The camera, mounted on a Ford Territory wagon, was based at Cessnock Road mid-morning and is one of six of the mobile cameras to begin operating in NSW this week.

Drivers who fear they may have been caught out yesterday can breathe easier. They have escaped a fine, thanks to a grace period of a month in which the cameras will operate only six hours a day and only warning notices will be issued.

But the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) says motorists should still think twice about speeding through the area.

Figures show that Cessnock Road was the scene of 21 crashes between 2006 and 2008, leaving one person dead and 13 injured.

It is among 20 locations in the Hunter Region and on its outskirts that the cameras will focus on.

Most are on the New England and Pacific highways, but Nelson Bay Road at Anna Bay, Palmers Road, Freemans Waterhole, and Cessnock Road, Awaba, are also on the list, which is published on the RTA website.

RTA figures show that a total of 565 crashes happened at the sites between 2006 and 2008.

Thirty-two people were killed and almost 400 were injured.

The state government has had to respond to criticism the cameras are for raising revenue. The government expects to earn about $137million in fines this financial year.

Motorists will not be warned of the presence of the cameras, but signs informing drivers their speed has been tracked are to be displayed past the location.

The Herald could not spot a sign on Cessnock Road yesterday .

An RTA spokesman said it was likely the sign was absent because the camera operators were finishing or setting up.