Adelaide mobile phone cameras catch staggering number of dodgy drivers in first four weeks

More than 10,000 drivers have been busted on their phones in four weeks, with dozens given multiple fines – and one caught 15 times. See all the astonishing figures.

Adelaide’s mobile phone detection cameras are raking in nearly $10,000 an hour, with more than 10,000 drivers busted in one month.

The cameras have brought in an astonishing $6.8m in just four weeks, official figures show.

Eighty vehicles have been busted four or more times, with one vehicle registration given 15 fines.

The police figures show that, in total, the cameras have brought in $6,789,902 in 30 days – or about $226,330 per day, and $9,430.41 per hour since the grace period ended.

The month-long data takes in all fines from September 19 to October 18, revealing 10,319 vehicles were nabbed by the phone-detection cameras, resulting in a fine.

The 80 people caught four or more times are now facing licence losses and demerit points.

Of those 80, one was caught 15 times in the 29-day period, one 11 and another 10. Forty-six drivers will receive four fines.

The penalty for offences detected by mobile phone detection cameras is $556 plus a $102 Victims of Crime Levy and three demerit points.

When the cameras were first turned on, they were catching 1000 drivers a day.

One of the drivers caught by the mobile phone detection cameras. Pictures: SA Police.

The mobile phone detection cameras have been placed across five high-risk locations, including 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.

However, SAPOL said the data had revealed a decrease in offences.

The month-long report showed the ratio of fines averaged 0.23 per cent, compared with 0.42 per cent for the final 30 days of the three-month warning period.

Traffic Services Branch officer-in-charge Superintendent Darren Fielke said the new penalties were helping change the behaviour of “phone-wielding drivers”.

“After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road after too many demerit point deductions,” Mr Fielke said.

“We recently reported in only the first week, 2544 motorists were detected, and we hope these people have learned an important lesson.

The figures show three drivers will be issued with nine fines, while another three will receive eight.

Two drivers will receive seven, 10 drivers will be issued with six expiation notices and 13 drivers five expiation notices.

Police are considering installing two more cameras at other locations next year.

Originally published as Adelaide mobile phone cameras catch staggering number of dodgy drivers in first four weeks