South Australia’s new mobile phone detection cameras have snapped almost 31,000 road users using their phone after just one month of the camera trial operation.
Road users had been granted a grace period in the state following the cameras’ introduction, which are set to fully come into action in September this year. Following breaches drivers were sent a warning letter as opposed to a fine and loss of demerit points.
Of the 31,000 warnings sent, 836 drivers would have lost their licence after being snapped four or more times, with one driver being seen to be using their phone an alarming 19 times over the month.
The total value of fines issued to the driver would have exceeded $12,000 if the grace period had not been in place.
Traffic Services branch superintendent Darren Fielke says South Australia Police is alarmed at the number of warning letters sent.
“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,” he says.
“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.
“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.”
Mobile phone detection cameras have been placed across five high-risk locations: South Road (Torrensville), North South Motorway (Regency Park), Port Wakefield Road (Gepps Cross), Southern Expressway (Darlington), and Port Road (Hindmarsh).
From Thursday 19 September 2024, vehicle owners will be issued a $556 find (plus a $102 adult Victims of Crime levy) and three demerit points for an offence recorded by a mobile phone detection camera.
Across the first month of operation:
- The three lanes on North-South Motorway (Regency Park) provided the highest number of offences with 9,620 drivers receiving warning letters.
- The two lanes on South Road (Torrensville) recorded the highest percentage of potential offences proportionally to the vehicle volume: 0.84 per cent with 6,872 letters sent.
- The three lanes at Port Road (Hindmarsh) had 5,388 drivers receive warning letters.
- The two lanes at Port Wakefield Road (Gepps Cross) had 2,980 drivers receive warning letters.
- The three lanes at Southern Expressway (Darlington) had 6,254 drivers receive warning letters.
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