When Member for Barwon Roy Butler’s office discovered that eliminating warning signs for mobile speed cameras would raise revenue in fines, he took issue with the state government’s decision. Over a year and tenfold increase in low-range speeding fines later, the decision has been back-flipped and warning signs will return. 

Members of the state government announced the backflip this week, stating that warning signs for mobile speed cameras will return from January 1 next year. 

Since the decision to remove all signage from mobile speed cameras - including both warning signs and markers on top of cars - the StaySafe Committee was quick to review the decision, hearing from industry experts and members of the public.

While rooftop signage was reintroduced, warning signs have remained absent.

Member of the StaySafe Committee Roy Butler said that while speeding cameras are never going to be popular with the public, there was more acceptance when they came with warnings. 

“They should never have been removed in the first place. The whole purpose of the warning signs was high visibility, letting people know what was going on and reminding people to check their speed and make sure they hadn’t crept over the speed limit,” Mr Butler said. 

Within the inquiry, the government maintained that their decision was for the sake of Work, Health and Safety, where it was dangerous for operators of mobile speed camera vehicles to put the pre and post signs out. 

“That didn’t really pass the pub test,” Mr Butler said. 

“Having a camera on the side of the road with no sign does not change driver behaviour in the moment…getting a fine in two weeks time doesn’t change driver behaviour,” he said. 

The inquiry also found that significant motorist representative groups like the NRMA believed that signage was a positive thing. 

“I think there was community pressure, there’s an election around the corner and the government realised that the decision to get rid of the signs altogether was certainly on the nose,” Mr Butler said. 

According to data from Revenue NSW, mobile speed camera fines across NSW rose to $40 million in the 12 months since the removal of any kind of signage. 

Prior to that decision, fines across the state stood at around $4 million. 

National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) CEO Warren Clark said that common sense had prevailed in the new decision. 

“As we said back then, speed limit signage plays an important educational role…it reminds a driver to check their speed and slow down and reduces confusion” Mr Clark said.

“Driver education is fundamental to road safety, particularly the education of light vehicle drivers around heavy vehicles,” he said. 

The signage will return January 1, 2023.