By Jessica Anstice
The State Government has announced it will be testing the use of phone-detection cameras on roads to spot motorists using their mobile phones while driving.
A three-month trial of state-of-the-art safety cameras that will capture distracted drivers started on Wednesday 29 July.
The technology is designed to detect mobile phone use behind the wheel and potentially other illegal driving activities, making roads safer for the majority of road users who do the right thing.
The trial will ensure the technology operates accurately and is appropriate for use on roads before a potential rollout.
“We know how dangerous it is to use your phone while driving – that’s why we’re trialing this new technology to help stamp out this irresponsible behaviour,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said.
Research shows drivers who use a mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to cause a fatal road accident.
Texting, browsing and emailing increase the crash risk even further – up to ten times.
In 2017-18, more than 30,000 motorists were issued with fines for using a mobile phone while driving in Victoria.
Drivers and riders involved in distraction-related crashes may make up at least 11 percent of road fatalities.
“We know distracted drivers can have devastating outcomes on our roads – this technology is another step towards targeting this kind of unacceptable behaviour and keeping all road users safe,” Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville said.
“We all have a role to play in reducing our road toll – every time someone picks up their phone behind the wheel they are putting lives in danger.
“This technology will detect those who choose to put lives at risk on our roads.”
As well as capturing drivers illegally using their mobile phones while driving, the cameras will be tested for possible future use to crackdown on other dangerous driver behaviour, including not wearing a seatbelt.
No infringements will be issued during the pilot and number plate recognition will not be undertaken.
All photographs captured will be deleted, except for a limited number of de-identified images.
If the trial is successful, the technology will be introduced and it will be able to operate from any location, 24 hours a day, in all conditions.
Research conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre estimated an automated mobile phone enforcement camera program could prevent 95 casualty crashes per year and save taxpayers $21 million annually.
The cameras allow high-resolution images to be captured in all conditions, regardless of weather and light levels, and for those images to be reviewed in real time to detect potential offences.
The government provided more than $120 million dollars in the Budget 2019/20 to increase mobile camera enforcement by 75 percent over the coming years and investigate new road safety camera capabilities.
