Mobile phone distraction in the sights of new cameras on Canberra's roads

Did you know if you look at your phone for two seconds while driving at 60 km/h, you’re driving 33 metres completely blind to what’s happening on the road?

To combat distracted driving, mobile device detection cameras will start popping up in Canberra from today (14 February).

Transport Canberra and City Services deputy director-general Ben McHugh said the transportable cameras would initially be located on Yamba Drive, Canberra Avenue and Horse Park Drive.

“They will regularly move to various sites across the road network to provide maximum road safety benefits,” he said.

“Data collection during this phase will also help inform future road safety strategies such as placement of cameras and ACT Policing activities.”

In the coming weeks, two fixed mobile device detection cameras will also be installed on Hindmarsh Drive and Gungahlin Drive.

Locations were decided with the help of the Centre for Automotive Safety Research at the University of Adelaide, which included a review of the Territory’s crash data to identify locations with a high rate of crashes or links to distraction.

Other stakeholders were also consulted to analyse spots where vulnerable road users are at high risk, mobile device use is common, and where enforcement with existing police resources has proved difficult.

ACT Policing has issued an average of 911 infringements and 260 cautions for using a mobile device while driving over the past five financial years.

But the actual rate of offending is suspected of being much higher.

Mr McHugh said the cameras would operate day and night and worked in any weather conditions.

“Drivers will not receive fines or warnings during this initial commissioning phase,” he said.

“Having these cameras out on the road early will help inform the community that mobile detection is coming and the importance of not being distracted while driving.

“This is really a behaviour-change mechanism to try to encourage the community to travel safely on our roads … to prepare if you do need to communicate when you’re driving your car, such as getting a cradle for your phone or pulling over to take that call.”

An ACT Government awareness campaign will run across multiple communication channels to make sure drivers are aware these cameras are out there both before and when they’re in their vehicles.

While signs will be erected at the road entries into the Territory to let other drivers know that mobile device detection cameras are used throughout Canberra.

“The ACT Government’s rollout of mobile device detection cameras is another step towards our commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ with no deaths or serious injuries on Canberra’s roads,” Mr McHugh said.

The data will be reviewed annually to see if extra cameras will be needed.

ACT Road Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Matt Craft said the cameras were one element of what’s needed to keep our roads safe.

“I would also like to see more police out on the road,” he said.

“Education works along with enforcement, so we need to have high visibility enforcement so members of the community realise that we can be anywhere at any time.”

Det Act Supt Craft said the data showed we had a “significant” driver distraction problem in the ACT.

“Our members are actively targeting road users who are distracted to try and reduce that road trauma.”

Warning notices will be issued to offending motorists from mid this year, with fines to be handed out from October.

Being caught using your phone while driving attracts a $498 fine and three demerit points.

As with other fines, there is an appeals process if you feel you received an infringement notice unfairly.

The cameras have been designed by AI mobile phone detection developer Acusensus as part of a $9 million deal over five years.

But overall, Det Act Supt Craft said the message was simple: “You don’t need to use it, put it away, have it away from you.

“That one moment of distraction could lead to fatal consequences.”