Mobile speed cameras detect more than 80,000 driving offences in less than two years

Since mobile speed cameras were rolled out less than two years ago, a staggering number of people have been caught blatantly flouting laws. Here’s the roads with the most camera detections.

A motorist caught incorrectly using their seatbelt. Mobile speed cameras can detect when drivers are using their phones or not wearing their seatbelts. Picture: Department of State Growth

Mobile speed cameras have nabbed more than 80,000 dodgy drivers on Tasmania’s roads since they were rolled out two years ago, leading authorities to issue a spate of infringement notices valued at a total of about $12m.

Eight cameras were introduced in September 2022, before the number doubled to 16 in the following year, complementing the network of fixed speed cameras managed by Tasmania Police, which are understood to be “end of life” and cannot detect mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

The Department of State Growth, which administers the mobile speed camera program, has released shocking images of motorists caught blatantly flouting the law, including some using their phones while driving and others not wearing a seatbelt.

A motorist caught using their phone while driving. Mobile speed cameras can detect when drivers are using their phones or not wearing their seatbelts. Picture: Department of State Growth

A department spokesman said that between September 2022 and June 1, 2024, about 81,000 infringement notices had been handed out as a result of bad driving behaviour picked up by the cameras.

The government has contracted Sensys Gatso Australia to maintain and operate the mobile speed cameras, which can be moved across the state as needed. Some of the cameras are in the form of highly visible trailers, while others are concealed in cars.

Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard said since the cameras had been introduced, State Growth’s speed counters had observed an overall reduction in average speeds on Tasmanian roads.

“Now that we’ve [introduced] the cameras, immediately for the first time in many years, the average speed has started to drop in all the zones,” he said.

“So I think the fact that people know that these mobile cameras are out there, they’re a little bit more cautious about the speeds they’re doing”.

Mr Tilyard said it was “difficult” to change the driving culture in Tasmania but drivers were being “more careful” now that they were aware of the cameras.

Road Safety Advisory Council chair Scott Tilyard. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

According to State Growth data obtained by the Sunday Tasmanian, about 76,000 infringement notices have been issued for speeding offences (approximately $10m worth of fines) as a result of mobile speed camera detections, 3000 for seatbelt offences (approximately $1.2m), and about 1400 for mobile phone offences (approximately $580,000).

Drivers caught speeding face fines of up to $1121, six demerit points, and disqualifications of their driver’s licence for four months, while those who fail to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt can be fined up to $390 and receive three demerit points, as can motorists using their mobile phone while their car is moving or stationary (but not parked).

Research has shown that wearing a fitted seatbelt can reduce the risk of being killed or sustaining a serious injury in a crash by up to 50 per cent.

Mr Tilyard said it was “concerning” that some people were still not wearing seatbelts.

“It is worrying in this day and age, when people know that [seatbelts] save lives and for most people it’s an automatic reflex action to put your seatbelt on. It’s not hard. It’s amazing that there are still people that don’t do it,” he said.

A motorist caught incorrectly using their seatbelt. Mobile speed cameras can detect when drivers are using their phones or not wearing their seatbelts. Picture: Department of State Growth

The roads and highways where the mobile speed cameras have made the most detections are, in order of the number recorded: the Bass Hwy, Brooker Hwy, Channel Hwy, Main Rd Glenorchy, and Tasman Hwy.

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said speed cameras were proven to “modify” driver behaviour and that mobile phone use was proven to “impair [driving] performance” and led to inattention and distraction.

“As part of a national strategic plan, police will continue to use new and emerging technologies in order to reduce deaths and serious injury caused by speeding, drink and drug driving, inattentive driving, not wearing seatbelts and fatigue,” she said.

Police also undertake targeted patrols and traffic policing efforts to complement the network of speed cameras across Tasmania.

According to Tasmania Police’s latest annual report, there were 315 fatal and serious injury crashes recorded in the state in the 2022-23 financial year, a 28 per cent increase on the number recorded in the previous year.

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WITH THE MOST MOBILE SPEED CAMERA DETECTIONS:

1. Bass Highway

2. Brooker Highway

3. Channel Highway

4. Main Road Glenorchy

5. Tasman Highway

PENALTIES FOR DRIVING OFFENCES IN TASMANIA:

– Speeding: Fines of up to $1121, six demerit points, and disqualification of driver’s licence for four months;

– Mobile phone use: Fines of up to $390 and three demerit points;

– Seatbelt offences: Fines of up to $390 and three demerit points.