ALL of Victoria’s mobile speed cameras are to be replaced with “supercams” that are the most effective in the world at catching leadfoots.

The new hi-tech cameras will be able to snap speeding motorists from both the front and rear, and across up to eight lanes of traffic.

So a camera car parked on one side of the road could get motorists travelling towards it on the opposite side as well as those driving in the direction it is facing.

Infra-red technology means they are just as effective at night as during the day.

Police Minister Kim Wells will on Saturday reveal plans to replace every one of Victoria’s 141 mobile speed cameras with the supercams within four years.

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The ageing mobile cameras now used rake in more than $100 million a year; state-of-the-art supercams could easily double that.

Supercams being able to snap vehicles in both directions at the same time will lessen the problem of the thousands of speeding motorcyclists who escape fines every year because their bikes are not required to have front numberplates.

More than 20,000 have sped past the state’s front-facing traffic cameras in the past four years.

Of motorcyclists snapped by mobile speed cameras in 2011-12, 55 per cent escaped a fine because they couldn’t be identified.

The Victorian Government’s world wide hunt for the most sophisticated mobile speed camera available will start next week.

Supercams which catch motorists across eight lanes as they speed towards and away from the camera are already in use outside Australia.

Mr Wells said an initial $17.1 million had already been allocated to buy the first batch of supercams.

“Technology in this area is advancing rapidly and we will explore all options to make Victoria’s road safety camera network as strong as it can be,” Mr Wells told the Herald Sun.

“We will be looking at everything the market has to offer, including the potential to capture front and rear licence plates and speeding vehicles across multiple lanes.

“We know the majority of motorists do the right thing and comply with the speed limit. The latest advances in technology can assist us in catching those who don’t.”

Mr Wells said expanding the state’s speed camera system was a key part of Victoria’s 10-year Road Safety Strategy.

“This new technology will send a strong message to all road users - take your time, it’s cheaper than a fine,” he said.

Speed camera commissioner Gordon Lewis - who first highlighted the problem of lack of frontal recognition allowing motorcyclists to escape speeding fines - welcomed the promised supercams.

“It is excellent that the Government is seeking to upgrade Victoria’s traffic camera system,” he said.

keith.moor@news.com.au