Australians warn of costly road acts as 70,000 drivers caught on new cameras

As officials look for the best way to combat rising deaths on our roads, new technology in one state has detected 70,000 drivers using their phones while driving in less than two months.

Government data has revealed road deaths rose by almost 10 per cent nationally in the 12 months to March, compared with the previous year, with 2023 being crowned the deadliest year on Australia’s roads in more than half a decade. In South Australia, the state’s first mobile phone detection cameras were rolled out in January as part of a $16 million plan to reduce road deaths caused by driver distraction.

Authorities hope the new cameras will help solve the problem, which left 117 people dead on South Africa’s roads last year. During a two-month trial period, some seven million motorists were detected by the cameras across the state, and of those, 71,044 people were using their cellphones found while driving, police revealed .

Australians caught in series of illegal acts on South Africa’s roads

Motorists were caught in a range of illegal and dangerous scenarios, including one case where they were caught driving with their little finger. Another was photographed with his dog on his lap and his phone in the other hand and officers say these kinds of inhumane acts are becoming all too common.

According to South African police, the traffic violations, if caught during a non-trial phase, would have generated more than $45 million in fines. To make matters worse, officers say the cameras were not even turned on throughout the trial period.

Although the testing period officially ended this week, there will be a short grace period with fines starting to be issued from September.

Distraction accounts for 20 to 30 percent of serious injuries and deaths on South African roads, Police Commissioner Darren Fielke reminded the public, saying the new cameras are “there to make people think about what they do while they drive.” .

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Police warn more conflicting figures to follow

As South Australia catches up with other states including NSW, Queensland and Victoria, cameras are now operating at five priority locations across Adelaide. They include the Southern Expressway at Darlington, South Road at Torrensville, North South Motorway at Regency Park, Port Road at Hindmarsh and Port Wakefield Road at Gepps Cross.

Signs will be installed over the coming months to warn drivers that they are approaching the cameras and fines worth $640, plus three demerit points, will be imposed from September 19. Until then, drivers caught during the grace period will only receive a warning letter.

All funds raised from fines will be returned to the Community Road Safety Fund to be used for road safety initiatives, including safety improvements, education programs and public advertising.

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