More than 46,000 fines issued in six months to Adelaide drivers using mobile phones

An eye-watering amount in fines has been generated from phone detection cameras since they became operational in SA – with one motorist copping 41 fines, totalling almost $27,000. See the list.

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More than $30 million in fines and levies have been issued in the first six months since mobile phone detection cameras were introduced on Adelaide roads.

Figures released by SA Police on Tuesday show the rate at which drivers are being pinged using their mobile phones illegally is declining – with 28,120 expiation notices issued in the first three months and 18,356 in the following three months to March 18 this year. This equals a total of 46,476 fines.

Despite this, the amount of money obtained through expiation notices in just six months has already exceeded the state government’s initial estimate of almost $25 million for the whole of 2024/25 – and there are still three months of the financial year yet to be taken into account.

The 2023/24 state budget papers showed the cameras were expected to generate almost $25 million in fine revenue in 2024/25, with the figure decreasing to almost $23 million the following year, and lowering again in 2026/27 to about $21 million.

Mobile phone detection cameras have been operational across Adelaide since September last year. Picture: SA Police

Motorists detected by the mobile phone cameras face fines of $556 plus a $104 Victims of Crime Levy as well as three demerit points.

While SA Police officer in charge of the Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Shane Johnson described the reduction in the number of motorists caught using their mobile phones while behind the wheel as “a positive result for road safety in South Australia,” he remained concerned about the amount of repeat offenders.

A total of 611 drivers were caught four or more times during the six month period.

Among the worst offenders was one motorist who was issued with 41 fines, totalling almost $27,000. Another driver racked up 28 expiation notices, while another received 25 fines.

“The number of repeat offenders has been disappointing, and police continue to investigate these offences,” Supt Johnson said.

“These drivers face a loss of licence and significant fines.”

The mobile phone detection cameras are located at South Rd, Torrensville; on the North South Motorway, Regency Park; Port Wakefield Rd, Gepps Cross; the Southern Expressway, Darlington; and Port Rd, Hindmarsh.

The six-month data showed that most fines were issued to drivers on the North South Motorway (12,645 expiation notices), while 11,828 were handed out for offending on South Rd, and 9482, 8470 and 4051 fines were sent to drivers nabbed on the Southern Expressway, Port Rd and Port Wakefield Rd respectively.

Police Minister Stephen Mullighan said motorists who looked at their phones while driving were “essentially driving blind” and he warned “you’ll face the full force of the law”.

“The figures that we’re releasing today show that these mobile phone detection cameras are having a massive impact in persuading drivers to leave their phones alone, to not use them while they’re driving, but...there is still an unacceptably high level of mobile phone use amongst drivers here in South Australia,” he said.

“We’re still talking about 200 vehicles a day (being detected); that is still 200 drivers that are choosing to take their eyes off the road...and instead look at their mobile phones.”

Two more cameras are expected to be installed in the coming weeks.

The location of these cameras are yet to be determined.

Police warned that being distracted by a mobile phone for two seconds while driving at 60km/hr meant a driver would travel 33 metres without their eyes on the road. Meanwhile, a motorist distracted for two seconds while travelling at 100km/hr would mean they would travel 55 metres without looking at the road.

Repeat offender drivers:

308 were issued with 4 fines each

119 were issued with 5 fines each

70 were issued with 6 fines each

44 were issued with 7 fines each

22 were issued with 8 fines each

14 were issued with 9 fines each

11 were issued with 10 fines each

3 were issued with 11 fines each

5 were issued with 12 fines each

3 were issued with 13 fines each

1 was issued with 14 fines

3 were issued with 15 fines each

1 was issued with 16 fines

1 was issued with 19 fines

2 were issued with 20 fines each

1 was issued with 22 fines

1 was issued with 25 fines

1 was issued with 28 fines

1 was issued with 41 fines

Originally published as More than 46,000 fines issued in six months to Adelaide drivers using mobile phones