At the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), we pride ourselves on being a data-driven, intelligence-led organisation. By investing in cutting-edge technology, we can enhance safety on Australia’s major freight networks and ensure the heavy vehicle industry remains productive and efficient. The recent rollout of our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in New South Wales represents our latest efforts in intelligence gathering and addressing road safety across the country.
Over the past few months, the continuation of our mobile ANPR camera project has seen a scale up, with the introduction of 10 new vehicles and one trailer to NSW locations. This exciting rollout means the NHVR now has 49 mobile ANPR camera devices in the form of roadside trailers and vehicle-mounted cameras deployed across Australia.
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These high-tech monitoring devices allow the NHVR to obtain critical information on the national heavy vehicle fleet and are a significant development in road safety. They are designed to support safer roads, more efficient freight movement and fairer compliance outcomes across the industry.
As many in the industry know, ANPR cameras automatically detect the number plates of passing heavy vehicles, flagging any potentially high-risk operators, vehicles or loads with our Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs). Examples could include an oversize or over-mass load approaching a bridge, dangerous goods carriers about to enter a tunnel or operators who have demonstrated a poor track record from previous roadside inspections or who are actively seeking to avoid safety checks and intercept sites.
To put it simply, ANPR cameras are allowing NHVR officers to focus their compliance and enforcement efforts where they’re needed most and are enabling earlier intervention before risks escalate. The wider implementation of ANPR cameras means increased efficiency for compliant heavy vehicle drivers by ensuring they are intercepted less regularly, with SCOs increasingly able to focus their efforts on those heavy vehicle drivers or operators that present a higher risk on our roads.
Since deployment of ANPR cameras in 2022, more than three million heavy vehicles have been sighted nationally, with more than 87,000 heavy vehicles detected in NSW since the cameras were recently rolled out across the state. Each sighting is more than just a number, but rather a critical insight into the national fleet, helping us build a clearer picture of heavy vehicle movements, identify trends and proactively address the greatest risks on our roads. It means we can see in real-time where non-compliance may be occurring and act quickly. ANPR devices have been used in the NHVR’s recent national operations, facilitating enhanced methods to address and monitor potential safety concerns.
Tragically, from January to April this year, we have already lost 51 lives on Australia’s roads. We recognise how deeply troubling this is and remain committed to doing everything in our power to drive down this road toll. Fatal incidents are occurring more in regional and remote areas which only reinforces the importance of ANPR cameras – they offer a wider lens on safety and the flexibility to be deployed where they are needed most. Being mobile means NHVR SCOs can move and use the cameras in different locations, with camera sites strategically identified within the busiest freight routes and areas that are high-risk to maximise heavy vehicle monitoring capability. This gives us the ability to respond quickly to emerging trends and address safety concerns before they escalate. The cameras are an important step towards safer heavy vehicle movements and improved road safety outcomes for all.
Importantly, privacy and data security remain top priorities. All monitoring is conducted within strict legal parameters. Footage is retained in a secure data system and in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and used to develop and inform our on-road activities to increase road safety.
The NHVR is focused on integrating new technology to enhance future learning, and to support the organisation in continuing to be a risk-based, intelligence-led regulator. By investing in mobile ANPR cameras, we are investing in a safer future for everyone travelling on Australia’s roads.
Industry is encouraged to read more about ANPR cameras, by visiting www.nhvr.gov.au/anpr.
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