SA's new cameras snap 30,000 motorists on their phones while driving
South Australia's new detection cameras have caught almost 31,000 motorists using their phone in just one month of the system going live.
The cameras were installed at South Road at Torrensville, the Southern Expressway at Darlington, the North-South Motorway at Regency Park, Port Wakefield Road at Gepps Cross and Port Road at Hindmarsh in April.
Drivers have been given a grace period to change their behaviours up until September, when fines will begin to be issued, but early police figures led to an alarming 30,754 warning letters sent out.
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South Australia's new detection cameras have caught almost 31,000 motorists using their phone. SA Police
Three drivers were each caught using their phones 19 times and would have incurred fines of about $12,500 each. SA Police
Of those, 836 would have lost their licence completely after being snapped on four or more separate occasions.
Three drivers were each caught using their phones 19 times and would have incurred fines of about $12,500 each, another two were nabbed on 18 occasions, one on 16 occasions and four on 15 occasions.
Traffic Services Branch superintendent Darren Fielke said police were disappointed by the continued pattern of irresponsible behaviour by drivers.
"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.
"Not only is the overall number of detections shocking, but if this was outside of the grace period these motorists would lose their licence.
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Fielke said distraction and mobile phone use is a significant factor to crashes on South Australian roads. SA Police
"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."
Fielke said distraction and mobile phone use is a significant factor to crashes on South Australian roads, which have already recorded 49 fatalities so far this year.
"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," he said.
From September 19, motorists will cop a $556 fine (plus a $102 adult Victims of Crime levy) and three demerit points if they are snapped using their phones.
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