A NSW parliamentary committee will inquire into recent changes to the NSW mobile speed camera program including getting rid of warning signs and using unmarked cars.

It will also look at plans to ramp up the use of mobile speed cameras despite them raking in increasing amounts of money from motorists.

As well, the plan will look at the role of private companies involved in delivering services as the government considers tenders to broaden the program.

Speed cameras v direct enforcement

The Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety says it wants to examine how the revenue from fines is being used to fund road safety initiatives and finance the Community Road Safety Fund.

The committee will investigate the balance between speed cameras and direct enforcement by police, committee chair Lou Amato says.

“This inquiry will help us to gain insights into how mobile speed camera enforcement protects road users” he said.

“We want to know what the community thinks about these changes in terms of how they promote and improve road safety.

“We also want to consider how the revenue from speeding fines is spent as part of the ongoing funding of safety initiatives.”

Upping hours of use

The state government is rolling out a suite of changes to the program including the use of unmarked cars since January and the removal of warning signs since last November.

The final change will see an increase in the hours that mobile speed cameras are used from 7,000 to 21,000 per month from the second half of the year, an estimates committee heard in March.

Tenders for the additional hours had closed and were being reviewed, the committee heard.

Revenue raising

Opposition roads spokesman John Graham says the program has raised almost $24 million since November and revenue generated via mobile speed camera fines is increasing since the changes were introduced.

He says $4.75 million raised in April and $6.33 million in March.

“There are concerns about the community reaction to the program and we’re really keen to see the evidence about the safety and revenue,” he told Government News.

The government has defended the mobile speed camera program saying it delivers road safety benefits.

Transport for NSW has signed a $112 million, five-year contract with Redflex Traffic systems to deliver the current mobile speed camera program to 2023.

Submissions can be made to the committee until July 9.