effective.
‘We aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW,’ he stated on Sunday, September 8.
The stretches in question include a 15-kilometre section of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes on the mid-north coast and a similar length on the Hume Highway north of Gundagai.
These areas have not only seen deaths but also a significant number of serious injuries, with 33 people seriously hurt in the five years leading up to 2022.
Speeding has been a major issue in NSW, contributing to 44 per cent of road deaths in the state in 2023, with a staggering three-quarters of these occurring in regional areas.
It's clear that something needs to be done, and the NSW government is taking action.
To ensure that drivers are aware of the new trial, a comprehensive communications campaign will be rolled out. This is crucial, as understanding the rules is the first step to compliance.
This measure was among several recommended by a road safety forum held in Sydney in April, which included 155 experts.
The trial's outcomes will be closely monitored, and any decision to make it permanent or extend it to other average-speed zones in NSW will require parliamentary approval.
This is a cautious approach, but one that could lead to a significant change in how we drive.
Safety advocates, like Peter Frazer, the Founder of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, have long lobbied NSW to change its approach.
After his daughter Sarah's tragic death on the road on her way to university in 2012, Mr Frazer has been a vocal proponent of measures that encourage drivers to maintain safe speeds.
‘These cameras promote safer driving habits by encouraging drivers and riders to stick to the speed limit,’ he said.
Despite the changes, NSW will still stand out for its approach to road speed enforcement.
Unlike other regions, NSW drivers receive multiple warnings when approaching fixed and mobile speed cameras.
This approach, supported by both the government and motoring groups, has been criticised by the head of the Australasian College of Road Safety as being ‘completely lacking any evidence base’.
As New South Wales gears up for significant changes in speed camera enforcement, drivers are also facing new safety measures aimed at enhancing road safety.
Just as the state prepares to overhaul its approach to point-to-point speed detection, recent efforts to tackle rising road toll incidents have introduced advanced seatbelt detection cameras.
These cameras are part of a broader strategy to ensure safer driving practices and reduce road fatalities.
Together, these initiatives underscore a comprehensive push towards improving road safety across the state.
What are your thoughts on this new trial? Do you think it will make a difference in road safety, or do you have concerns about its implementation? Share your views in the comments below, and let's discuss the best ways to stay safe and compliant on the roads.
However, for those who might occasionally let the speedometer creep up, there's a significant change on the horizon that could have a hefty impact on your wallets and driving records.
In a move that's set to shake up the way speed is monitored on New South Wales roads, the state is trialling a new approach to speed cameras that will affect not just the truckies who have traditionally been the focus of average-speed camera zones.
Australia’s largest jurisdiction has announced it will end its unique approach to point-to-point speed detection and its policy limiting enforcement to heavy vehicles only.
Instead, a new trial will cover all drivers along two highways where six fatalities have occurred in recent years.
NSW will be trialling average-speed cameras for all drivers, not just trucks. Credit: Shutterstock
This major shift means that the speed of every vehicle will be tracked through these zones, and while there's a grace period at first, penalties will soon follow.
For the first 60 days of the trial, drivers who exceed the speed limit will receive written warnings.
However, after that, it's time to brace for the possibility of fines and points off your licence.
Roads Minister John Graham noted that all other mainland Australian states, as well as countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands, have found average speed cameras to be effective.
‘We aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW,’ he stated on Sunday, September 8.
The stretches in question include a 15-kilometre section of the Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes on the mid-north coast and a similar length on the Hume Highway north of Gundagai.
These areas have not only seen deaths but also a significant number of serious injuries, with 33 people seriously hurt in the five years leading up to 2022.
Speeding has been a major issue in NSW, contributing to 44 per cent of road deaths in the state in 2023, with a staggering three-quarters of these occurring in regional areas.
It's clear that something needs to be done, and the NSW government is taking action.
To ensure that drivers are aware of the new trial, a comprehensive communications campaign will be rolled out. This is crucial, as understanding the rules is the first step to compliance.
This measure was among several recommended by a road safety forum held in Sydney in April, which included 155 experts.
The trial's outcomes will be closely monitored, and any decision to make it permanent or extend it to other average-speed zones in NSW will require parliamentary approval.
This is a cautious approach, but one that could lead to a significant change in how we drive.
Safety advocates, like Peter Frazer, the Founder of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, have long lobbied NSW to change its approach.
After his daughter Sarah's tragic death on the road on her way to university in 2012, Mr Frazer has been a vocal proponent of measures that encourage drivers to maintain safe speeds.
‘These cameras promote safer driving habits by encouraging drivers and riders to stick to the speed limit,’ he said.
Despite the changes, NSW will still stand out for its approach to road speed enforcement.
Unlike other regions, NSW drivers receive multiple warnings when approaching fixed and mobile speed cameras.
This approach, supported by both the government and motoring groups, has been criticised by the head of the Australasian College of Road Safety as being ‘completely lacking any evidence base’.
As New South Wales gears up for significant changes in speed camera enforcement, drivers are also facing new safety measures aimed at enhancing road safety.
Just as the state prepares to overhaul its approach to point-to-point speed detection, recent efforts to tackle rising road toll incidents have introduced advanced seatbelt detection cameras.
These cameras are part of a broader strategy to ensure safer driving practices and reduce road fatalities.
Together, these initiatives underscore a comprehensive push towards improving road safety across the state.
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