Speed, mobile phone cameras on Gold Coast: Where they are, the fines and demerit points

Stunning new figures show just how many people are being caught out each day using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt while driving on the Gold Coast.

MORE than 50 motorists a day are being caught out by new seatbelt and phone use detection cameras on the Gold Coast.

Figures obtained exclusively by the Bulletin show that in a four-day period last week 160 drivers were detected using mobile phones, while 48 drivers and two passengers were caught without seatbelts.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the numbers were “unacceptable”.

“This is a very disappointing display by some dangerous Gold Coast drivers,” Mr Bailey said.

“In just four days the new mobile phone and seatbelt cameras snapped 210 offences.

“This includes 160 mobile phone offences.

“We know using a phone while driving is the equivalent of getting behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07 – 0.10, so this is like us having 40 drunk drivers a day on Gold Coast roads, it’s unacceptable.”

The new cameras can detect people using their mobile phones or failing to wear a seatbelt while driving. Picture: Brendan Radke.

The penalty for being caught using a mobile phone while driving is the loss of four demerit points and a $1033 fine, while the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt is three demerit points lost and a $413 fine.

The new cameras began issuing fines at the start of November. They have been seen at locations across the Gold Coast including Burleigh, Hope Island, Southport and Coomera.

Mr Bailey said he was astonished to discover so many Gold Coast drivers were caught not wearing seatbelts.

“For 40 years we’ve been educating people on the importance of wearing a seatbelt, and yet a dozen drivers a day are being caught not wearing one on the Gold Coast,” Mr Bailey said.

“Last year in Queensland, 43 people who lost their lives in crashes were unrestrained, so to think a dozen people a day are not putting a seatbelt on is pure madness.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. Photo: Steve Pohlner.

The revelations come amid grim statistics on our roads, with 19 people killed within the Gold Coast City Council area so far this year.

Last year 22 people were killed, while in 2019 the figure was 11.

Mr Bailey appealed to drivers to be more careful ahead of the busy Christmas holiday period.

“Please, especially as we head into Christmas, clip up, put the phone away and take care on our roads,” he said.

“Imagine your family sitting around the table at Christmas without you there, that could be the outcome if you use your phone behind the wheel or don’t wear a seatbelt.”

RACQ spokesperson Renee Smith said there was “no excuse” for dangerous behaviour behind the wheel.

“If the risk of injuring or killing someone by disobeying these basic road rules isn’t enough to make drivers act safely, then hopefully these fines and the potential loss of a licence will be a wakeup call,” Ms Smith said.

“... Double demerits apply for repeat offenders caught within a 12-month period. That means, open licence holders will lose their licence if they’re snapped committing a phone offence more than once. It’s a tough stance, but one we clearly need.”

NEW CAMERAS INSTALLED TO CATCH OUT M1 DRIVERS

CAMERAS designed to catch motorists on their mobile phones have been installed at one of the busiest spots on the M1.

Workers have erected the cameras, which face towards northbound traffic, on the Foxwell Rd bridge at Exit 54 in Coomera.

A Department of Transport and Main Roads spokesperson would not confirm their purpose to the Bulletin. However the appearance of the cameras matches those used to detect people using their mobile phones while driving or not wearing seatbelts.

“In the interest of road safety, we will not be releasing the locations and number of cameras to encourage behaviour change through general deterrence,” the spokesperson said.

“Drivers and passengers committing the illegal behaviours should assume they can be caught anywhere, anytime.

“Camera locations are selected following a risk-based analysis of crashes where injuries or fatalities have occurred and where using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt was a contributing factor to the crash.”

New cameras on a bridge at the M1 in Coomera. Picture: Perry Cook.

It comes after Transport Minister Mark Bailey revealed that 1782 mobile phone and seatbelt offences were picked up in the first week of new cameras going live across Queensland.

“In the first week alone, 1782 people were snapped doing the wrong thing,” Mr Bailey said.

“This includes 1504 for mobile phone offences, and 278 for seatbelts.

“And a total of 57 drivers were caught two or more times in the first four days, which means the offence attracts double demerit points.

“If this rate keeps up, more than a dozen people a day face losing their licence.

“We know using a phone while driving is the equivalent of getting behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07 – 0.10, so this is like us having 1504 drunk drivers on Queensland roads, it’s unacceptable.”

The penalty for being caught using a mobile phone while driving is the loss of four demerit points and a $1033 fine, while the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt is three demerit points lost and a $413 fine.

NOVEMBER 16: ‘LICENCE-KILLER’ JUNCTION WHERE DRIVERS FACE MASSIVE FINES

Editor’s note: The mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras pictured have since been moved from this location.

DRIVERS could lose their licence in an instant at a Gold Coast intersection where a mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera has been installed this week.

The camera, near the junction of the Gold Coast Highway and Stevens St in Southport, has been placed next to a longstanding fixed speed camera.

It means reckless drivers could be pinged for speeding, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt in one go.

Anyone caught doing so would be fined at least $1629 and lose eight demerit points – enough to put a learner or provisional licence holder off the road.

That would rise to at least 10 points and $1721 if the speeding offence was for more than 13km/h above the 60 km/h limit.

Add a passenger not wearing a seatbelt and 13 demerit points could be lost – putting even full licence holders off the road in one go.

By far the biggest penalty is for using your mobile phone while driving, which carries a fine of $1033 and the loss of four demerit points.

Not wearing a seatbelt carries a $413 fine and the loss of three demerit points.

Locals on social media claimed the state government was “revenue raising”.

However Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said “every dollar” is invested back into making roads safer.

“Our message has been direct and simple: just put your phone away,” Mr Bailey said.

“In 2020, 23 people lost their lives and 1475 were hospitalised because of distracted driving.

“43 people died and 187 were hospitalised because they were not wearing a seatbelt.

“These deaths and injuries could have been prevented.”

Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras started issuing fines on November 1 after a three-month trial.

They have since been seen at a number of locations on the Gold Coast including Elanora, Burleigh and Hope Island.

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