Average speed cameras set to be turned on for cars as well as trucks in NSW freeway trials

NSW will soon start testing average speed cameras for all types of vehicles in the state in a bid to curb the mounting road death toll.

Every other Australian state, including the ACT, uses average speed enforcement for light vehicles.

As it stands, NSW only uses the system for heavy vehicles – but that's all about to change for drivers in the state.

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The trial will be conducted for light vehicles on two highways in regional NSW to see if it successfully reduces speeding and prevents fatalities.

One location will be Pacific Highway between Kew and Lake Innes in Port Macquarie, with 15kms between the two cameras.

The second location will be Hume Highway between Coolac and Gundegai and there will be 16km between the cameras.

Road signs will be erected to alert drivers their speed is being monitored by average speed cameras on these stretches of highway.

These two areas were chosen specifically by the NSW government based on factors including known crash history. 

There were a combined total of six deaths and 33 serious injuries between 2018 and 2022 on these roads.

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Road safety experts called for the use of average speed cameras at the NSW Road Safety Forum held earlier this year.

John Graham, Minister for roads, said the use of average speed cameras and NSW was now a priority as road death tolls have now surpassed the previous year.

"NSW is the only jurisdiction in the world to use average speed cameras but restrict their use to heavy vehicles only. In the context of a rising road toll, now is the time to trial these cameras for light vehicles and understand if we can keep more people safe on the road more of the time," Graham said.

"All other mainland Australian states and countries like the UK, Norway, Italy and the Netherlands have found average speed cameras to be effective and we aim to be as rigorous as possible to be sure they will also reduce road trauma in NSW.

"Before any trial begins, the NSW Government will conduct a comprehensive awareness campaign to inform the public about average speed cameras and a 60-day warning letter period will give motorists time to adjust to their use in these limited locations."

The average speed camera trial follows other road safety initiatives introduced by the NSW Premier Chris Minns and the Labor Government, such as seatbelt enforcement using cameras.

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Legislation will be needed before a trial phase is enforced or a decision is made to use them permanently.

The road death toll in NSW for 2024 stands at 227, which is two more than the same time in 2023.

Speeding is the biggest killer on NSW roads, contributing to 41 per cent of all deaths in the past 10 years.