Speed cameras: on Melbourne’s freeway network you normally find them hiding behind bridges or hanging from overhead sign gantries, but on the Monash Freeway a different type of speed camera has been installed.
Members of various car enthusiasts forums were the first to post about them in late June 2013.
Located on the Monash Freeway where the speed limit changes from 80 km/h to 100 km/h, just south of the High Street exit, the new cameras have been installed on both the inbound and outbound lanes.
Each installation consists of two overhead gantries, each having four cameras fitted to it – presumably one per lane.
The cameras are pointed inwards towards the detection loops, enabling images to be captured of both the front and rear registration places of speeding cars.
An article titled “Safer cameras on the Monash” on the Victoria Government “Cameras Save Lives” website has the following to say on the new speed cameras:
June 28, 2013
A new pole is set to be erected on the Monash Freeway near Karana Place in Glen Iris. This large pole is the site for a new road safety camera, which will be up and running soon.
The pole that this camera is mounted on isn’t the usual kind we have in Victoria though. It’s a mechanism that’s the first of its kind in Australia, and it’s come all the way from England.
This new type of pole (a ‘Crown VMC Pole’) is an achievement in safety and efficiency. The pole has a mechanism that means it can be wound back from the road when the camera is undergoing maintenance.
This ability to wind back from the road means that traffic won’t need to be disrupted for routine maintenance, and normal traffic flow can continue. It’s also safer for camera maintenance workers, who will no longer need to work up high, as the camera can be brought down to a workable level.
Keep an eye out for this new structure on the Monash, as it’s the first site that doesn’t require working at heights, and we hope to see more of them.
I’m sure most motorists disagree with the “hope to see more of them” line!
An update
As of January 2013 the cameras will be switched on:
Monash Freeway cameras enforcing soon
Monday, 23 December 2013 15:11Victoria Police is preparing to activate fixed speed cameras on the Monash Freeway within the next two weeks.
Two camera sites have been installed to the south of High Street in Glen Iris, detecting vehicles travelling both north and southbound.
The cameras are detecting at the posted speed limit of 100 km/h.
Police are also issuing a warning to drivers after more than 1450 drivers were detected speeding during a 10-day testing period.
Nearly 300 drivers were detected travelling in excess of 10 km/h but less than 15 km/h and more than 100 drivers were detected travelling in excess of 15 km/h but less then 25 km/h.
Twenty one drivers were detected travelling in excess of 25 km/h which normally would have resulted in those drivers losing their licences.
Six of these drivers would be considered hoons after being detected travelling in excess of 45 km/h over the posted speed limit which would have resulted in their cars being impounded if the cameras were active.
Variable message signs will be placed on the roadway from today. They will be placed on each side of the road, prior to the camera sites, and will initially carry a message advising “Speed cameras on soon”.
The cameras will be activated sometime in the week commencing 6 January and at this stage the messaging will change to “Cameras now enforcing”.
The variable messaging signs will stay in place for a month after the activation of the cameras.
Road Policing Command Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill said it’s disappointing that people were still not getting the message about the dangers of speeding.
“Speed is a major factor in about one third of fatal collisions every year, so it is concerning to see some drivers travelling at excessive speeds and putting the lives of all road users at risk,” A/C Hill said.
“It is also concerning to see more than 1000 drivers exceeding the speed limit by less then 10 km/h as we know low level speeding can be just as dangerous as high-level speeding.
“I welcome the activation of these cameras as the research shows that cameras help to reduce death and road trauma on our roads and are an important part of our overall enforcement approach.
“We are giving motorists advanced warning that the cameras are going to be activated soon.
“This is a reminder to motorists to slow down, pay attention and make sure you are driving within the signed speed limit at all times.”
Sergeant Sharon Darcy
Media Officer
VP31760
Be afraid motorcyclists. Got you at last.
@Andrew. I assure you we motorcyclists aren’t afraid not only do we have the ability to see the cameras for miles to start with and can just slow down but the loops only cover two thirds of the lane with and we simply ride between the gap without triggering the camera.
Disclamer. I don’t condone speeding however the government can quite literally get f$&d if it thinks these things do something other then make money which I’m very happy to not pay.
@Vlad – that’s the way I seem them too – the government may be lying through their teeth when they call them ‘safety’ cameras, but you’ve only got yourself to blame if you get caught!
Totally agree Marcus. I can accept that I would have been caught breaking the law however I can honestly say (much to the dismay and outcries of many) that I simply don’t care. If anyone truly thinks that little children will be killed on mass because I went more then 4km over the (very over zealous) speed limit on an open straight freeway then I question their sanity on how to save lives. There’s a difference to going fast and driving recklessly and whilst I won’t clog up the place with a debate on the matter a little common sense should apply.
I saw these a couple of days ago, but they seem to be *after* the first 100 sign on the outbound lanes… are they expecting people to go over 100 on the 80>100 acceleration?
Has anyone received a fine?
I’m guessing the cameras have yet to be commissioned – my photographs show plenty of work still being carried out.
In the 2013 the budget the State Government allocated $11.3 million to extend the ‘Managed Motorways’ system along the Monash Freeway from High St to Warrigal Road:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/eastern-suburbs-big-ticket-items-for-roads-and-public-transport/story-fngnvlxu-1226636936145
That means the installation of variable speed limits and message signs through the section of freeway where the speed cameras are located.
I saw them this morning…outbound. are they before of after the 100 sign? How long before they are commissioned?
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i went pass high st rd cameras on monash fwy outbound at 4.23 am on 02/04/2015 , where it was just pouring ( bucketting rain ) was hard to see anythng , and i was probly doing 86 or 87 in where the cameras are ( they are in 100 zone anywy ) but just the next sign speed was 80 even i went pass the cameras already and then speed reduced down to 60 and 40 as there was road work ( though they were just wrapping up the stuff ) but that made me scared that i might have copped a flash ??? though just for the peace of mind i got off the next exit (warrigal rd ) and jumped back on the fwy again to c what speed limits were actually where the cameras are but by the time they wre all switched on to 100 km p h
but it left me in shit as m worrying for the rest of the week
I’ve always been curious as to what the cameras are supposed to do when the speed limit changes – if work crews have just put out their own signs, I’m guessing the speed cameras keeps booking people for exceeding the normal speed limit.
Hi,
Why are the southbound cameras down at the moment?
I noticed that last weekend as well – the gantry had been lowered, and rotated 90 degrees. Maybe an specialist part has broken, and they are waiting on a replacement?
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