South Australia’s mobile phone detection cameras have now been in operation for one month, and while motorists appear to be changing their behaviours for the better, there are still a multitude at risk of losing their licence.
The activation of the cameras in late September followed a three-month grace period, during which infringement notices were issued but without fines attached.
When the three-month period ended, South Australia Police (SAPOL) began issuing a fine of $658 fine – which includes a $102 Victims of Crime levy – and three demerit points to drivers detected using their phones while driving.
From September 19 to October 18, 2024, SAPOL reports 10,319 expiation notices were issued, representing 0.23 per cent of the 4,507,577 vehicles scanned – down from 0.42 per cent across the final 30 days of the grace period.
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While a total of 10,526 potential incidents were detected, 10,319 of these – or 98.03 per cent – were found to be worth of an expiation notice after being reviewed by a trained SAPOL adjudicator.
SAPOL officer Superintendent Darren Fielke suggested the data represents a change in behaviour as a result of the cameras.
“After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road after too many demerit point deductions,” Mr Fielke said.
“We recently reported in only the first week, 2544 motorists were detected, and we hope these people have learned an important lesson.
“The goal for mobile phone detection cameras in SA is to make roads safer by changing road user behaviour, and recent data certainly indicates people are thinking twice now.”
Despite the improvement, 80 vehicles were still detected four or more times, which means 80 drivers may lose their licences due to racking up 12 or more demerit points.
Mobile phone detection cameras are currently in place across five locations in South Australia, all of which have warning signs installed.
Below are the numbers of vehicles detected at each location:
- North South Motorway, Regency Park: 2816
- South Road, Torrensville: 2396
- Southern Expressway, Darlington: 2157
- Port Road, Hindmarsh: 1991
- Port Wakefield Road, Gepps Cross: 959
As was the case during the three-month grace period, South Road in Torrensville remains the location with the highest percentage of expiations considering vehicle volume. Southern Expressway, Darlington, was the lowest.
SAPOL also uncovered worrying data about just how often those doing the wrong thing are being detected.
While 46 of the 80 motorists who were detected using their mobile phones more than four times did so a quartet of times, one motorist is set to be issued with 15 expiation notices.
“Unfortunately, these numbers show that we still have some drivers out there that are not heeding the message and placing themselves and other road users at risk,” Superintendent Fielke said
“These drivers will pay a high price financially and will lose their licence. We can only hope that is all that is lost, and it is not a life lost due to their irresponsible behaviour.”
Two further camera locations are being considered and are expected to be installed in early 2025.
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