State government deploys new safety measures as road toll incidents rise

As we navigate the roads of our beautiful country, safety is paramount.

But for those who might be tempted to push the speed limit or forget to click that seatbelt into place, there's a new reminder that safety comes first—and it might just hit your wallet if you're not careful.



The New South Wales Government is taking a significant step to combat the troubling rise in road fatalities by doubling the number of mobile speed camera sites.

An additional 2,700 locations will soon be available for operators to monitor and catch speeding drivers.


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NSW will deploy additional safety measures to combat road death toll incidents. Credit: Shutterstock


From 1 July 2024, NSW will also activate its seatbelt detection cameras. These high-tech devices will not only look for speeders but also catch motorists who are not buckled up.

This technology isn't entirely new, as the cameras have been in use for detecting mobile phone usage by drivers.

However, the addition of seatbelt detection is a fresh initiative.

NSW is following in the footsteps of Queensland, which introduced seatbelt detection cameras in August 2021, Victoria in April 2023, and Tasmania in August 2023.

The decision to expand the use of these safety systems comes in response to a worrying trend.

In 2023, NSW saw 351 road deaths, an alarmingly close number to the 353 fatalities in 2019 and a 24.9 per cent increase from 2022.

In the past 12 months, from April 2023 to April 2024, 366 road users lost their lives, a 31.2 per cent increase from the previous year.



Despite efforts to incentivise good driving behaviour, such as the trial that wiped one demerit point from the records of 1.2 million motorists who avoided further infringements, the road toll has continued to climb.

The NSW Government has been actively tweaking its policies regarding mobile speed cameras over the past few years.

In late 2020, it removed warning signs ahead of camera locations and reduced the visibility of camera vehicles—a move that was met with public backlash and was partially reversed later in April 2022.

The operating hours of 45 mobile speed cameras were also significantly increased from 7,000 hours per month to 21,000 hours.
Key Takeaways

  • The New South Wales Government will soon double the number of mobile speed camera sites, with an additional 2700 locations to be added.
  • Seatbelt detection cameras will be activated from 1 July 2024 to identify and penalise unrestrained drivers.
  • Despite efforts to promote road safety, New South Wales has experienced a significant increase in road fatalities.
  • Policy changes concerning mobile speed cameras and demerit point reductions have been implemented, but road deaths continue to rise.
Do you think these new safety measures will be effective in reducing road fatalities? Have you had experiences with mobile speed or seatbelt detection cameras? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below!
 
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Specsavers for you! Did you not look at the photo I posted in reply #11? Is that pictorial sign behind bushes, OTTO bins, bus shelters, etc.?

You are reinforcing my (and probably many others on SDC) view that you are a complete goose!
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WA Mobile Camera Units, these are in plain view as they were showing how the system works.
 
Ever driven along that stretch of road in southern Perth? It is known as Karel Avenue at Bull Creek. A few hundred metres north of that sign is a SPEED CAMERA.

Your "art of stupid assumptions" is unparalleled in the history of modern man!
So every speed camera in WA is now signed are they?
 
Ever driven along that stretch of road in southern Perth? It is known as Karel Avenue at Bull Creek. A few hundred metres north of that sign is a SPEED CAMERA.

Your "art of stupid assumptions" is unparalleled in the history of modern man!
No camera is listed on the site for Karel Ave at all.

The only mention is of Mobile Cameras which obviously come and go.
 
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I think the NSW way of advising of speed cameras (mobile or fixed) defeats the purpose! as someone else pointed out: drivers see the sign, slow down, go past the camera and speed up again straight away! If they wouldnt know where they are they might generally be more careful and responsible. Responsibility being the key!
 
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As someone who has lost 2 family members to separate road accidents I can tell you that not wearing your seat belt is a major concern. Inattention and speeding may cause an accident, but a seatbelt may then save you.
 
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No camera is listed on the site for Karel Ave at all.

The only mention is of Mobile Cameras which obviously come and go.
I will even dumb it down for you.

Canning ValeSouth Street and Roe Highway
Murdoch South Street and Murdoch Drive

Copied from the quoted WA Police website. Formatting is off due to the website's properties.
 
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I will even dumb it down for you.

Canning ValeSouth Street and Roe Highway
Murdoch South Street and Murdoch Drive

Copied from the quoted WA Police website. Formatting is off due to the website's properties.
I give up, you're too stupid to understand basic English.

The sign of a camera relates to the fact that cameras "maybe" used in the area. It's a permanent sign, it does not mean there is a camera a few hundred metres ahead. All states have similar signs, NSW also have similar signs. VIC have similar, they also have ones that say, Road Safety Cameras Operate In Victoria. Again it does not mean there's a camera directly after the sign.

In NSW they have a sign specifying a camera is ahead, in fact there's usually two or more signs, Speed Camera Ahead, Red Light and Speed Camera Ahead, within shortly after there will absolutely be a camera.

Same with NSW Mobile Speed Cameras, there is a ground placed sign 250 metres before the Camera Car, another sign 50 metres before the Camera Car, a sign on top of the Camera Car and a fourth sign 50 metres after the Camera Car. AGAIN, no other jurisdiction in Australia have signs stating a camera is a few hundred metres ahead.

Is this getting into your thick head yet. YOUR sign is a general warning sign that cameras maybe operating, as per the locations listed on the Mobile Camera Locations list. You quoted some camera on another road now, what the hell does that have to do with your sign?
 
As someone who has lost 2 family members to separate road accidents I can tell you that not wearing your seat belt is a major concern. Inattention and speeding may cause an accident, but a seatbelt may then save you.
Seat belts definitely do save lives. I honestly believe I’d have died in a car accident many years ago (1988) had I not been wearing a seat belt. Recovery took awhile, but at least I still had my life to recover. 😀
 
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As long as NSW doesn't get rid of the signs again advising of the mobile cameras then it'll be ok.🙂 But they need to reassess the roads where the most speeding is to see if the speed limit is correct for that road. It can't be the drivers all the time.

They also need to run a few more highway patrol cars up and down the motorways. I've recently had to make a few trips from the South Coast to Sydney and back at different times of the day and night and not seen any patrol cars on the way even in their usual hiding places. And cars must be traveling at least 120+?

There's a lot of P platers that need sorting out as well. They're on red and green P plates driving themselves for 3 years and in that time they can pick up bad driving habits with nobody advising them they're doing anything wrong in that time.🙄 I've seen plenty of red P platers being stupid and all caught on dash cam. I know there's bad full license drivers as well that do stupid things.
 
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I don’t think having mobile speed cameras stops people speeding, they slow down when they see the signs, then speed up as soon as they pass it. Putting more money into educating young drivers before they get their licences and some compulsory defensive, advanced driving courses while they are on p plates would have more benefit. Also I think every young person needs to be shown the photos of injuries sustained in road accidents that caused either death or life changing injuries. Our local fire brigade has such an album, as probably do hospitals and ambulance stations. I’m sure that would be a sobering experience and give young drivers something to think about when they get behind the wheel. There are always going to be hoons and idiots who think they are invincible and don’t care about anyone but themselves, when they get caught doing stupid things they need to be hit with much harsher fines and lose their licences for years, not months.
 
I don’t think having mobile speed cameras stops people speeding, they slow down when they see the signs, then speed up as soon as they pass it. Putting more money into educating young drivers before they get their licences and some compulsory defensive, advanced driving courses while they are on p plates would have more benefit. Also I think every young person needs to be shown the photos of injuries sustained in road accidents that caused either death or life changing injuries. Our local fire brigade has such an album, as probably do hospitals and ambulance stations. I’m sure that would be a sobering experience and give young drivers something to think about when they get behind the wheel. There are always going to be hoons and idiots who think they are invincible and don’t care about anyone but themselves, when they get caught doing stupid things they need to be hit with much harsher fines and lose their licences for years, not months.
Good idea
 
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not likele idets carnt be controled i travel at 105 ina 110 speed limit and cars go past me at at a 130 not a cop in site all day every day
 
I don’t think having mobile speed cameras stops people speeding, they slow down when they see the signs, then speed up as soon as they pass it. Putting more money into educating young drivers before they get their licences and some compulsory defensive, advanced driving courses while they are on p plates would have more benefit. Also I think every young person needs to be shown the photos of injuries sustained in road accidents that caused either death or life changing injuries. Our local fire brigade has such an album, as probably do hospitals and ambulance stations. I’m sure that would be a sobering experience and give young drivers something to think about when they get behind the wheel. There are always going to be hoons and idiots who think they are invincible and don’t care about anyone but themselves, when they get caught doing stupid things they need to be hit with much harsher fines and lose their licences for years, not months.
 
No it will not help at all
Idiots will always be idiots
It is a moneu making scheme for the Government
The same hoons are out there all the time, tail gating you to go faster or get out of the way -nothing can be done and will never be done about them at all
Children are allowed to learn to drive from 16 years 9 months and many do not observe road rules once they get their P.s The govt loves to rip you off.
How is the government ripping you off if you're driving over the speed limit?
 
Speeding has little to do with the increasind number of road accidents. Stupiditity, Showing off, lack of concentration, inexperienced drivers, ignorence and criminal activity seems to be more of a problem. Increasing fines is about raising revenue, always was and always will be.
Driving in accord with the posted speed limits might result in less of an impact when you hit something. Maybe.
 

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