Point-to-point speed cameras on the Forrest Highway through Peel and the South West went live for the first time on Wednesday morning.
The cameras have been operational for some time on the highway, but WA Police were unable to issue infringements to motorists caught breaking the law by the technology until amendments to the existing Road Traffic legislation were approved in state parliament.
While drivers were offered an initial reprieve while the State Government debated legislation surrounding the cameras, a six-month trial found one in three drivers were speeding while travelling through the 26-kilometre of road.
South West District WA Police warned drivers their traffic officers would commence issuing infringements to speeding drivers on Wednesday morning.
"As of today - Wednesday 6 September 2017 - WA Police will commence issuing infringements to speeding drivers within the Forrest Highway Average Speed Safety Camera Zone - otherwise known as Point to Point," a spokesperson said.
"The Forrest Highway cameras measure the average speed of vehicles travelling north and southbound within the 30-kilometre zone, between Lake Clifton and Binningup.
"The average speed of each vehicle is then compared to the posted speed limit, with infringements issued to those drivers caught exceeding the limit.
"The camera system on the Forrest Highway [will] also have the ability to accurately detect the speed of vehicles entering and exiting the zone, again any vehicle detected exceeding the posted speed limit at these points will be infringed."
The new system was designed in order to combat the bad crash history of the road.
Minister for Road Safety Michelle Roberts previously said it was important to note the cameras were not a "revenue exercise", and was aimed at "slowing motorists down and ultimately saving lives".
From 2009 to 2016, there were 183 crashes on Forrest Highway. Seven accidents resulted in death, while 22 led to serious injury.
The cameras were first switched on in October, and an initial six month test revealed one in every three drivers were speeding while travelling through the 26 kilometre stretch of road.
The trial found 90 per cent of those speeding were exceeding the limit by between one and nine kilometres, while around 10 per cent were exceeding 120 kilometres an hour.
Close to five per cent of drivers - around 25,000 people - reduced their speeds when travelling through the zone.
The trial was deemed a success, but also attracted concern, as some drivers questioned the position of the cameras and their ultimate effectiveness.
Critics pointed out that the 26-kilometre zone includes the only two roadhouses along the 130 kilometre stretch of road between Baldivis and Bunbury - making those who stopped for a snack or to fill up their cars essentially immune from getting a speeding ticket from the new cameras.
Motorists are also reported to have been taking turn-offs to the towns of Harvey, Yarloop, Preston Beach and Waroona were also be able to speed without the likelihood of detection.
But the government continues to stand by its chosen trial site, and a spokesman said Forrest Highway was chosen after an extensive analysis of data provided by the Road Safety Commission.
Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia previously said several key factors were considered during deciding the location of the speed cameras.
"There have been too many tragedies along that stretch of the Forrest Highway," he said.
"These cameras are not intended to be secret, we want people to know about them and slow down, because ultimately it's about saving lives."
In August last year, member for Collie Mick Murray said while he supported speed cameras as a method to reduce the regional road toll, he encouraged the State Government look at other measures.
"In all the time I have been travelling up and down Forrest Highway, I have not seen any cops," he said.
"However, I have seen four speed cameras. During one of our committee hearings, I asked why the police pick easy spots for the placement of speed cameras, such as the Old Mandurah Road turn-off on Forrest Highway.
"Since that time, I have not seen those cameras again. The police could put a Multanova there and put the cameras in another location.
"The speed limit at that turn-off is reduced to 80 kilometres. Most people would know where that turn-off is. There have been several accidents at that intersection, and two fatalities.
"We do not need a copper to sit there just to catch a person who is driving at 90km/hr instead of 80 at that intersection. They should be catching the people who get through that intersection and then speed up to 130 or 150km/hr.
"We need to have dedicated traffic cops. That has been in and out over the years. If we do not have traffic police on our highways, we will have problems."
