New South Wales is set to become the latest state to permanently add average speed cameras to local roads. But how do these cameras fine you? We find out.
Various Australian state and territory road rules are on the verge of major reforms, with the new changes set to affect drivers from July 1, 2025.
While most of the big changes relate to the introduction of new AI-powered road cameras and harsher penalties, in the case of New South Wales, the state government will permanently add average speed cameras to local roads.
RELATED: Do average speed cameras apply to cars?
If you want the full breakdown of how average speed cameras work, visit Drive’s previous coverage here.
In a nutshell, multiple cameras are positioned at various points of a road, with the new technology recording a vehicle and calculating a driver’s average speed from one point to another.
It’s worth noting that average speed cameras, otherwise known as point-to-point cameras, are nothing new in NSW.
However, the technology was previously reserved for heavy vehicles until September 2024, when the state road authority turned the cameras on for regular cars.
The nine-month trial in NSW is set to conclude on June 30, 2025, with NSW joining most states – except Tasmania and the Northern Territory – in permanently adding average speed cameras on local roads.
With all these law changes around the corner, it begs the question: how do average speed cameras fine you? We find out.
How do average speed cameras fine you?
Rather than record a motorist’s speed at one set point, average speed cameras measure a car’s speed over a specific distance.
This means that if a driver’s average speed exceeds the speed limit on a stretch of road, they could be fined for breaking the rules.
According to the Victorian state government, “the system knows how much time it takes a vehicle that is not speeding to drive between the two points”.
“If the time a vehicle takes is shorter than that time, the system calculates the average speed of the vehicle was over the speed limit. It flags the incident for review and verification.”
What’s the fine if an average speed camera catches me?
If a driver has been caught exceeding the speed limit by an average speed camera, depending on where they live, the state or territory’s speeding penalties could apply.
In Victoria, fines range from $247 and one demerit point for drivers exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h to $395, and a three-month licence suspension for exceeding a 110km/h speed limit by 20km/h to 24km/h.
Motorists caught speeding in NSW can be fined a maximum court-imposed penalty from $2200 for breaking the speed limit by less than 10km/h to $3300 and a six-month licence ban for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
However, the NSW state government said speeding fines can change without notice.
Queenslanders caught disregarding the state’s speed limits can be fined a minimum of $322 and one demerit point if a driver exceeds the limit by “less than 11km/h”. Exceeding the speed limit by 40km/h can land you a $1854 penalty and eight demerit points in the state.
In South Australia, speeding fines can range from $304 and one demerit point for motorists caught exceeding the speed limit by 1km/h to 9km/h, and extend to $1997 and nine demerit points for drivers who excessively speed by 45km/h or more.
Meanwhile, motorists in Western Australia can be penalised $100 for disobeying speed limits by less than 9km/h, while offenders observed excessively speeding by more than 40km/h can be issued a $1200 fine and seven demerit points.
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), speeding penalties can range from $326 and one demerit point for drivers who surpass the speed limit by less than 15km/h.
A $1841 and six-demerit-point penalty could be issued to ACT drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 45km/h.
While Tasmania previously tested average speed cameras in 2024, it has not yet permanently added them to local roads.
For reference, speeding fines in Tasmania start from $101 and two demerit points for drivers caught exceeding speed limits by less than 10km/h. Motorists caught speeding 45km/h above the signposted limit can be issued a $1161.50 fine, six demerit points and a four-month licence disqualification.
Similarly, the Northern Territory does not have any average speed cameras. But as a refresher, motorists caught exceeding the speed limit by 15km/h can be handed a $150 fine and one demerit point.
Offenders caught driving 45km/h above the signposted speed limit in the NT can be issued a $1000 penalty and six demerit points.
The post How do average speed cameras fine you? appeared first on Drive.