Drivers warned of dangerous road act as 31,000 caught by new cameras
In one month alone three drivers in South Australia were caught on their phones an incredible 19 times each with the new mobile phone detection cameras now catching out motorists.
Governments across Australia have continued to clamp down on drivers doing the wrong thing, in a desperate bid to curb the rising death toll on our roads. New technology aimed at catching drivers using their phones behind the wheel has been slowly rolled out across the country with one state already showing alarming results.
South Australia’s new mobile phone detection cameras, which have been installed at four busy locations around Adelaide, were switched on from June 18 as part of a $15.9 million program. Since becoming operational last month, they've already snapped almost 31,000 drivers using their phones with 30,754 warning letters being sent out to motorists.
Currently there's a three-month grace period meaning drivers will receive a warning letter instead of a $556 fine and three demerit points until September 19. Authorities are urging motorists to "get of your phones" now or risk copping a fine.
This month alone, 836 motorists were caught on four or more occasions, and with each incident, from September, incurring three demerit points, they would have lost their licences — but on this occasion were warned.
According to South Australia Police, three drivers were each caught a staggering 19 times with another two caught on 18 occasions. One driver was busted on 16 occasions and another four on 15 separate occasions.
'Concerning and disappointing' driver behaviour called out
The continued pattern of irresponsible behaviour by drivers is both concerning and disappointing, Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Darren Fielke said.
"The cameras recorded at least one distracted motorist driving with their mobile phone less than every two minutes — this shows the extent of the issue relating to distraction we have on our roads," Superintendent Fielke said.
"Not only is the overall number of detections shocking, but if this was outside of the grace period these motorists would lose their licence.
"We are giving South Australian drivers ample opportunity to change their driver behaviour and stop using a mobile phone while they are driving through this grace period. Distraction, including mobile phone use, is a significant contributor to crashes of all types on our roads.
"Drivers who are not getting the message need to change their driving behaviour very quickly, or they’ll lose their licence, which in some cases could be their livelihood, or worst of all kill themselves or another innocent road user."
Aussie states rolling out road safety cameras
South Australia follows the likes of the ACT, which began fining drivers for mobile phone use in February. Other states including NSW, Queensland and Victoria have also introduced dual-capability tech.
New changes were made to mobile phone detection cameras in NSW from July 1 which allows cameras to detect both seatbelt and phone offences. The state joins Queensland which last year reportedly became the first jurisdiction in the world to roll out the dual capability software.
Meanwhile Victoria rolled out dual mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras last year after a two-year trial. A staggering 52,000 drivers and passengers have been caught out in the past 10 months, it was revealed in May.
The NRMA has endorsed the ratcheting up of roadside camera capabilities across the nation.
"The laws were brought in and this technology was brought in as a preventative measure... to stop people getting behind the wheel and taking risks that jeopardise the safety of others," an NRMA spokesperson recently told Yahoo News.
"The road toll is terrible nationally in Australia... so we need to do everything we can to reduce risks on our roads."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
