An average speed camera length targeting heavy vehicle drivers will be installed on the M4 this month and will operate in warning mode from February 28.
The new length is between Eastern Creek and South Penrith. Heavy vehicle drivers caught speeding 30 km/h or less about the speed limit will be sent a warning letter to “encourage them to change their behaviour”, while those caught speeding more than 30 km/h over the speed limit will receive fines and demerit points as usual.
Average speed camera work by measuring the amount of time it takes a vehicle to drive between two points to calculate the average speed of a vehicle. If the vehicle’s average speed exceeds the speed limit for the length of road the driver will receive a penalty for speeding.
Currently in NSW average speed cameras are only used to monitor heavy vehicle speeds, however a trial involving light vehicles is expected to begin later this year.
The activation of this new average speed cameras is not part of the trial and will apply only to heavy vehicles.
Transport for NSW Executive Director of Transport Safety Chadi Chalhoub says heavy vehicles continue to be targeted by average speed cameras due to the higher potential for fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles.
“We know heavy vehicles make up only 2.9 per cent of vehicle registrations and 8.3 per cent of kilometres travelled, however, they are involved in about 18 per cent of road fatalities,” Chaloub says.
“Due to their size and mass any crash involving a heavy vehicle is likely to be a more serious one and can often involve other road users in the crash.
“Research shows average speed cameras dramatically reduce the number of serious crashes along a length of road.
“The most recent speed camera review found fatal and serious injury crashes fell by 42 per cent on average speed camera lengths.”
Fines from average speed cameras go directly into the Community Road Safety Fund to deliver targeted road safety initiatives in NSW.
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