New mobile detection cameras on New South Wales roads

Using the phone while driving can land you in a serious situation in NSW now. As the NSW government has finally come up with its plan to investigate mobile phone use offenders using camera-based technology.

The mobile phone detection cameras can now catch the drivers using the phone even without even realizing its installation on roads. The detection camera is capable to catch the drivers using the phone in all situations - day time, night time, poor weather, and speed of up to 300kmph.

The camera was developed by Alex Jannink from Acusensus after his friend James Rapley was killed by a driver distracted while using a mobile phone. He explained his strong desire to develop this technology to save the lives of people during an interview.

Paul Toole, NSW Minister for Regional Roads stated, "Independent modeling has shown that these cameras could prevent around 100 fatal and serious injury crashes over five years".

In the trial period of six months, 8.5 million vehicles were checked and out of that around 100,000 people were caught who were using their mobiles while driving in the areas of mobile camera locations, but during the trial period, they would not be fined.

The mobile phone camera locations are M4 Motorway at Prospect and Anzac Parade at Moore Park.

The mobile camera is ready to roll-out in the latter part of the year. And the complete monitoring program has set a target of examining the 135 million vehicles annually by 2023.

In the first three months of operation, a warning letter will be issued to the drivers using the phone. And after the full-fledged execution, the penalty of $344 and five demerit points will be levied.

Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Roads stated, "There is strong community support for more enforcement to stop illegal mobile phone use with 80 percent of people we surveyed supporting use of the mobile phone detection cameras". 

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