A new trailer-based camera capable of detecting an array of traffic violations is being tested independently, not by the Victorian Government, on Melbourne's roads.
Another speed camera is being tested on Victoria’s roads, but this one is being tested independently, not by the Victorian Government.
American-based company Verra Mobility has been trialling a “next-generation” portable trailer-based camera on Victoria's roads for the past month as part of a trial that concludes on Friday September 19.
The trial is to collect data, and no fines will be issued as part of this trial.
The trial by Verra Mobility is a completely separate trial from the one previously reported on by Drive as currently underway by the Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria (DJCS).
Verra Mobility's trailer-based cameras have been spotted by motorists as placed several hundred meters apart along Canterbury Road in Albert Park, Melbourne.
The use of two cameras allows the testing of the point-to-point average speed detection function of the camera, by tracking vehicle speed between both cameras.
The trailer-based cameras also have a range of other potential detection capabilities, including speed, red light violations, bus lane enforcement, license plate recognition, mobile phone use, and failure to wear a seatbelt correctly.
DJCS has confirmed to Drive that the department has no involvement in this trial, and that the permits and permissions necessary for this trial were granted to Verra Mobility by Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning.
Verra Mobility declined to comment if their camera-trailers have any advantages over the Sensys Gatso trailer-based speed cameras currently being trialled for use on Victoria’s roads by DJCS.
Verra Mobility already currently operates a range of fixed speed cameras (intersection, highway and point-to-point) and red-light road cameras across Victoria’s fixed road safety camera network, according to DJCS.
However, Verra Mobility do not yet operate any portable cameras on Victorian roads on behalf of DJCS.
Verra Mobility said in a statement that their trailers, or something similar, are already operating in other Australian 'jurisdictions', but failed to provide any further detail.
In response to a question from Drive surrounding the privacy and safety of any data captured during this trial, Verra Mobility said in a statement that “all data gathered from the trial is being shared solely with DJCS”.
Steven Crutchfield, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Verra Mobility said the benefit of portable camera-trailers over fixed-camera systems is that the portability “creates an important psychological effect” as “drivers never know where a unit might be positioned”.
Verra Mobility’s trailer is manufactured by Australian company Mobile Camera Security (MCS). According to MCS website, the petrol-powered trailer can operate remotely for 'over a month' without refuelling.
Drive understands that the data gathered from this trial might form part of a future pitch by Verra Mobility to win further government contracts to operate road safety cameras in Victoria.
Do you know anything more about these speed camera trials? Perhaps using a non-work device, you can send me an email at [email protected]
Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.
