New all-in-one traffic camera technology has appeared on a busy road in Melbourne. This device, spotted on Canterbury Road in Albert Park, sparked curiosity among motorists. The Victorian Department of Transport has clarified the camera’s purpose and capabilities.
Trial and Technology Introduction
The camera belongs to Verra Mobility, a U.S.-based company specialising in mobility safety technologies. The trial aims to evaluate its effectiveness in real-world conditions. The Victorian government authorised the placement of this device as part of a non-enforcement trial. No fines are being issued during the trial period.
The camera placed on Canterbury Road in Albert Park
Capabilities of the New Camera
This next-generation camera can detect multiple traffic violations simultaneously. It monitors speeding, average speed across two points, red light running, bus lane misuse, seatbelt compliance, and mobile phone usage by drivers. The device also has automatic number plate recognition technology.
The advanced features allow for comprehensive monitoring beyond traditional speed cameras. These attributes make it an “all-in-one” system that aims to improve road safety by targeting various offences with a single device.
The next-gen camera can detect multiple traffic violations simultaneously
Trial Locations and Duration
The trial has deployed two relocatable trailers equipped with the camera along Canterbury Road. The trial is scheduled to run from July 2025 through 2026 across multiple Melbourne suburbs, including Tottenham, Port Melbourne, Toorak, Caulfield South, Heatherton, Healesville, Oaklands Junction, Keilor, Elsternwick, and North Melbourne.
Data gathered during this period will inform future deployment decisions in Victoria. The focus is on calibration and validation of the equipment, essential for generating operational insights.
Current approximate camera location on the Map
Safety and Operational Benefits
Steven Crutchfield, vice president and managing director of Verra Mobility, explained the camera operates without the need for personnel on-site. This reduces safety risks commonly associated with roadside enforcement. He said, “roadside deployment personnel exposes operator to significant risk. Our automated trailer-based systems greatly reduce that risk while helping governments across Australia ensure the safety of road-users, pedestrians, and workers.”
The portable and relocatable nature of these cameras allows deployment almost anywhere. They can be moved quickly to urban streets, rural highways, or high-risk zones, creating uncertainty about their location. This uncertainty encourages drivers to maintain safer speeds throughout their journey.
Impact on Driver Behaviour
Crutchfield emphasised the psychological effect created by the camera’s mobility. He said, “When drivers understand that speed limits could be enforced anywhere at any time, they are far more likely to slow down – not just at camera locations, but across their entire journey.” This effect aims to improve compliance and reduce unsafe driving behaviours.
Global Experience and Technology Integration
Verra Mobility reports that its camera systems have logged hundreds of thousands of operational hours worldwide. More than 9,000 units are currently in use internationally, contributing to road safety enforcement.
The cameras integrate several technologies, including CCTV, fire suppression systems, GPS tracking, advanced locking mechanisms, and onboard generators for silent operation. This comprehensive system supports efficient and secure roadside enforcement.
Verra Mobility has more than 9,000 units currently in use internationally
Government Road Safety Strategy
The Road Safety Strategy 2021- 2030 of Victoria promises to reduce road deaths by 50 percent by 2030 and to eradicate deaths by 2050. In order to accomplish these objectives, the Department of Justice and Community Safety conducts continuous trials and technology evaluations.
Although this camera experiment does not impose fines, the Victoria Police still patrols regularly on speeding, misuse of seatbelts and the use of mobile phones to enforce road safety.
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Conclusion
This one-stop mobile camera is a technological breakthrough in the field of traffic oversight. It integrates several enforcement functions into an integrated flexible system that is focused on enhancing safety, minimising risk to enforcement personnel and positively impacting driving behaviour. The information gathered in this test in Melbourne will play a key role in informing the future public safety and mobility programmes in Victoria.
This project is under the broader attempts to utilise technology to reduce road trauma and improve compliance on the roads of Australia.
