New high-tech automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will roll out across five of Victoria’s major freight networks in an effort to increase heavy vehicle road safety.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the new cameras were being funded under the Coalition Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative which focuses on Australia’s key heavy vehicle corridors and black spots.
“These types of high-tech monitoring cameras have been very useful in encouraging safe driving practices, and in the future they will be linked to other Australian states through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) as part of a national effort to improve heavy vehicle safety,” Mr Chester said.
“Putting more cameras on the ground is a critical step towards a national camera network and better data sharing across borders will reinforce our efforts to make our major freight networks safer.
“It also means authorities can better detect risky behavior and unsafe practice on our roads, which helps narrow our focus for compliance and enforcement efforts.
“The reasons behind road accidents are complex and require a multifaceted approach to improve safety, which is why we are providing a $4 million boost to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s activities. Every dollar we invest in safer roads and drivers today means lives saved in years to come.”
The five Victorian sites will be located at:
- The Hume Freeway at Wallan
- Calder Freeway at Gisbourne
- Western Freeway at Ballan
- Goulburn Valley Freeway at Murchison
- Princess Freeway at Yarragon
Each camera site costs between $200,000 and $800,000 to establish, depending on what infrastructure, power, communications and security facilities are already in place.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the heavy vehicle camera network is part of the NHVR’s broader plans for a national compliance and information system which will support real-time, agency-linked, data-collection used by Authorised Officers wherever they are in Australia.
“National visibility of vehicle movements will allow the NHVR and other enforcement agencies to identify drivers and operators who systematically flout fatigue laws,” Mr Petroccitto said.
The NHVR is currently working with other state road transport authorities to identify additional camera sites which are located within the busiest freight routes to maximise heavy vehicle monitoring capability.
