Camera trial to shed light on highway behaviour

Point-to-point speed camera technology is being trialled to determine average speeds on a stretch of the Forrest Highway in a first for WA roads.

A 26km zone, from Peppermint Grove Road near Lake Clifton to Noble Road near Binningup, has been fitted with cameras to measure the speed of northbound and southbound traffic.

The technology, which calculates average speed over distance travelled to gauge if motorists are speeding, will be trialled for six months before becoming permanent.

Speeding infringements based on the cameras’ recordings will not be issued during the test period.

Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia said the stretch of Forrest Highway was a “high-risk location”.

“We’re implementing it in this State to look at the risks of travel over distance on Forrest Highway because of the rate of death and serious injury on this stretch of road,” Mr Papalia said.

“We wanted to implement this type of technology to try and mitigate that type of risk.

“It does a time over distance calculation to determine whether people are compliant with the speed in the zone.”

The cameras will use number plate recognition to measure if a motorist’s average speed is more than 110kmh once passing through the two camera points.

Road Safety Minister Liza Harvey said seven people had died and 43 people had been injured in the 26km zone over the past six years.

Ms Harvey said the point-to-point cameras would improve road safety in the South West.

“There is simply no excuse to drive over the posted speed limit,” Ms Harvey said.

“The vast majority of West Australian drivers obey the rules, but for those who don’t, there is now more chance than ever that they will be caught and receive a hefty penalty.”

In addition to the point-to-point cameras, fixed speed cameras have also been installed on roads in Wundowie, Northam and Gabbadah.