Millions of Aussie drivers warned as roadside cameras with $1,000 fines switch on today: 'Alarming'
From Sunday, drivers caught doing the wrong thing will be issued caution notices until the end of a grace period in April when fines go up to $1,000.
Drivers are being warned of the threat of mobile phone and seatbelt offences as new cutting-edge cameras are officially switched on this Australia Day. It comes as one state has been branded "consistently the worst" in the country for road safety.
From January 26, six new safety camera trailers will be introduced on roads in Western Australia to complement several more fixed safety cameras already installed — hailed as the "most advanced in the country". They will target mobile phone, and seatbelt offences as well as speeding.
Drivers caught out will receive a caution notice informing them about the capabilities of the new technology and "give them an opportunity to change their dangerous driving behaviour" before enforcement comes into effect. It's understood that the enforcement period will begin in April with fines for mobile phone use as high as $1,000 and a loss of four demerit points.
The caution notice will inform recipients about the capabilities of the new technology and give them an opportunity to change their dangerous driving behaviour before camera enforcement commences.
Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) general manager Will Golsby told Yahoo News Australia it's a welcome move. "WA is consistently one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to road safety, and last year was one of the worst for road deaths in a decade," he told Yahoo News.
"RAC supports the use of road safety cameras to deter dangerous behaviour on WA roads, including the use of mobile phones while driving."
Roadside cameras 'save lives' on roads
The introduction of new cameras comes as WA hit a grim milestone of the highest road toll in a decade. "It’s a culture problem," Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said at the time. "There are over 2 million licensed drivers in WA. There is over 180,000 kilometres of public roads.
"Police can’t be everywhere. They target those people who are hoons, who are flouting the laws and they do it well."
The RAC believes the cameras will help save lives and stop serious injuries. "We look forward to seeing the technology rolled out, put to use, and evaluated," he told Yahoo.
"In trials of the technology, the WA Government reported capturing tens of thousands of motorists using their phone illegally. This is alarming and based on these statistics and the numerous public campaigns about distracted driving the grace period for fines could be reduced."
He adds that anything that takes your attention off the road is putting drivers and others at risk.
"Instead of letting our devices control us, we need to look up when we’re driving and focus on what’s most important, arriving at our destination safely," he said. "The safest choice is to avoid the temptation entirely by activating do not disturb mode and keeping the phone out of reach."
Accusations of revenue raising refuted by road safety commissioner
The Acting Safety Commissioner hit back at suggestions the increased number of speed cameras is simply raising revenue for the government. "These things are game changers," Rebecca Hamilton said.
It's understood that the safety camera program is funded through the Road Trauma Trust Account, which sees 100 per cent of safety camera infringement revenue allocated to projects and programs which reduce injuries and deaths on WA roads.
"Queensland and NSW have been using this equipment now for a number of years and you can see real changes in people's behaviour," she added.
South Australia has also recently introduced the technology and five cameras installed in Adelaide since October have recorded 28,000 mobile phone offences.
The cameras are also catching drivers out in Victoria, but some people have been incorrectly fined after allegedly being photographed with a phone. A report in Victoria found that challenged photos have not been "sufficiently reviewed and accurately assessed".
The cameras that operate in WA, NSW and Qld are provided by Acusensus while the Victorian cameras are operated by a separate third-party service.
Road safety crackdown doesn't end there
Following the introduction of the six new mobile cameras, this week it was revealed a tender is out for four more new 'smart cameras' for Perth freeways.
Once in place, motorists will face one of the most camera-concentrated stretches of road in the nation with nine cameras in one 25km stretch of freeways as the government ramps up its Road Safety Strategy.
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