New information clarifies what equipment is being tested as part of a purported speed camera trial on Victoria’s roads.
New information has been confirmed about a traffic camera technology trial that is confusing Australian motorists.
Last month, the Victorian Government published information about a new trial, running until 2026, which is currently testing ‘new mobile road safety trailer camera technology’.
The lack of initial details, and the Victorian Government's reluctance to provide any more, sparked rampant speculation about what cameras are undergoing testing, and what they might be detecting.
Now Drive can reveal details of a new multi-million dollar contract to supply trailer-based speed cameras in Victoria.
The trial will use the same camera hardware as that used by Victoria’s current portable speed cameras, but rather than being mounted inside unmarked cars, the technology will be fitted to portable trailers.
The existing portable speed cameras used in unmarked cars in Victoria since late 2019, described as ‘mobile road safety cameras’ by the Victorian Government, are the Sensys Gatso T-Series camera.
The Sensys Gatso T-Series cameras can detect speeds of multiple vehicles travelling in both directions across at least 6 lanes, according to the Victorian Government.
The new trailer-based speed cameras will be supplied by Sensys Gatso Australia, which currently supplies and operates trailer-based speed cameras in Tasmania.
The trailer-based cameras will not replace the current vehicle-based speed camera systems in Victoria, but instead be a system that "complements" them, according to Sensys Gatso Australia.
Trailer-based cameras spotted in Port Melbourne appear to share visual similarities with the trailer-based speed cameras currently in use in Tasmania.
Sensys Gatso Australia’s contract to supply the trailer-based cameras in Victoria is initially valued at 2.2 million dollars over the four years of the contract.
However, according to a press release, the contract allows for additional trailer-based cameras to be supplied to Victoria for an added annual cost for each extra trailer-based camera.
Sensys Gatso Australia’s contract to supply the cameras is with Serco Traffic Camera Services on behalf of the Victorian Government. Serco is the private contractor that has held contracts to deliver Victoria’s road safety camera program for almost two decades.
A Serco spokesperson said in a statement "We can confirm that the trailer camera trial occurring from 21 July 2025 through to 2026 is underway in select Victorian locations already used for current Road Safety Camera operations."
"The trial is exploring the use of trailers, utilising existing Road Safety Camera technology. No trailer camera fines will be issued as part of the trial."
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.
