Phone detection cameras have been active in Queensland and New South Wales since 2020. However, many people are still not aware of them or what they’re able to do. These cameras are put in place to detect when somebody driving a car is illegally using their mobile phone. This is to hopefully increase road safety and decrease crashes and traffic incidents cause by distracted drivers.
Phone detection cameras were first introduced in NSW on the 1st of March 2020. They were later introduced in QLD on the 26th of July 2021. There are two types of phone detection cameras: fixed and portable. The portable cameras have the ability to move around random locations. Areas that are currently experiencing higher rates of road incidents are popular, and may become permanent fixtures. Fixed cameras are fitted to existing infrastructure and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from this location. These locations are decided by locations that have higher rates of road incidents or crashes, or where drivers are most likely to be tempted to use their phones.
How they work
Well, they use artificial intelligence. Each camera takes an image of every car that passes underneath. These images are then scanned using the AI. Any image that is detected by the AI to look like somebody is using their phone whilst driving is passed on to be inspected. These images are passed on to higher levels to ensure accuracy and that the driver is actually using their mobile device. Any image that does not register as meeting the criteria is wiped.
In the cameras trials from July to December 2020, they detected 15 000 drivers illegally using their mobile phone whilst driving. This is extremely dangerous numbers. A study in 2006 showed that using your mobile phone whilst driving is equally as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. In 2020, the Queensland Government published that driver distraction accounts to almost 20% of serious on road injuries and 12% of all fatalities on Queensland roads. In New South Wales, a trial of 679, 438 vehicles found that 1 in 42 drivers were detected using their device. Using mobile devices while driving is not only a distraction but runs the risk of injuring or causing fatalities for yourself or others.
So, what does this mean for me?
Well, if the mere safety risk of using your device while driving is not enough to deter you from using your phone, then the existing penalties will. Currently in Queensland, the fine for being caught using a phone behind the wheel is a whopping $1033 and 4 demerit points. In New South Wales, the fine is lower at $344, however the demerit points jump to 5 points, and doubles again to 10 in double-demerit periods. These demerit points could easily mean losing your license, all for the sake of checking a notification on your phone.
Road safety is something that needs to be taken very seriously. Fatalities on Australian roads rise every year, and the use of mobile phones play a large part in this. As tempting as it may be to pick up your phone at the ping of a notification, no notification is more important than your safety and the safety of others. Phone detection cameras are in place all over Queensland and New South Wales, with artificial intelligent bots scanning images taken daily for drivers using their phones. Avoid hefty fines and save lives by leaving your mobile phone alone while driving in 2022 and the future.
