It follows a six-month pilot using technology from Acusensus, which checked 8.5 million vehicles and found more than 100,000 drivers using their phones illegally.
Using both fixed and relocatable trailer technology, Minister for Roads, Andrew Constance, and Minister for Regional Roads, Paul Toole, say the world’s first mobile phone detection camera program will be rolled out in NSW by the end of the year.
Mr Constance said that for the first three months, warning letters would be issued to reinforce the ‘get your hand off it’ message.
“If you offend after that, you’ll cop a $344 fine and five demerit points,” he said.
“Unfortunately some people haven’t received the message and think they can continue to put the safety of themselves, their passengers and the community at risk without consequence.”
Mr Toole said independent modelling had shown that the cameras could prevent around 100 fatal and serious injury crashes over five years.
Road safety advocate Vicki Richardson founded the ‘Don’t-txt-n-drive’ foundation to raise awareness of driver distraction after her 20-year-old daughter Brooke died in a crash caused by using her phone while driving.
“Brooke was driving to work and she decided to text a client,” Ms Richardson said.
“That was the last decision she ever made.”
More than 16,500 people had been caught using a mobile phone while driving so far this year, says NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy.
“There is simply no excuse for it,” he said.
Snap driver talking
CAMERAS able to spot catch drivers using their mobile phone behind the wheel are set to be rolled out and the State Government doesn’t plan to say where.