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ACT road safety camera program

The ACT road safety camera program complements police enforcement as part of the Government's speed and road safety management approach.

All road users must drive safely and legally in the ACT. This includes following road rules, speed limits and traffic signals.

The ACT uses a range of camera types to support safe roads, this includes:

  • 13 fixed red light/speed cameras
  • 13 fixed speed cameras at 9 locations
  • one point to point speed camera
  • 10 mobile speed camera vans
  • 3 transportable mobile device detection cameras
  • 2 fixed mobile device detection cameras.

View the location of all red light, fixed, point to point and mobile speed cameras in the ACT.

Find out more about road safety in the ACT on the City Services website.

Mobile speed cameras

Mobile speed camera vans can be placed at more than 900 locations in the ACT. These locations must meet a range of technical, health and safety criteria.

The site must:

  • be at least 200 metres from a change of speed limit (this criterion does not apply if the site is a school zone, work site or other reduced speed limit area)
  • be clear of merging lanes, changes of road alignment and/or road width, and any other changes to traffic conditions on either side of the location
  • not cause any obstruction, line-of-sight issues or interruption to traffic flow on either side of the location.

Mobile speed camera vans have a large automated reflective sign on top of them to notify motorists that their speed has been checked.

Nominate a location for a mobile speed camera

The ACT Government is adding more mobile speed cameras to sites across the ACT.

You can nominate a location for a mobile speed camera.

All nominations are assessed against the site criteria.

Nominate a location for a mobile speed camera

Fixed mid-block cameras

Fixed mid-block cameras (fixed cameras) are placed at ‘black spots’ and high-risk locations to reduce speed.

These cameras are placed based on:

  • survey data of traffic volumes and speeding
  • environmental and technical suitability.

Fixed cameras have a sign on approach to tell drivers that cameras are in operation.

There are 3 signs on the approach which show:

  • 'Speed Camera 24 hours' at a 300 to 500 metres distance to the camera
  • 'Speed Camera Ahead' at 150 to 250 metres
  • 'Heavy Fines Loss of Licence' at 50 to 100 metres to the camera.

These signs include a camera symbol and the posted speed limit.

Red-light cameras

Red-light cameras (or red-light speed cameras) target speeding and red-light running. They are placed at intersections where motorists are vulnerable to right angle crashes.

Right angle crashes can cause serious injuries and death. The chances of survival rapidly decrease at impact speeds above 50km/h. There is less protection for the driver and passengers than in a frontal or rear impact crash.

Red-light camera sites have warning signs about 100 metres before the enforcement. These signs have black text on a white background stating, 'Red light and speed camera ahead'.

Point to point cameras

Point to point cameras are used on major roads and highways to manage speed and crash risk. They calculate the average speed of a vehicle by measuring the time taken to travel between 2 points.

There is currently one point to point camera system in the ACT. It’s located on Hindmarsh Drive between Yamba Drive and Dalrymple Street.

There is a sign 100 metres before each detection point. There is also a sign at the midpoint of the shortest practicable route between the 2 points.

Mobile device detection cameras

Mobile device detection cameras are used in the ACT to improve road safety. They aim to reduce driver distraction.

There are 3 transportable cameras and 1 fixed camera located on Hindmarsh Drive.

A warning phase has commenced for mobile device detection cameras. Drivers will now receive a warning notice but will not have to pay a fine during this stage. Infringements will begin from February 2024.

Research shows taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. A driver who looks at their phone for just two seconds while driving at 60km/h travels 33 metres blind.

Access the Mobile Device Detection Camera Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) extract [PDF 438KB].

Read about mobile device distractions.

ACT Road Safety Camera Strategy

The ACT Road Safety Camera Strategy [PDF 33KB] sets out the objectives for each of the camera types used in the ACT.

It outlines how the Government will:

  • improve
  • measure
  • monitor

the effectiveness of the cameras to inform future decisions about their use.

Mobile Camera Deployment Strategy

The Mobile Camera Deployment Strategy [PDF 848KB] provides the framework for improved operation and strategic deployment of the mobile cameras.

Mobile cameras are use on roads across the Territory, evenly split across 3 principles:

  1. to target roads with a history of crashes and speeding
  2. to use mobile cameras to complement and support police enforcement
  3. to randomly select roads, in support of the 'anywhere, anytime' approach.

You can nominate a location for a mobile speed cameras using our online feedback form.

Nominate a location for a mobile speed camera

Monitoring, testing and certification of Road Safety Cameras

All road safety cameras in the ACT including fixed and mobile road cameras are regularly checked to ensure they're:
  • accurate
  • reliable.
We're required to do this under the ACT Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2017 and national measurement standards.
Cameras are checked by independent officers accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).
They ensure the camera's are regularly:
  • tested
  • calibrated
  • maintained.

Routine monitoring, testing and maintenance

Fixed road safety cameras are monitored 24/7 through a central system. This allows immediate issues or concerns to be detected. Such as, connectivity and transfer of data issues from cameras to central systems.

Sites are regularly checked to ensure:

  • camera systems are operating effectively
  • no unauthorised interference has occurred.

Site checks include checking:

  • camera sites for defects
  • sensors are operational and accurate
  • cameras and lenses/glass are clean and unobstructed
  • flash units are working correctly.

Mobile road safety cameras undergo a range of checks before they're used for compliance activities.

Trained operators conduct the checks to ensure the accuracy of the camera.

They also undergo a self-calibration sequence before they commence speed monitoring activities.

Annual calibration and certification

Every 12 months fixed and mobile road safety camera systems are calibrated and certified. This is in line with:
  • manufacturer specifications
  • part 5 of the ACT Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2017.

Once the camera system has passed the assessment it will get a certificate of compliance.

The camera will only be returned to operations after receiving the certificate.

How traffic camera infringements issued

Traffic camera infringements are not issued automatically.

The camera systems detect possible infringements. Access Canberra reviews the information, including photos and videos captured by the camera.

If we review the information and are satisfied the camera has captured an offence, an infringement will be issued.

Calibration Testing Certificates

You can view the calibration testing certificates listed below.

The certificates are scanned versions of the physical documents. They may not be accessible for screen readers.