Safe-T-Cam

Safe-T-Cam is an RTA initiative that aims to reduce the incidence of heavy vehicle speed and fatigue in an effort to prevent heavy vehicle accidents.

Safe-T-Cam is an automated monitoring system that uses digital camera technology capable of reading the front number plate of heavy vehicles.

Safe-T-Cam will identify vehicles that:

• Have travelled at excessive speed.
• Have travelled beyond prescribed driving hours.
• Have attempted to avoid detection by Safe-T-Cam.
• Are unregistered.

An enforcement program

Safe-T-Cam is part of an overall enforcement program which includes:

• 300 heavy vehicle regulation inspectors.
• 42 cars fitted with in-car technology which allows inspectors to use risk based methodology to randomly stop and check heavy vehicles to ensure they are in compliance with RTA regulations.
• 7 heavy vehicle checking stations.
• 24 Safe-T-Cam sites across NSW.
• 170 roadside inspection areas.

The Safe-T-Cam network

The Safe-T-Cam network consists of 24 cameras mounted on overhead gantries and bridges located on major routes throughout NSW, clearly marked with road-side signage. The network monitors heavy vehicle travel times, verifies driver logbooks and detects vehicles that fail to enter checking stations for inspection.

Heavy vehicle checking stations

Safe-T-Cam is used at heavy vehicle checking stations to monitor heavy vehicle travel times, verify driver logbooks and detect vehicles that fail to enter for inspection.

Vehicle regulation inspectors

Approximately half of the RTA's enforcement vehicles now have in-car technology.

These in-car computers provide RTA vehicle inspectors with the ability to query licence and registration details and view Safe-T-Cam sighting reports at the roadside.

They can check NSW licences and registrations through the RTA database, and also check interstate licences and registrations through NEVDIS (National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System). 

Mobile Safe-T-Cam units in RTA inspectors' vehicles enable inspectors to input vehicle sightings into the Safe-T-Cam system, thereby expanding the network of Safe-T-Cam sites and associated monitoring.

Managing heavy vehicle speed and fatigue

Speed and fatigue are major factors in heavy vehicle accidents.

Since its introduction in 1995, Safe-T-Cam has proven effective in encouraging behavioural change of heavy vehicle drivers and operators and has contributed to a reduction in the incidence of heavy vehicle speed, driver fatigue and heavy vehicle accidents.

Safe-T-Cam continues to assist the RTA in building profiles of heavy vehicle operators and drivers, and provides valuable information on the incidence of speed and fatigue on major transports routes throughout NSW.

Obligations, responsibilities and requirements

• Drivers are obliged by law to tell their employers if the trip requires them to exceed permitted fatigue management requirements.
• If an employer or anyone else causes, permits or induces any offence, they will be equally guilty of an offence, not just the driver.
• It is now a legal requirement of heavy vehicle operators to obtain copies of all drivers’ logbooks. Failure to do so may result in a court imposed penalty of up to a maximum of $2,200 for the operator.

What is a heavy vehicle?

Heavy vehicles are defined as those with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 4.5 tonnes or more.

What speed limit applies to heavy vehicles?

The national maximum speed limit for a heavy vehicle is 100 km/h.

More information

For more information about Safe-T-Cam phone 1300 364 847.