As we navigate around Aussie roads, safety is paramount for ourselves and everyone who shares the road with us.

In an innovative move to enhance road safety, a local state started a trial that could keep drivers' eyes on the road.

Queensland started deploying monitoring signs that could give real-time warnings to drivers violating road rules, such as tailgating and mobile phone usage.

These behavioural awareness monitors (BAM) cameras should encourage safer driving habits.

The signs should flash warnings to drivers and urge them to keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

The behavioural awareness monitor (BAM) will be trialled in four areas spread between Townsville and Southeast Queensland. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Paul Harding

On the other hand, drivers who use their mobile phones while driving should be urged to put them down.

This could correct drivers' behaviour on the spot.

The Queensland state government confirmed that on-road trials should begin in late 2024.

The BAM cameras would be installed on single-lane, straight roads with speed limits ranging from 60 to 80 kph.

The trial sites will include two locations in Townsville and another two within Southeast Queensland.

Other than traffic enforcement, BAM cameras will not issue fines.

Instead, they will only alert and remind drivers of their actions, gently nudging them to drive safely.

The rollout of these BAM cameras experienced some delays as authorities decided to expand the warnings from phone usage to tailgating.

This was a response to the concerns of the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland (RACQ), Queensland's largest club for motorists.

Tailgating has been a top frustration in the club's annual surveys, highlighting the need for a solution.

'If you are driving along and someone is tailgating you, the best thing that you can do is to slow down a little bit to give yourself more space to the vehicle in front of you, RACQ's Road Safety and Technical Manager, Joel Tucker, advised.

Enforcing tailgating rules has always been a challenge.

Yet, with the introduction of BAM cameras, its real-time feedback could make a difference.
The technology has already gone through off-road testing and is now ready for on-road trials.

As we await the results of this trial, it's a reminder to all of us to stay vigilant and considerate on the roads.

Key Takeaways

• Queensland introduced behavioural awareness monitors (BAM) cameras to monitor and give real-time warnings to tailgaters and mobile phone users.
• These BAM cameras would not issue fines but should display messages urging drivers to correct their behaviour.
• On-road trials for the behavioural awareness monitors should begin by late 2024.
• The trial was a response to concerns about driver safety and aimed to provide real-time feedback on risky driver behaviour.

Will real-time warnings make a difference in driver behaviour? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this new technology in the comments section below.

 

[Abby2]

Time to stop giving teens a licence to drive a lethal weapon. We know their brains do not mature until later

Spot on Marnie!!!

 

[Abby2]

️I bet you could count them on the fingers of an amputated hand.

How many people in SDC who drive, have NEVER broken a road rule, whether caught or not?

You can put me in the count

 

[David567]

Wouldn't it be great if they spent this much effort in fixing repairing the roads. Spending money catching people seems to be a priority . There hasn't been any change in road toll with the introduction of cameras, only the revenue has increased.

 

[David567]

Why is it that when new rules, no matter what, are employed for our safety someone will always say it is ‘revenue raising’. Do so many of you think it will not happen to you and you are NEVER going to have a crash that will maim you or kill you.

This so called ‘revenue raising’ is what pays for your safety, the trauma caused to emergency workers (police, ambulance, fire & medical staff who have to deal with the maimed, twisted or dead bodies they have to extricate from crashes). Yes, it is revenue raised but it helps pay for these services to keep all of us safe, no matter what background any of us comes from.

SO KEEP IN MIND ALL OF WHAT THIS MONEY GOES TOWARDS, PLEASE DO SO EVERYONE.

They should spend the money on repairing the roads. Instead the money is spent on more ways to raise more money. That is revenue rasing to make up for the poor tax cuts and power rebates that some people think are wonderful treats from the Alosleazy government. Meanwhile the road toll is still increasing because the introduction of spending millions on cameras hasn't changed a bloody thing except for REVENUE RAISING.

 

[David567]

Sounds like another revenue raising big brother camera

I AGREE 100%. Revenue raising takes priority over the damaged roads the government claims this money is spent on fixing. Albosleazy is on par with Trump. Total reign of destruction. Liberals turn next, then labor, then liberal, then labor and so on.

 

[Barbara V]

You'll never stop the rogue drivers on the road no matter what rules are installed. They believe they own the road and are invincible , tailgaters are the worse especially when they overtake at the end of a overtaking lane when you have to merge into one lane.They say older drivers are worse so how come all the deaths are those under 25

 

[magpie1]

How many might think twice if speeding fines and phone fines were doubled
again ...they are high now I understand but if it makes our roads a bit safer for those of us who drive to the rules then so be it.

 

[Juliebarnes53]

Good idea if there are no fines The exception being the phone where a fines absolutely necessary