Seeing a mobile speed camera can be enough to jump-scare you into hitting the brakes, but can they just be plonked anywhere?
Mobile speed cameras are becoming increasingly common sights on Australian roads. Not only are they becoming more common, but they’re also becoming more intelligent.
RELATED: What does a seatbelt-detection camera capture?
In some states, some cameras can snap you for not wearing a seatbelt properly, using your phone, driving an unregistered vehicle, and speeding all in one.
In fact, the latest data from VicRoads for the 2023–2024 financial year showed that 534,439 fines were issued as a result of motorists speeding, detected by mobile cameras.
They’re quite the hot commodity for state governments to keep speeding drivers in line, but can mobile speed cameras be placed anywhere?
Can mobile speed cameras be placed anywhere?
For most states, mobile speed cameras must be placed in approved locations. Therefore, they cannot just set up shop wherever they like.
We break it down state by state below to keep your licence safe.
New South Wales
Mobile speed cameras are only allowed to set up shop in approved locations deemed high-risk or that have been surveyed to show high levels of speed activity.
Service NSW has published all mobile speed camera locations in a 52-page document, which can be found here.
While the exact coordinates are not published, they will be set up on a section of the road that allows all four wheels to be out of traffic flow and in high visibility of signs.
Victoria
Victoria requires mobile speed cameras to be located in approved areas. As of the publication of this article, there are over 2000 different spots where a mobile speed camera can catch you.
Each site is chosen based on one of four key reasons:
A- Documented history of serious and major injury collision within the previous three years
B- Subject of validated complaint of excessive speeds.
C- Identified by police to be a speed-related problem site
D- Proposed speed enforcement by non-camera devices (likely meaning police) within specified site deemed to be impracticable/unsuitable
The locations of each site, the date it was established and why the decision was made to place a mobile speed camera can be found here on a spreadsheet.
Queensland
Mobile speed cameras in Queensland are only allowed to park in one of the 3500 approved locations across the state.
The Queensland Government says: “We select mobile speed camera sites based on strict criteria, with crash history being the primary reason”.
“Cameras are deployed to these sites randomly to increase the unpredictability of when and where they will be enforcing, encouraging motorists to follow the speed limit. Camera vehicles can also be marked (overt) or unmarked (covert) as the combination of both approaches is associated with the best road safety outcomes.”
You can find a full list of active mobile locations here.
South Australia
South Australia does things slightly differently from the rest of the country. The state has designated areas where mobile speed cameras can be situated, and these locations are chosen each week instead of releasing a comprehensive list.
A speed camera will visit every location on the weekly list of 25 approved sites. You can find each location by visiting the official PoliceSA website here.
Western Australia
Western Australia actually relies more on a network of mobile speed cameras rather than fixed ones, which must be located in approved areas.
The Western Australian Government states: “The criteria for the selection of all mobile speed camera locations is: speed-related fatal or serious crashes, speed-related complaints, school zones and locations where more than 15 per cent of road users exceed the posted speed limit”.
You can find all 51 different mobile speed camera locations by heading here. The Department of Transport also publishes the information weekly in local newspapers and broadcasts on regional radio stations.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is one of the only parts of Australia that does not publish its mobile speed camera locations, saying they can be “anywhere, anytime”, and that includes remote areas such as Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
Therefore, they can technically set up anywhere, but it would likely be in pre-approved spots.
Tasmania
Tasmania has just eight fixed-speed camera locations but uses a total of 16 mobile speed cameras across the state.
However, they adopt a similar approach to the Northern Territory, not publishing the locations and instead consistently choosing new spots.
The Tasmanian Government says that “priority locations have been determined using a Deployment Strategy which outlines six key principles”.
- Operations will have road safety as its only focus.
- Enforcement will be conducted statewide at approved locations.
- The deployment will be randomised across approved sites to increase the perception that speeding drivers can be caught anywhere, anytime.
- The deployment will prioritise riskier parts of Tasmania’s road network.
- A mix of overt and covert deployment will be used.
- Consideration will be given to community-suggested locations.
The Tasmanian Government actually provides community members with a portal to suggest where they should set one up.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory utilises 10 mobile speed camera vans that can be deployed at one of 927 locations, which are not publicly disclosed.
The ACT Government has a criteria that all mobile speed camera locations must meet before they park up:
- Be at least 200 metres from a change of speed limit (this criterion does not apply if the site is a school zone, worksite or other reduced speed limit area)
- Be clear of merging lanes, changes of road alignment and/or road width, and any other changes to traffic conditions on either side of the location
- Not cause any obstruction, line-of-sight issues or interruption to traffic flow on either side of the location.
You can also nominate for a new location through the website here.
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