South Australia’s new mobile phone detection cameras nabbed almost 31,000 motorists using their phone in the first month of a trial operation.
A three-month grace period is currently in place, with warning letters being sent out to drivers until fines and demerit points are issued from September.
Of the 31,000 warnings sent, 836 drivers would have lost their licences after being caught four or more times.
Three distracted drivers were snapped breaking the law on 19 separate occasions, and would have faced a $12,500 fine each.
Another two drivers were papped on 18 occasions, one on 16 occasions and another four on 15 separate occasions.
Traffic Services branch superintendent Darren Fielke said South Australia Police is disappointed and concerned by 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 said.
“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).
During the first month of the trial:
- 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.
From Thursday September 19, 2024, vehicle owners will be issued a $556 fine (plus a $102 adult Victims of Crime levy) and three demerit points for an offence recorded by a mobile phone detection camera.