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Smoke coming from the engine bay of an "operational" NSW mobile speed camera vehicle this week prompted a visit from the fire brigade.
Fire crews were called to a mobile speed camera car in Sydney this week after smoke was spotted emerging from under the bonnet.
The Hyundai Santa Fe was parked in the north-west Sydney suburb of Kellyville when "the operator of the vehicle noticed smoke from the engine bay" around 10:00am on Tuesday, a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
It's not clear if flames were spotted under the bonnet alongside the smoke, which was sprayed with an extinguisher before the arrival of fire crews. The cause of the "incident" is unknown.
The Transport for NSW spokesperson said the speed camera vehicle was "in the process of deployment at the time of the incident."
"During an enforcement session, mobile speed camera vehicles are operational, which means the engine would have been running," they said.
"At this stage, it is not yet known whether any speeding infringements were detected prior to the incident. Outcomes of any potential detection from this session will form a part of the investigation and determination process."
The Santa Fe affected is a 2021 model with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, so it is not included in a series of recalls in recent years for fire risks relating to the engine and anti-lock braking electronics.
While the latest incident does not appear to be a deliberate act, attacks on mobile speed cameras are not unheard of, including an alleged arson incident on a trailer-based camera in Tasmania in 2024, and earlier incidents in mainland Australia.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
