The Victorian Government has launched a trial of smart enforcement traffic cameras in Melbourne. These trailer-based cameras are designed to detect a range of road offences, including speeding, red light running, bus lane misuse, seatbelt violations, and mobile phone use.
Dylan Anderson
Trial Details
The four-week trial is being conducted along Canterbury Road in Albert Park, with two relocatable trailers in place. The program is non-enforcement, meaning no fines will be issued during this period. Instead, the trial will collect calibration and validation data to assess the effectiveness of the technology. The results will be shared with the Victorian Government to inform potential future deployment.
Camera Capabilities
The new cameras differ from existing trailer-based road safety cameras, which only monitor point-in-time vehicle speed. The smart enforcement units incorporate number plate recognition and, when used in pairs, can measure average vehicle speed over distance. Additional features include:
- CCTV monitoring
- Fire suppression systems
- GPS tracking
- Advanced locking mechanisms
- Onboard generators for silent operation
These technologies allow for flexible and relocatable use, reducing the need for on-site operators and lowering associated safety risks.
Dylan Anderson
Objectives and Impact
The trial’s objective is to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the smart cameras. The relocatable design means the systems can be deployed in various locations, including urban areas, rural highways, and high-risk zones. Their mobility introduces uncertainty for drivers, which can encourage safer behaviour across entire journeys, rather than only at known enforcement points.
Broader Road Safety Context
Verra Mobility, the company behind the technology, has more than 9000 systems deployed globally, logging hundreds of thousands of operational hours. These systems are used internationally to monitor unsafe driving and improve road safety.
Australia already operates fixed and mobile speed cameras, time-over-distance cameras, red-light cameras, and mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras in some states. The trial of smart enforcement cameras adds to these measures as part of ongoing efforts to reduce road trauma. Despite the growth in enforcement technology, the national road toll continues to be a concern.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
