I’ve always been curious about how precise South Australian police speed camera locations really are. We see SA Police publish a schedule of where cameras will be set up each week, but if you’ve been driving around Adelaide long enough, you might have noticed that the actual camera locations don’t always match the list. So, how reliable is this schedule?
The Schedule vs. Reality
SA Police provide a list of speed camera locations, detailing specific roads, suburbs, and expected timeframes. In theory, this gives drivers an idea of where to expect enforcement. But in practice, things seem a little more flexible.
More than once, I’ve spotted a camera on a road that wasn’t on the list at all or set up a few streets away from the advertised location. Take Military Road in West Beach, for example—I’ve seen cameras listed there, only to find one actually set up on Burbridge Road instead. And just recently, a camera popped up on Seaview Road, West Beach, even though the schedule had cameras listed way up in Salisbury that day. It makes you wonder: is the list just a rough guide rather than a hard rule?
Why the Discrepancies?
There are a few possible reasons why the actual camera locations don’t always match the published schedule:
- Last-Minute Operational Changes: Police might shift cameras based on high-risk areas or recent incidents, meaning a scheduled location could change on the fly.
- Flexibility in Enforcement: The schedule adds transparency, but police can deploy cameras wherever they think speeding is an issue.
- Typos or Errors: Occasionally, there might be mix-ups with street names or locations not getting updated properly online.
So, Can We Trust the Schedule?
At best, the SA Police speed camera schedule should be seen as a guideline rather than a promise. Cameras can (and do) appear in places not listed, which means checking the schedule isn’t a foolproof way to avoid getting caught speeding.
The safest bet? Stick to the speed limit no matter what. Not only does it keep you fine-free, but it also makes the roads safer for everyone.
