Mobile speed camera signs revised amid visibility concerns

New guidelines targeted at mobile speed camera operators have been rolled out by the NSW Government after a revision to mobile speed camera warning signs last year.

Prior to these changes, the practice in NSW was to place warning signs 250 metres and 50 metres before the location of a mobile speed camera, as well as 50 metres after the camera. The warning signs also showed the posted speed limit of the road.

From April this year, the NSW Government made a commitment that all mobile vehicles undertaking enforcement of speed would have rooftop signs installed, informing motorists that their speed had been checked to further raise awareness of the program.

However, motorists were quick to raise concerns accusing speed camera operators of not displaying their warning signs or deliberately hiding vehicles to catch offending motorists.

Under the new protocols announced this week, a speed camera operator must be parked 10 to 15 metres from another vehicle. In addition, operators are also required to send evidence to prove they are correctly positioned in relation to their surroundings.

"We have developed a number of protocols that are now very clear that they are to ensure that those vehicles are parked in a manner where the sign is visible,” NSW Deputy Secretary Tara McCarthy said

“If the site that we have allocated to them is unsuitable because, for example, the foliage has become overgrown, they are not to operate from that site and they are to report that to us.”

With mobile speed camera advisory signs not legally required in NSW, the NSW Government has warned that fines will not be automatically waived, even if mobile speed camera signs aren't visible.

Data from Revenue NSW shows $75m was collected from speeding offences in the last financial year.
Image: Updated mobile speed camera warning sign

The NRMA is supportive of an increased focus on making drivers aware of speed limits across the road network – including at mobile speed camera locations – sharing it's Members' concerns when mobile speed camera warning signs were removed in November 2020.

The decision was however short-lived with the NSW Government reinstating mobile speed camera signage in August last year. 

Mobile speed cameras act as an important tool to combat speeding and form part of an overall approach to making roadways safer. Warning and education signs are important tools that encourage better driver behaviour on roadways.

The NRMA policy on warning and education signs is consistent across all forms of detection cameras which supports high visibility enforcement.