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Cameras able to detect if drivers are using their mobile phone will go live on NSW roads this Saturday.
In 2018, the NSW Government announced it would introduce the cameras in a bid to reduce the number of fatalities on the state's roads by up to 30 per cent over two years.
Mobile phone detection cameras will go live on NSW roads this Saturday. (CarAdvice)
According to NSW Transport, the program will involve both fixed and transportable trailer-mounted cameras that can target illegal use of mobile phones at 45 different locations across the state.
The location of the fixed cameras has not been revealed.
Trial shows true extent of just how prevalent mobile phone use is on NSW Roads
The NSW Government confirmed that its trial of the mobile phone detection cameras had been a huge success, with millions of cars being scanned at the start of the year.
The trial ran between January and June 2019 and according to NSW Transport, 8.5 million vehicles were scanned.
Of those targeted, more than 100,000 drivers were sprung illegally using their mobile phone to make calls, send text messages and even check and update their social media accounts.
During the trial earlier this year, more than 100,000 drivers were sprung illegally using their mobile phone to make calls, send text messages and even check and update their social media accounts. (Supplied)
If those drivers were fined, this would have equated to almost $35 million in revenue for the state.
Due to the overwhelming success of the trial, cameras will go live this weekend and there are no plans to warn drivers when they are approaching one.
Drivers will be no warning signs before you get stung
While dozens of roads across the state currently have electronic overhead signs advising that the initiative will go live on December 1, there has been controversy over whether warning signs advising drivers of an upcoming camera location should also be installed, similar to speed camera signs.
"We have to unfortunately use the element of surprise to get people to think 'well, I could get caught at any time'," NSW Minister for Roads and Transport Andrew Constance said when confirming warning signs would not be installed.
"I want behaviour to change and I want it changed immediately. It's not about revenue — it's about saving lives."
The cameras use artificial intelligence to detect if a driver is using a mobile phone, then a human will confirm this. (Supplied)
How do the cameras work?
The mobile phone detection cameras use artificial intelligence to determine if someone in the front carriage, behind the wheel is handling a mobile phone.
The high-definition cameras will be able to catch you 24 hours a day, even at night and in any kind of weather conditions.
The artificial intelligence is able to exclude vision of the front passenger and photos of drivers it deems to be breaking the law is then reviewed by human personnel to confirm if an offence did occur.
There will be a three month grace period
For the first three months of the roll-out, anyone caught using their phone will receive a warning letter in the mail, advising them they were detected.
Following this warning period, any driver caught offending will receive a penalty of five demerit points and a $344 fine.
This will increase to $457 if you are caught in a school zone.
The timing of the roll-out will also mean anyone caught during the holiday period will cop 10 demerit points during the double-demerit period from Friday December 20 through to and including Sunday January 5 next year.
There will be no warning signs and the locations of the cameras has not been revealed. (9News)
Will other states follow NSW?
Other states and territories have expressed interest in the mobile phone detection cameras, but NSW is the first to officially launch them.
Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety recently invested over $120 million into the state budget that will address dangerous driving. They will be increasing the amount of mobile speed cameras on their roads by 75 per cent and have expressed interest in implementing the mobile phone detection cameras as well.
An official launch date has not been confirmed, but they could go live as early as next year.
Queensland have also confirmed plans to introduce mobile phone detection cameras on the state's roads.
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads have already held meetings with NSW and while nothing has been confirmed, they say they will wait and see how December's roll-out develops.
South Australia's Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure have also held meetings with NSW and will eventually introduce the cameras in their state.
Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory are all understood to be interested in the technology as well.
Police will continue to target drivers and issue fines to people caught using their mobile phones while driving.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/m...s-in-nsw/43c39fb1-6bf2-4c25-ac8a-fc5d22da1732
In 2018, the NSW Government announced it would introduce the cameras in a bid to reduce the number of fatalities on the state's roads by up to 30 per cent over two years.
Mobile phone detection cameras will go live on NSW roads this Saturday. (CarAdvice)
According to NSW Transport, the program will involve both fixed and transportable trailer-mounted cameras that can target illegal use of mobile phones at 45 different locations across the state.
The location of the fixed cameras has not been revealed.
Trial shows true extent of just how prevalent mobile phone use is on NSW Roads
The NSW Government confirmed that its trial of the mobile phone detection cameras had been a huge success, with millions of cars being scanned at the start of the year.
The trial ran between January and June 2019 and according to NSW Transport, 8.5 million vehicles were scanned.
Of those targeted, more than 100,000 drivers were sprung illegally using their mobile phone to make calls, send text messages and even check and update their social media accounts.
During the trial earlier this year, more than 100,000 drivers were sprung illegally using their mobile phone to make calls, send text messages and even check and update their social media accounts. (Supplied)
If those drivers were fined, this would have equated to almost $35 million in revenue for the state.
Due to the overwhelming success of the trial, cameras will go live this weekend and there are no plans to warn drivers when they are approaching one.
Drivers will be no warning signs before you get stung
While dozens of roads across the state currently have electronic overhead signs advising that the initiative will go live on December 1, there has been controversy over whether warning signs advising drivers of an upcoming camera location should also be installed, similar to speed camera signs.
"We have to unfortunately use the element of surprise to get people to think 'well, I could get caught at any time'," NSW Minister for Roads and Transport Andrew Constance said when confirming warning signs would not be installed.
"I want behaviour to change and I want it changed immediately. It's not about revenue — it's about saving lives."
The cameras use artificial intelligence to detect if a driver is using a mobile phone, then a human will confirm this. (Supplied)
How do the cameras work?
The mobile phone detection cameras use artificial intelligence to determine if someone in the front carriage, behind the wheel is handling a mobile phone.
The high-definition cameras will be able to catch you 24 hours a day, even at night and in any kind of weather conditions.
The artificial intelligence is able to exclude vision of the front passenger and photos of drivers it deems to be breaking the law is then reviewed by human personnel to confirm if an offence did occur.
There will be a three month grace period
For the first three months of the roll-out, anyone caught using their phone will receive a warning letter in the mail, advising them they were detected.
Following this warning period, any driver caught offending will receive a penalty of five demerit points and a $344 fine.
This will increase to $457 if you are caught in a school zone.
The timing of the roll-out will also mean anyone caught during the holiday period will cop 10 demerit points during the double-demerit period from Friday December 20 through to and including Sunday January 5 next year.
There will be no warning signs and the locations of the cameras has not been revealed. (9News)
Will other states follow NSW?
Other states and territories have expressed interest in the mobile phone detection cameras, but NSW is the first to officially launch them.
Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety recently invested over $120 million into the state budget that will address dangerous driving. They will be increasing the amount of mobile speed cameras on their roads by 75 per cent and have expressed interest in implementing the mobile phone detection cameras as well.
An official launch date has not been confirmed, but they could go live as early as next year.
Queensland have also confirmed plans to introduce mobile phone detection cameras on the state's roads.
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads have already held meetings with NSW and while nothing has been confirmed, they say they will wait and see how December's roll-out develops.
South Australia's Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure have also held meetings with NSW and will eventually introduce the cameras in their state.
Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory are all understood to be interested in the technology as well.
Police will continue to target drivers and issue fines to people caught using their mobile phones while driving.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/m...s-in-nsw/43c39fb1-6bf2-4c25-ac8a-fc5d22da1732
