SA Police reveal sky-high results since turning on mobile phone detection cameras

SA Police has revealed the staggering amount of revenue it has raised after stinging drivers during the first week of switching on new cameras.

SA Police has revealed sky-high revenue statistics after turning on its mobile phone detection cameras – which have been catching distracted drivers and slapping them with hefty fines and demerit points.

The week one data – from September 19 to September 25 – suggests driver behaviour has improved overall, however, a total of 2544 road users were still snapped reaching for their phones.

A staggering total of $1.67m will be collected from those fines alone.

Additionally, three people are expected to lose their licenses; two of those drivers had received six expiation notices while the other received five.

South Australia Police Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Darren Fielke talks about mobile phone detection camera. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Duncan Evans

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Darren Fielke said it was pleasing to see some improvement in detection rates.

“We know that from the traffic volume during the grace period – towards the end of the grace period – we were detecting drivers at around about 0.37 per cent of vehicle volume … That has now dropped to 0.24 per cent,” Superintendent Fielke said.

However, Supt Fielke said it was disheartening that some drivers refused to change their habits.

“Disappointingly our records show the registered vehicle owners that were detected five times and more in the first week have also received warning letters during the grace period,”

“Our continued message to drivers is simple, leave your phone alone while driving or you might pay the ultimate price.”

There have been 64 deaths on South Australian roads so far in 2024 with at least 23 of believed to have been caused by driver distraction.

SA Police have busted thousands of drivers using their phones since the instalment of mobile phone detection cameras. Pictures: SA Police.

Supt Fielke said he hoped that the number of offenders kept decreasing.

“This is not about revenue raising, although a lot of people think that it is, this is about changing people’s behaviour,” he said.

“This is around road safety and people making the right decision and making sure they don’t cause any risk to themselves or other road users.”

“We can’t be anymore clear on this. We’ve been talking about this now for weeks.”

The repercussions for drivers photographed by the mobile phone detection cameras include a $556 fine plus a $102 Victims of Crime levy and three demerit points.

Currently mobile phone detection cameras have been placed across five locations at South Rd at Torrensville, the North South Motorway at Regency Park, Port Wakefield Rd at Gepps Cross, the Southern Expressway at Darlington and Port Rd at Hindmarsh.

Police are also considering the possibility of installing two more cameras at other locations in 2025, as well as exploring the possibility of portable cameras.

Originally published as SA Police reveal sky-high results since turning on mobile phone detection cameras