Mystery camera appears on Aussie roadside and drivers say: ‘It won’t be good’
- Replies 2
Strange roadside setups can leave drivers with more questions than answers—especially when there’s no signage, no operator in sight, and no clear explanation.
That’s exactly what happened on a busy stretch of road in one Australian capital city, where the sudden appearance of a mysterious high-tech device had motorists speculating wildly.
The growing confusion eventually drew the attention of local authorities, prompting a closer look into what this unusual camera was really doing there.
A mysterious camera setup on a footpath along Montacute Road in Hectorville, Adelaide, sparked confusion among drivers who were unsure of its purpose.
The device, which appeared high-tech and unmarked, sat next to two orange cones but had no visible operator or signage.
A curious motorist shared images of the setup to social media, asking if they had unknowingly driven past a speed camera.
‘There is definitely no operator in sight,’ the driver noted alongside the photos.
Although many commenters suspected it was a speed camera, several pointed out the location had not been mentioned in the publicly available list of daily speed camera sites.
Others remarked these types of cameras were often placed discreetly in the Adelaide Hills and hidden using camouflage netting.
‘They always have these in the hills, behind bushes and stuff. These aren’t often listed on the “daily speed camera” locations,’ one motorist wrote.
‘Whatever it is, you can be rest assured that it won’t be good for anyone driving past it,’ another commented.
A closer look at the camera revealed it had a sleek, modern design, but there was still no indication of who operated it.
When contacted, both the City of Campbelltown Council and the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport were unable to explain what the camera was.
South Australia Police, however, confirmed it was a mobile speed enforcement camera operated by a human.
‘The equipment pictured is an existing SA Police mobile speed enforcement camera and had an operator present,’ a police spokesperson shared.
‘The type of speed detection camera pictured is not a new piece of equipment for SA Police.’
They also clarified that not all mobile speed cameras were listed publicly.
‘Not all speed cameras are listed. A portion are listed—this is so a generalised speed reduction occurs across the state and to change driver behaviours, rather than people just slowing down for where they know the cameras will be. This reduces speed, reduces road trauma and provides safer roads for all South Australians,’ the spokesperson added.
Unlike New South Wales, there is no legal requirement for mobile speed cameras in South Australia to be clearly visible or signposted.
Another driver who claimed to pass the area later said they saw a ‘ute down the street parked’, suggesting the operator may have been nearby but out of sight.
Others on social media slammed the setup as ‘sneaky’, accusing authorities of deliberately catching drivers off guard.
Roadside surveillance across Australia has become increasingly common as governments respond to rising road tolls.
In 2024, more than 1,300 people died in road crashes—up from 1,258 in 2023—according to the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
The heightened monitoring has left some motorists feeling targeted, fuelling frustration over what they see as revenue-raising tactics.
In Tasmania alone, $9.5 million in fines were issued to drivers in one year, sparking public backlash.
Despite the criticism, officials across multiple states have stood firm on the enforcement measures.
‘The consequences for drivers caught speeding, illegally using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt are costly and include being fined or, in serious cases, losing their licence,’ Tasmania's Department of State Growth shared.
This hardline stance has been echoed by authorities in other jurisdictions, reinforcing the national crackdown on road offences.
In a previous story, we looked at how new technology is being introduced to make Australian roads safer.
Authorities described the latest devices as ‘game changers’ in an effort to reduce accidents and improve compliance.
You can read more about how this technology could impact drivers across the country.
With mobile speed cameras becoming harder to spot, do you think this approach genuinely improves road safety or just catches drivers off guard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
That’s exactly what happened on a busy stretch of road in one Australian capital city, where the sudden appearance of a mysterious high-tech device had motorists speculating wildly.
The growing confusion eventually drew the attention of local authorities, prompting a closer look into what this unusual camera was really doing there.
A mysterious camera setup on a footpath along Montacute Road in Hectorville, Adelaide, sparked confusion among drivers who were unsure of its purpose.
The device, which appeared high-tech and unmarked, sat next to two orange cones but had no visible operator or signage.
A curious motorist shared images of the setup to social media, asking if they had unknowingly driven past a speed camera.
Unmarked camera setup baffles Adelaide drivers. Image source: Reddit/Lazy-Deer8500
‘There is definitely no operator in sight,’ the driver noted alongside the photos.
Although many commenters suspected it was a speed camera, several pointed out the location had not been mentioned in the publicly available list of daily speed camera sites.
Others remarked these types of cameras were often placed discreetly in the Adelaide Hills and hidden using camouflage netting.
‘They always have these in the hills, behind bushes and stuff. These aren’t often listed on the “daily speed camera” locations,’ one motorist wrote.
‘Whatever it is, you can be rest assured that it won’t be good for anyone driving past it,’ another commented.
A closer look at the camera revealed it had a sleek, modern design, but there was still no indication of who operated it.
When contacted, both the City of Campbelltown Council and the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport were unable to explain what the camera was.
South Australia Police, however, confirmed it was a mobile speed enforcement camera operated by a human.
‘The equipment pictured is an existing SA Police mobile speed enforcement camera and had an operator present,’ a police spokesperson shared.
‘The type of speed detection camera pictured is not a new piece of equipment for SA Police.’
They also clarified that not all mobile speed cameras were listed publicly.
‘Not all speed cameras are listed. A portion are listed—this is so a generalised speed reduction occurs across the state and to change driver behaviours, rather than people just slowing down for where they know the cameras will be. This reduces speed, reduces road trauma and provides safer roads for all South Australians,’ the spokesperson added.
Unlike New South Wales, there is no legal requirement for mobile speed cameras in South Australia to be clearly visible or signposted.
Another driver who claimed to pass the area later said they saw a ‘ute down the street parked’, suggesting the operator may have been nearby but out of sight.
Others on social media slammed the setup as ‘sneaky’, accusing authorities of deliberately catching drivers off guard.
Roadside surveillance across Australia has become increasingly common as governments respond to rising road tolls.
In 2024, more than 1,300 people died in road crashes—up from 1,258 in 2023—according to the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
The heightened monitoring has left some motorists feeling targeted, fuelling frustration over what they see as revenue-raising tactics.
In Tasmania alone, $9.5 million in fines were issued to drivers in one year, sparking public backlash.
Despite the criticism, officials across multiple states have stood firm on the enforcement measures.
‘The consequences for drivers caught speeding, illegally using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt are costly and include being fined or, in serious cases, losing their licence,’ Tasmania's Department of State Growth shared.
This hardline stance has been echoed by authorities in other jurisdictions, reinforcing the national crackdown on road offences.
In a previous story, we looked at how new technology is being introduced to make Australian roads safer.
Authorities described the latest devices as ‘game changers’ in an effort to reduce accidents and improve compliance.
You can read more about how this technology could impact drivers across the country.
With mobile speed cameras becoming harder to spot, do you think this approach genuinely improves road safety or just catches drivers off guard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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