Warning issued to millions of NSW drivers ahead of camera changes

At AusNewsLanka, we aim to keep the Australian community informed with timely updates.

Millions of drivers in New South Wales are being urged to drive safer as major changes roll out to the state’s roadside camera program.

From Sunday, March 1, Transport for NSW will upgrade its 10 transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras. The cameras will now monitor single-lane roads in both directions. Until now, they only checked traffic moving one way.

No new cameras are being added. Instead, the upgrade allows existing units to cover more vehicles, reflecting growth on NSW roads since the program began in 2019.

Transport Secretary Josh Murray said registered vehicles in NSW have increased by nearly 12 per cent, rising from 6.7 million to 7.5 million. Expanding camera capability helps maintain safety coverage as traffic volumes grow.

The program has had a strong impact. In 2025, about one in every 1,300 vehicles checked had a seatbelt offence, while around one in 1,200 drivers were caught using a mobile phone. When phone detection first launched, the rate was closer to one in 400.

Seatbelt enforcement was added in 2024 and has further reduced risky behaviour. Authorities say education and enforcement together have helped save lives.

The expanded rollout will take about six months. Fixed cameras will not change. All fines collected are directed back into road safety programs.

So far this year, 52 people have died on NSW roads. The state recorded 314 road deaths in 2025.

Figures from Revenue NSW show traffic cameras generated more than $100 million in fines last financial year. Around 130,000 penalties were issued for mobile phone use and more than 126,000 for seatbelt offences. Seatbelt fines alone raised over $50 million in their first year.

Transport authorities stress the cameras are designed to improve safety, not revenue. The systems use AI to flag possible offences, but every image is checked by trained staff before a fine is issued.

The message to drivers is simple: wear your seatbelt, keep your phone down, and stay focused on the road.

More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.