Drivers clocked up 2544 fines during the first week of expiations snapped by South Australia's new mobile phone detection cameras, with at least three people expected to lose their licence.
Following a three-month grace period, week-one data from 19 September 2024 to 25 September 2024 shows, pleasingly, driver behaviour has improved.
However, a concerning number of offenders are still choosing to "flirt with death", suffering expensive repercussions including a $556 fine plus a $102 Victims of Crime levy and three demerit points.
Reviewed by a trained SAPOL adjudicator, of the 2604 potential incidents, 2544 or 97.70 per cent received an expiation notice. Day one alone saw 405 notices issued.
Across five metropolitan camera locations, the first week's rate of expiation notices has averaged 0.24 per cent compared to 0.37 per cent in the last week of the grace period.
"This demonstrates people are hearing the call that illegal mobile phone use on our roads will not be tolerated," South Australia Police (SAPOL) Traffic Services Branch Officer in Charge, Superintendent Darren Fielke said.
"But it defies all reason some drivers are still putting their lives and others at risk by using their phones when behind the wheel. Use includes having the phone in your lap, under or on your body or touching or being touched by any part of your body except in certain circumstances.
"In only one week, 2544 motorists were detected, and no one can say we didn't warn them. The fact certain drivers were caught multiple times across several of the camera locations is unbelievable."
Two registered vehicle owners will receive six expiations for detections, and another will be issued with five. All three are expected to lose their licences.
"Disappointingly, our records show the registered vehicle owners that were detected five times and more in the first week had also received warning letters during the grace period," Superintendent Fielke revealed.
"Our continued message to drivers is simple; leave your phone alone while driving, or you might pay the ultimate price."
In 2024 so far, distraction has been a contributing factor in 2101 casualty collisions, with 23 lives lost and 221 serious injuries suffered.
Mobile phone detection cameras are in place across five high-risk locations, monitoring 13 lanes. All five locations have had warning signs installed.
First week expiation data shows, of the 2544 expiations issued, 702 were detected at North South Motorway, Regency Park, 580 at Southern Expressway, Darlington, 553 at South Road, Torrensville, 473 at Port Road, Hindmarsh and 236 at Port Wakefield Road, Gepps Cross (vehicle volume 1,061,589).
South Road, Torrensville was identified as having the highest percentage of expiations sent considering vehicle volume, and Southern Expressway, Darlington the lowest.
Mobile phone detection cameras were introduced across the five sites between 19 June and 18 September 2024, and during the three-month expiation grace period, SAPOL sent 68,252 warning notices for mobile phone offences.
Two other camera locations are currently being considered and are expected to be in place during 2025.
Visit Think! Road Safety for further information about mobile phone detection cameras.
*No new photos are available from phone camera detections
Data table
Distracted Driving Statistics for 19 September 2024 to 25 September 2024 Inclusive |
||||
Vehicle Volume |
Total Incidents (Potential Offences) |
Expiation Notices Sent |
% Expiation Notices Sent |
% Expiation Notices |
1,061,589 |
2604 |
2544 |
0.24% |
97.70% |
