NSW Average Speed Cameras Now Turned On

The New South Wales Government is expanding its road safety enforcement with a new trial that will see average speed cameras monitoring all vehicles, not just heavy trucks. The cameras will be switched to warning mode starting 1 May, marking a significant change in speed enforcement across key regional highways.

How Do Average Speed Cameras Work?

Unlike traditional speed cameras that capture a vehicle’s speed at a single point, average speed cameras—also known as point-to-point cameras—monitor a driver’s speed over a longer distance. Here’s how they function:

A camera at the starting point records the vehicle’s details and timestamp.
A second camera further along the road captures the vehicle again.
The system calculates the average speed based on the time taken to travel between the two points.
If the average speed exceeds the posted limit, the driver may receive a fine and demerit points.

Where Will the New Cameras Be Located?

The trial will initially cover two key stretches of highway:

Pacific Highway: A 15km stretch between Kew and Lake Innes (Port Macquarie)
Hume Highway: A 16km stretch between Coolac and Gundagai

These locations were selected based on crash history, with six fatalities and 33 serious injuries recorded between 2018 and 2022 in these areas.

Why Is NSW Expanding Average Speed Enforcement?

Currently, New South Wales is the only place where average speed cameras are limited to heavy vehicles. However, data from the past five years shows that almost 80% of all fatalities and serious injuries on roads with average speed cameras did not involve heavy vehicles.

The trial aligns NSW with other Australian states that already enforce speed limits for all vehicles using average speed cameras. International studies also support the benefits of these systems:

A 2015 Norwegian study found that average speed cameras reduced fatalities and serious injuries by 49%.
A 2016 UK study reported a 36% decrease in fatal and serious injury crashes where average speed cameras were used.

Trial Phases: Warning Mode Before Full Enforcement

To allow drivers time to adjust to the new enforcement method, the trial will include a two-month warning period:

1 May – 30 June: Drivers caught speeding in monitored zones will receive warning letters.
1 July onward: Fines and demerit points will be issued to offenders.

Existing enforcement of heavy vehicles in these locations will remain unchanged.

Speeding Penalties in NSW

Fines and demerit points vary depending on the level of speeding:

Offence	Fine	Demerit Points	License Suspension
Exceed speed limit by 10 km/h or less	$137	1	N/A
Exceed speed limit by more than 10 km/h	$316	3	N/A
Exceed speed limit by more than 20 km/h	$542	4	N/A
Exceed speed limit by more than 30 km/h	$1,036	5	3 months minimum
Exceed speed limit by more than 45 km/h	$2,794	6	6 months minimum

Government's Road Safety Strategy

The NSW Government has introduced several road safety initiatives alongside this trial, including:

Seatbelt enforcement using the mobile phone detection camera network.
Foreign licence conversion rules, requiring drivers on foreign licences to switch to a NSW licence within six months.
Demerit point return scheme, where over 1 million drivers have benefited from maintaining a clean record.
Increased mobile speed camera locations, adding 2,700 new enforcement sites.

What Drivers Need to Know

Signs will be placed before monitored zones to alert drivers.
A public awareness campaign will run through print, radio, and social media.
Speeding through these zones will soon result in penalties—consistent safe driving is key.

The Future of Speed Enforcement in NSW

The trial will run for 14 months, with an evaluation set for 2026. If successful, NSW could permanently implement average speed cameras for all vehicles, aligning with other Australian states and global best practices.

As NSW transitions to stricter speed enforcement measures, drivers should remain aware of the changes and adjust their driving habits accordingly. The goal is not just penalties but safer roads for all motorists.