First mobile detection camera switched on in South Australia

The first mobile phone detection camera has been switched on in Adelaide as part of South Australia's trial program.

The cameras are being installed on some of the state's high-risk roads in a bid to reduce driver distraction and lower the road toll.

There have been 35 deaths on South Australian roads so far this year, with three separate fatal crashes this past weekend alone.

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The new technology will eventually be rolled out in seven sites across the state, although drivers won't face penalties until next year due to a grace period.

It's predicted in the first three years the mobile phone detection cameras will catch more than 100,000 drivers using their phones – generating an estimated $46 million in fines, which will be reinvested back into road safety.

Similar technology is already being used in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, but is a South Australian-first.

According to South Australian police, driver distraction is the leading cause of death and serious injury crashes on the state's roads.

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Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said all drivers needed to break the habit of reaching for their phone "every time it rings, beeps or pings".

"Taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second, to read or respond to a message, slows down your reaction time and increases the chances of having a crash," Parrott said.

The outcomes of the trial will be reviewed in May 2023, and a recommendation will be made for a provider that will supply and install the cameras for operation as scheduled in early 2024.