Mobile speed cameras send 'security' info back to base

The introduction of mobile speed cameras in NSW is aimed at reducing the number of fatalities on our roads, but they will also transmit unidentified information back to the RTA for processing.

As part of a $170 million package to curb the state’s road toll, the mobile speed camera project is being managed by the RTA after a previous failed attempt by NSW Police which used older wet-film technology.

Mobile speed cameras will record similar information to that recorded by fixed speed cameras like the date and time of a speeding offence, in addition to “other security and integrity parameters”.

Fixed speed cameras record the colour, type, make and number plate of the vehicle and parameters like the speed of the vehicle, the location details of the camera and the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The RTA has outsourced the program to Redflex, a traffic enforcement technology company based in South Melbourne, Victoria.

Redflex claims to own and operate the largest network of digital speed and traffic light cameras in the world.

The company runs its own systems engineering operations, system integration technologies and innovation centre for research and development with an in-house engineering team.

Data recorded by the mobile cameras is then sent to the RTA for processing.

A spokesperson for the NSW RTA said the mobile speed cameras will collect infringement data separately from other enforcement camera programs.

"Once the infringement images have been verified by the RTA they will be transferred to the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO). The SDRO will then begin the process of issuing penalty notices. This follows the same process currently used for the fixed camera program," the spokespeson said.

Mobile speed camera data will be retained in the same way as fixed camera data in line with government archiving requirements which states data must be stored for seven years.

The RTA says the cameras are not meant to be hidden, however, their locations will be “less predictable” than fixed speed cameras. And unlike fixed speed cameras there is no advance warning on the approach to mobile cameras.

A PDF file has been released by the RTA with the locations of the mobile speed cameras.

The cameras are set to be rotated among the locations deemed the most prone to fatalities.

Rodney Gedda is Editor of TechWorld Australia. Follow Rodney on Twitter at @rodneygedda. Rodney's e-mail address is rodney_gedda@idg.com.au. Follow TechWorld Australia on Twitter at @Techworld_AU

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