Driver busted 41 times using phone behind the wheel, fined $27k

Thousands of drivers continue to be caught on camera using their phones while at the wheel - but one man has outdone all others.

A driver has had his licence disqualified after cameras captured him allegedly using his mobile phone behind the wheel more than 40 times.

The man, from South Australia, was fined more than $27,000, police said on Monday.

“That person has had their licence suspended and police are currently conducting further inquiries in relation to that matter,” Superintendent Shane Johnson, SA Police’s officer in charge of traffic services, told the ABC.

“We’re currently in the process of reviewing all of those expiations and taking appropriate action.”

The man was one of thousands of drivers who were caught on camera using their phones while at the wheel in South Australia. Picture: SA Police.

Mobile phone detection cameras have busted 28,120 drivers illegally on their phones across five locations around the metro area – Regency Park, Torrensville, Darlington, Hindmarsh and Gepps Cross – in recent months, according to police.

“In the past three months, South Australia’s five mobile phone detection camera sites screened more than 14 million vehicles, with 28,120 expiations being issued,” Supt. Johnson said in a statement on Monday.

“Disappointingly, more than 200 drivers were issued with multiple expiation notices, including one driver who was issued with 41 expiation notices and two drivers who were issued with 22 and 23 expiation notices.”

Since September, texting and driving has cost South Australian road users more than $15.5m in fines, The Adelaide Advertiser reports.

Mr Johnson said the education phase had clearly worked after the amount of fines handed out more than halved from over 68,000 issued in the first three months.

“The data indicates that while most drivers do the right thing, we still have too many willing to take a risk by being distracted by their phones,” he said.

“They need to wake up to the consequences.”

SA Police said distraction has played a part in more than 30 of the current 89 lives lost on SA roads this year, and more than 75 serious injuries.

Mr Johnson said that police would look at cracking down on smart watches in the new year.

“Smart watches can be a form of distraction and legislation is being looked at for 2025,” he said.

“Our message is if it’s distracting you while driving you shouldn’t be looking at your smart watch.”

Originally published as Driver busted 41 times using phone behind the wheel, fined $27k