The Western Australian government has revealed new fixed and trailer-mounted safety cameras have resulted in more than 31,000 infringements being issued to drivers in just one month.
Between October 8 and November 8, more than 31,855 infringements were issued for offences including mobile phone use, seatbelt offences and speeding courtesy of new safety camera technology.
The infringements represent about $13 million in fines and all funds from safety camera infringements are reinvested in road safety projects across Western Australia via the Road Trauma Trust Account.
Infringements began on October 8 following an extensive eight-month awareness and education period.
During that period, more than 380,000 offences were detected, with more than 65,000 caution notices issued.
The purpose of the caution notice period was to allow drivers to adjust their behaviour without immediate fines and demerits, while educating and building awareness of the new technology.
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The safety cameras have shown some disturbing incidents of driver behaviour, including a truck driver with no hands on the steering wheel, operating a laptop and using a mobile phone while not wearing a seatbelt and driving 100 kilometres per hour on the Mitchell Freeway.
“Distracted driving and people not wearing seatbelts correctly are two major factors adding to the number of lives lost on our roads each and every year,” WA road safety minister Reece Whitby says.
“Safety cameras give us more reach, more flexibility, and more opportunities to hold dangerous drivers to account.
“Our government gave Western Australian drivers eight months’ notice to change their habits behind the wheel, but some drivers are still not understanding the danger of their behaviour.
“As we head into the festive season, this technology, combined with WA Police on road presence and enforcement, plays a major role in deterring these behaviours.
“These cameras are about changing behaviour to save more lives on WA roads.
“We will continue to build on initiatives and programs that send the message that distracted driving, seatbelt noncompliance, and speeding will not be tolerated.”
The safety camera program is funded through the Road Trauma Trust Account, which sees 100 per cent of safety camera infringements allocated to projects and programs which reduce injuries and deaths on WA roads.
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