‘Average speed’ cameras could soon be rolled out for all drivers throughout NSW following a successful year-long trial.
The trial ran between May 2025 and June 30 this year on the Pacific Highway and the Hume Highway. It found the cameras drastically reduced speeding.
The cameras measure vehicles’ average speed by timing how long it takes them to travel along various intervals on the road.
A fine is then issued if the system detects a driver travelled too quickly between the points. Fines in NSW range from $149 to $3,064.
The NSW government found the average speed cameras are ‘likely to deliver clear road safety benefits’.
The state already has an extensive network of average speed cameras across major highways and tunnels, however, they only monitor heavy vehicles.
Millions of drivers could face fines if the trial’s success pushed the government to switch them to monitor all vehicles.
A total of 7.7-million cars were captured during the trial, which saw the cameras switched to monitor all vehicles on a 15km stretch between Kew and Lake Innes and a 16km stretch between Coolac and Gundagai.
A new report has pushed for NSW to monitor all vehicles on average speed cameras
The cameras currently only monitor heavy vehicles across major roads and tunnels
There was a 76 per cent improvement in speed compliance over the year.
An average of one in 177 cars was caught speeding in the first month of the trial.
That dropped to one in 330 cars by the last month.
The government estimated an average speed camera system would reduce fatal crashes by up to 17 per cent and serious injury crashes by 13 per cent.
NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to limit average speed cameras to heavy vehicles.
It first introduced the cameras in 2010.
It’s expected the government will decide whether to monitor all vehicles on the cameras following the state election next March.
