Transport officials have revealed around a third of mobile speed camera cars may have to be replaced after the NSW government backed down on a controversial decision to remove warning signs.
Key points:
- Forty-seven of the 143 speed camera cars are too small to carry the old warning signs
- Some cars may need to be replaced altogether
- Transport of NSW says it’s exploring light-weight signs but they had concerns they could blow away
Earlier this month, the government announced that the signs would be reinstalled from January 1 next year after they were scrapped in 2020 to change driver behavior.
But on Wednesday, Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Tara McCarthy told a budget estimates hearing that 47 of the 143 of the Nissan X-Trails were too small to carry the old warning signs.
She said the cars will either require “significant modification”, including the removal of seats, or may need to be replaced altogether.
“The vendors have changed the fleet and they have some vehicles which are smaller than previous fleets,” she said.
“The back of the vehicle is fully taken up with cameras, equipment, et cetera.
“Those signs that were previously used are quite heavy, they need to be properly mounted, they need to be properly restrained.”
She said Transport for NSW was exploring “alternatives”, including “lighter weight signs” that would take up less space in the vehicles.
“We need to test the robustness of that sign … we would have concerns if it blew over,” she said.
“Both vendors are investigating options in relation to that to see whether that’s a viable solution, if it is that will avoid the replacement of the fleet.”
Ms McCarthy said it was unclear how much the potential replacements or modifications might cost, but that it would be covered by existing contracts.
The government said it took down the warning signs in 2020 to change the culture and behavior of motorists.
The removal led to a drastic increase in fines, with drivers copping a $40 million mobile speed camera bill over the next year.
Earlier this month, Roads Minister Natalie Ward said the government had heard the community’s concerns and decided to reintroduce the signs before and after mobile speed cameras to “help educate drivers in real time, giving them advanced warning to slow down”.
But Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the removal of the signs was “revenue-raising on a giant scale” and accused the government of backflipping to appease voters ahead of the March election.
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