World-first cameras to nab drivers on mobile phones launch this week

If you know someone who is prone using their mobile phone while driving behind the wheel, you may want to pay attention.

From this week, world-first cameras that use radar-based technology to check whether motorists are using their mobile devices while driving are being turned on. So far, cameras have been set up on two of Sydney’s busiest roads.

One has been deployed on the M4 and another along Anzac Parade in the Harbour City. The cameras work during the day and night and in all weather conditions and use artificial intelligence to detect offending drivers illegally using their phone behind the wheel. According to a report on Monday’s Sunrise, the cameras are so powerful they can capture someone on a phone even if the car was travelling at speeds of 300km/hour.

World-first cameras catching drivers using their mobile phones are now up and running in Sydney! 📸 pic.twitter.com/OKTJHYR6iR

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) January 6, 2019

A month-long trial that ran last October found 11,000 drivers using their phone behind the wheel at the two locations. Some dangerous driving was also captured on camera.

““Shockingly, one driver was pictured with two hands on his phone while his passenger steered the car travelling at 80 km/h, putting everyone on the road at risk,” Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said in a statement.

Drivers caught using their phone behind the wheel will first be sent a warning in the mail. There is a grace period but fines will kick in from April. Anyone caught using a phone will face a fine of $337, as well as five demerit points.

Because it is a pilot trial at this stage, it is not yet known whether the cameras will remain a permanent fixture on Australian roads.

“If at the end of the trial, the technology proves to be foolproof, the community will be made aware of its permanent use,” Pavey said. “74 per cent of the NSW community support the use of cameras to enforce mobile phone offences. I strongly believe this technology will change driver behaviour and save lives.”

The rollout of the cameras comes months after data from AAMI’s 2018 Crash Index highlighted the most accident-prone roads in Australian cities.

Read more: Revealed: Most ‘accident-prone’ roads in Australian cities

Melbourne’s Plenty Road in Bundoora took out the top spot. Springvale Road at Glen Waverley, also in Melbourne, had previously held the title for the past five years.

In Queensland, Gympie Road in Brisbane’s northern suburb of Chermside was named the state’s worst road. In Sydney, the top accident spot is the Hume Highway in Liverpool, while The Parade in Norwood has the most collisions in Adelaide.

Canberra’s most dangerous road was revealed as Monaro Highway in Hume, while in Perth, the Albany Highway in Cannington was named the top accident hotspot. Argyle Street in Hobart and Sandy Bay Road in Sandy Bay tied for the top spot in Hobart.

Read more: Surprising results: Who’s the worst drivers on our roads?

Do you think this is the best way to save lives? Do you know someone who uses their mobile phone behind the wheel?