How to spot AWAS cameras before they spot you 2026

To spot an AWAS camera in Malaysia, look for the yellow "Kamera AwAS" warning sign placed ahead of each camera and a tall black pole on the roadside or overhead gantry. You can also get a free audio alert on your phone from the Motorist App's Co-Driver feature before you reach one of the 46 fixed cameras.

One missed sign can cost you RM300. The good news is that every fixed AWAS camera is announced by a sign, sits on a published list and can be flagged by your phone before you get there. This guide from the Motorist App team covers what to look for, where the cameras are and what to do if you get a saman anyway.

Key takeaways

• Malaysia has 46 fixed AES/AwAS cameras in 2026: 30 for speeding and 16 for red lights.
• The standard AWAS compound is RM300. Under the 2026 JPJ/PDRM rules you pay RM150 if you settle within 15 days and RM201 within 16–30 days. After 61 days you face court action or a blacklist.
• Newer cameras are plain black poles with 360° monitoring and number-plate recognition, so they're harder to see than the old grey boxes.
• Most cameras are on the PLUS, ELITE, LEKAS, KESAS and MEX highways, plus city junctions in KL, Perak and Kedah.
• The Motorist App's Co-Driver feature gives real-time audio alerts before speed and red-light cameras, so you don't have to memorise the list.

What is an AWAS camera?

AWAS stands for Automated Awareness Safety System. It is JPJ's upgraded version of the old AES (Automated Enforcement System). The cameras photograph vehicles that break the speed limit or run a red light, read the number plate automatically and issue a saman to the registered owner.

There are two types of AWAS camera. Speed cameras sit mostly on highways with 90–110 km/h limits. Red-light cameras sit at busy urban traffic lights. MIROS research puts driver compliance at AWAS locations at nearly 99%, which is why JPJ keeps the locations public.

How to spot an AWAS camera on the road

1. Look for the warning sign first

Every fixed AWAS camera has a sign. Look out for the yellow-and-black "Kamera AwAS" or "Kawasan Kamera Had Laju" sign ahead of the camera. Once you see it, check your speedometer straight away, not when you can see the pole.

2. Know what the hardware looks like

Older AES units are grey roadside boxes on poles. You'll usually see them on the shoulder or the median. Newer AWAS units look like ordinary black poles or small housings mounted on gantries. That makes them easy to mistake for lamp posts, so treat any unusual pole near a warning sign as a camera.

3. Watch for red-light cameras at junctions

Red-light cameras are mounted high near the stop line. Common spots include Jalan Klang Lama and Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur, plus several junctions in Perak and Kedah. If the light turns amber and you can stop safely, stop.

4. Remember where the cameras are

The same stretches of highway come up again and again. Here is a sample from published 2026 lists:

Locations change from time to time. Check JPJ's latest AwAS location list before a long trip.

Expert tip: Slowing down only at the camera isn't enough. JPJ has been testing point-to-point systems that measure your average speed between two points on selected expressway stretches. Set your cruise control to the posted limit for the whole highway and let the Motorist App's Co-Driver warn you about fixed cameras along the way.

Common mistake: Many drivers brake hard right under the camera. That can cause a rear-end crash at 110 km/h, and it doesn't help: the camera may already have measured your speed. Start slowing down gently as soon as you see the "Kamera AwAS" sign, usually a few hundred metres before the camera.

What to do if you get an AWAS saman

Check it quickly. Under the rules in force since 1 January 2026, how fast you pay decides how much you pay:

A blacklist is a serious problem. A blacklisted vehicle or licence can hold up your road tax renewal and your JPJ transactions until the saman is paid.

Conclusion

Spotting AWAS cameras comes down to reading the signs, knowing what the poles look like and keeping to the limit for the whole stretch of road. With Malaysia's 46 fixed cameras and an RM300 fine, letting the Motorist App warn you is the easiest way to avoid a saman.

Frequently asked questions

1. How many AWAS cameras are there in Malaysia in 2026?

There are 46 fixed AES/AwAS cameras nationwide: 30 for speed enforcement and 16 for red-light violations.

2. How much is the AWAS fine in Malaysia?

The standard AWAS compound is RM300. You pay RM150 if you settle within 15 days, or RM201 within 30 days.

3. What does an AWAS camera look like?

Newer AWAS cameras are plain black poles or gantry-mounted units with 360° monitoring. Older AES cameras are grey boxes on roadside poles.

4.Is there a sign before every AWAS camera?

Yes. Every fixed AWAS camera has a "Kamera AwAS" warning sign ahead of it on the same road.

5.Can an AWAS camera catch you from behind?

Yes. The newer 360° units read number plates from several angles, so slowing down once you've passed the camera won't help.

6. Does Malaysia use average speed cameras?

JPJ has been testing point-to-point systems that measure average speed between two points on selected expressways, so keep to the limit for the whole stretch.

7. How do I check if I have an AWAS saman?

You can check through the MyJPJ app or the JPJ portal, or turn on summons alerts in the Motorist App.

8. What happens if I don't pay an AWAS saman?

If a saman is still unpaid after 61 days, you may face court action or a blacklist that blocks your road tax renewal.

9. Which app alerts drivers to AWAS cameras in Malaysia?

The Motorist App's Co-Driver feature gives real-time audio alerts when you're approaching speed and red-light cameras.

10. Where are most AWAS cameras located?

Most are on the PLUS, ELITE, LEKAS, KESAS and MEX highways, plus urban junctions in Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Kedah.

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