Staggering number of drivers caught texting – with more detection cameras on the way

Dangerous drivers caught using their phones on the road are being warned they’ll soon face hefty penalties, with more detection cameras set to go live – here’s where.

More than a dozen mobile phone detection cameras will soon be live across Adelaide’s busiest roads in a bid to stamp out distracted driving, with motorists to face hefty fines and demerit point penalties.

Since a single-lane trial of the cameras on South Rd at Torrensville began last year, one in 84 motorists – 177 per day – has been caught on their phones.

Between April 1 and April 28 last year, a total of 4955 incidents were detected out of 415,805 passing cars.

Mobile phone cameras have now been fitted on South Rd, Torrensville, the Southern Expressway at Darlington, the North-South Motorway at Regency Park and Port Wakefield Rd, Gepps Cross, as part of a $15 million state government investment to curb road trauma.

Newly-appointed Police Minister Dan Cregan said a fifth site on Port Rd at Hindmarsh would go live in coming weeks.

A further four more cameras will be installed across two other yet-to-be revealed locations.

Testing is currently underway and will continue until June 19, when the cameras officially begin recording.

Testing is underway for mobile phone detection cameras on Adelaide’s busiest arterial roads, with fines to be handed out from September.

A grace period – where vehicle owners will receive a warning letter from SA Police – will apply until September 19. After that, drivers will be slapped with a $540 fine, $99 victims of crime levy and loss of three demerit points.

Mr Cregan said mobile phone use increased a driver’s crash risk fourfold, with distracted driving found to be a contributing factor to seven of the 27 lives lost on SA roads this year.

He said the staggering number of drivers caught in just a one month trial showed how serious the issue was on our roads.

“(These cameras) allow enforcement to continue on a 24/7 basis for people who are, quite frankly, taking their own lives and the lives of others into their own hands while using a mobile phone while driving,” Mr Cregan said.

“Testing these cameras gives plenty of notice for every driver to consider their behaviour and, if required, to change it.”

SA Police Superintendent Darren Fielke said mobile phone use had been a suspected cause in 1511 crashes this year alone.

“Our message is simple; leave your phone alone while driving,” Supt Fielke said.

“Taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second … slows down your reaction time and increases the chances of having a crash.”