Lexi Webster
Australia has various methods of enforcing road speed limits, including speed cameras and other technologies such as radar and LIDAR. Each state has its own speed limit enforcement policies and devices. For instance, in New South Wales, police vehicles have been fitted with a dual-radar known as the Stalker DSR 2X, which can monitor vehicles moving in two different directions simultaneously. In Victoria, the Gatso T-Series mobile road safety cameras can monitor over six lanes of traffic in either direction and detect multiple vehicles at once. While police cars in Australia are equipped with speed cameras, the specific type and usage of these cameras vary across the different states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Speed limit enforcement equipment | Speed cameras, radar, LIDAR, VASCAR devices |
| Speed camera types | Mobile, fixed, point-to-point, average speed, dual red light/speed, handheld speed guns |
| Camera locations | Roadsides, police cars, motorcycles, gantries, trailers, train level crossings, school zones, highways, freeways, arterial roads |
| Camera features | Flash or flashless, rear-facing, radar beam, infrared light, instantaneous speed checks, Doppler radar, strips embedded in the road |
| Camera models | Gatso T-Series, Silver Eagle, Stalker DSR 2X, Stalker, Multinova 6F and 9F, Pro-Lite+ |
| Camera operators | Police officers, contractors, un-sworn police officers |
| Camera usage | Monthly, daily, hourly |
| Camera accuracy | Speed verification, guidelines, accuracy assessments, tests, re-calibration, speed comparison testing |
| Camera fines | Speeding fines, demerit points, licence suspension |
| Camera funding | Road Trauma Trust Fund |
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What You'll Learn
Speed cameras in police cars
Speed cameras are an important tool for enforcing road safety in Australia. Each Australian state and territory uses mobile speed cameras, and these can be mounted on the side of the road or inside unmarked parked vehicles. While the presence of speed cameras is not deliberately hidden, they are not signposted either.
In Victoria, the Gatso T-Series mobile road safety cameras are used, which can monitor more than six lanes of traffic in either direction and detect multiple vehicles simultaneously. These cameras are installed in the back of the camera car to accommodate the various components and associated equipment. They use radar to determine the speed and direction of a vehicle. If a vehicle is speeding, the camera will automatically generate a yellow triangle marker to identify the offending vehicle.
In Queensland, uniformed police officers operate the Gatso cameras, while in Victoria, they are operated by Serco contractors. In New South Wales, police vehicles have been fitted with a dual-radar known as the Stalker DSR 2X, which can monitor vehicles moving in two different directions at the same time. The Silver Eagle vehicle-mounted unit is another type of radar device used in New South Wales, typically mounted on the right side of the vehicle just behind the driver. Motorcycle and bicycle-mounted police in New South Wales are also equipped with speed cameras, such as the binocular-styled "Pro-Lite+" LIDAR device.
Western Australia uses Doppler RADAR-based cameras, which are usually mounted on tripods on the side of the road and accompanied by a car with an unsworn police officer who operates the accompanying laptop.
Average speed cameras are used in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, ACT, and Western Australia, and are being trialled in Tasmania. These cameras track a vehicle's speed over a set distance rather than at a single point. They are typically placed on high-risk, inner rural arterial roads to help reduce speeding and improve road safety in these areas.
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Speed cameras in Western Australia
Western Australia roads are covered by a network of fixed and mobile speed cameras. These cameras are located on high-risk roads and intersections to prevent speed and red-light offences. The Western Australia Police Force publishes most fixed and mobile camera locations to encourage drivers to slow down and prevent serious or fatal crashes. All money collected from speed and red-light safety camera infringements goes into the Road Trauma Trust Fund and is spent on various road safety programs.
Western Australia started using speed cameras in 1988. The state uses a Doppler RADAR-based camera, which is mounted on a tripod on the side of the road. It is sometimes covered by a black sheet and accompanied by a sign chained to a pole or tree. This camera is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "Multinova", but the correct name is the 6F or 9F model, manufactured by the Swiss company Multanovas. The camera uses a standard "white" flash during the day and a red filter at night to avoid dazzling drivers. It is always accompanied by a car, commonly a Nissan X-Trail, staffed by an unsworn police officer.
Western Australia is also working towards implementing average speed safety cameras. These cameras are already in use in the UK, several countries in Europe, the Middle East, and a few other localities. Average speed safety cameras operate on high-risk, inner rural arterial roads, based on risk and exposure. They measure the time taken by a vehicle to travel between two camera sites, capturing an image of every vehicle along with the time.
In addition to fixed and mobile speed cameras, other speed limit enforcement equipment is used in Western Australia, such as radar and LIDAR technology.
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Speed cameras in Queensland
Speed cameras are used in Queensland, Australia, to enforce speed limits and improve road safety. The state has its own speed limit enforcement policies and strategies, and it uses a combination of fixed, red light, and mobile speed cameras.
Fixed speed cameras are permanently installed on roads across Queensland and are marked with signs to remind drivers of their presence. These signs are not legally required but are placed as a courtesy to motorists. The locations of these cameras are chosen based on strict criteria, including the number of crashes, the severity of crashes, and the prevalence of high-risk speeding behaviour in an area. The Queensland Police Service and the Department of Transport and Main Roads regularly review crash history data to identify high-risk areas and prioritise enforcement at these locations.
Mobile speed cameras are also deployed at up to 3,500 sites throughout Queensland. These sites are selected based on crash history and the presence of high-risk speeding behaviour. The camera vehicles can be marked or unmarked, with the combination of both approaches found to be the most effective in improving road safety. The use of mobile cameras allows for flexibility in enforcement and helps to increase unpredictability, encouraging motorists to adhere to speed limits.
In addition to fixed and mobile speed cameras, Queensland is also in the process of converting to dual red-light/speed cameras. Combining red-light cameras with speed cameras has been found to be more effective in reducing road trauma than relying on red-light cameras alone. All new red-light cameras are now being installed with speed camera capabilities, and existing red-light camera locations are being upgraded.
The speed cameras in Queensland are operated by uniformed police officers and are used to enforce speed limits and improve road safety across the state. The state's road safety strategies aim to reduce speeding and the number of road crashes, ultimately enhancing the safety of Queensland's road network.
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Speed cameras in Victoria
Speed cameras are widely used in Australia to enforce road speed limits and improve road safety. Each Australian state has its own speed limit enforcement policies and approved enforcement devices.
In Victoria, speed cameras are used to enforce road speed limits. These cameras are operated by Serco contractors in unmarked cars. The only indication of a speed camera on the outside of the car is a black rectangular box, about 30 cm by 10 cm, mounted on the front of the car. This box emits a radar beam to detect the speed of vehicles. The operator sits inside the car and takes pictures, which are then uploaded to a laptop computer.
Victoria Police is responsible for choosing the locations and operating times of mobile road safety cameras in the state. These cameras are not sign-posted but are also not deliberately hidden. The highest priority locations for these cameras are areas with a high crash risk and speed-related problems.
In December 2019, the Victorian Government deployed the Gatso T-Series mobile road safety cameras, which can enforce over six lanes of traffic in either direction and detect multiple vehicles simultaneously. These cameras are installed in the back of the camera car to accommodate the associated equipment. If a vehicle is speeding, the camera will capture an image, and the offending vehicle will be identified with a yellow triangle.
Victoria, along with New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, also uses average speed safety cameras. These cameras calculate a vehicle's average speed across the distance between two camera sites.
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Speed camera technology
One type of speed camera technology used in Australia is the mobile road safety camera. These cameras are installed in unmarked vehicles and are operated by police or contractors. They use radar technology to determine the speed and direction of vehicles and can enforce speed limits over multiple lanes. The Gatso T-Series mobile camera, for example, can enforce over six lanes of traffic in either direction and detect multiple vehicles simultaneously.
Another type of speed camera technology is the point-to-point (P2P) system, which uses multiple cameras to capture the average speed of a vehicle over a certain distance. Average speed cameras are used in several states in Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. These cameras help reduce speeding and improve traffic flow, particularly in rural areas.
In addition to mobile and P2P cameras, fixed speed cameras are also used in some locations, particularly in crash hotspots. These cameras are typically accompanied by signs warning drivers of their presence. Red-light cameras, which can also measure speed, are becoming more common.
To enhance flexibility and effectiveness, portable and mobile speed cameras are increasingly being used. For example, the Silver Eagle vehicle-mounted unit used in New South Wales can be operated from a stationary or moving vehicle. Motorcycle and bicycle-mounted police in New South Wales use the binocular-styled "Pro-Lite+" LIDAR device.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, police cars in Australia have speed cameras. Motorcycle and bicycle-mounted police in New South Wales are equipped with the binocular-styled "Pro-Lite+" LIDAR device. Police vehicles in New South Wales have recently been fitted with a dual-radar known as the Stalker DSR 2X, which is able to monitor vehicles moving in two different directions at the same time. Moving Mode Radar "Stalker" cameras are installed in police cars in Victoria and New South Wales. Police motorcycles are also equipped with speed cameras in some jurisdictions.
Speed cameras are used to enforce road speed limits. They are used to monitor and detect speeding vehicles and reduce speeding to improve road safety.
Speed cameras use radar or LIDAR technology to detect the speed of a vehicle. Radar-based cameras emit a radio wave or a beam of infrared light, while LIDAR devices use infrared light to measure the speed of a vehicle.
Speed cameras are located across all states and territories in Australia. They are typically placed in high-risk locations such as crash black spots, busy intersections, train level crossings, and school zones. Average speed cameras are used in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, ACT, and Western Australia.
