Page 15 - drive a2b october 2019

affected by the laws once the technology is
rolled out and if it's successful, other states So what are Australia's other states and territories
will likely look to introduce it as well. planning? We reached out to the appropriate
authorities in Victoria, Queensland and South
Those caught were found to be browsing
Facebook, text messaging and one driver Australia who told us whether they were
was even caught allowing his passenger to considering introducing similar measures to curb
steer the wheel. Wow. illegal mobile phone use. Here's what they had to
say.
Given the trial's success, fixed and portable
phone detection cameras will now be
positioned in 45 spots across the state and
there won't be any warning signs like we're Victoria's Department of Justice
used to with existing speed cameras. and Community Safety told A spokesperson for
Lifehacker Australia it had invested SA's Department of
"We have to unfortunately use the element more than $120 million in the Planning, Transport
of surprise to get people to think 'well, I 2019/20 state budget to curb and Infrastructure told
could get caught at any time'," Andrew dangerous driving. One method us "The department
Constance, NSW Minister for Transport and was by increasing mobile speed will analyse the results
Roads, said. camera hours by 75 per cent but of the trial in NSW to
it's also looking to include mobile determine if these
"I want behaviour to change and I want phone detection devices. cameras will be suitable
it changed immediately. It's not about "As part of this investment, we are for the SA context".
revenue — it's about saving lives." working with road safety partners
to investigate the future use of new
So, how does mobile phone road safety technology, including Tasmania and
mobile phone detection devices,"
detection work? the spokesperson confirmed. Western Australian
authorities did not
Using artificial intelligence, the cameras "We will continue our engagement respond in time for
can detect mobile phone use in even the with NSW on the rollout of this publication.
worst of conditions. Whether it's raining technology as part of this work."
or cloudy, night or day, the camera will
be able to automatically review images Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)
of the front-seats of a vehicle. If the confirmed mobile phone detection cameras were on the table for
camera detects an offending driver, it will the state's future use.
supposedly exclude the passenger from
the image if they're not doing anything "Earlier this year, TMR met with tech companies through a series
of Technology Discovery Days to investigate software, hybrid,
wrong. Images are then reviewed by an sensory and enforcement-based solutions," a TMR spokesperson
authorised human worker to verify an told Lifehacker Australia.
offence was made.
"This included looking at cameras that can detect illegal mobile
If you get nabbed by the camera within the phone use."
first three months of its rollout, you'll get The spokesperson confirmed the department will be watching
sent a warning letter, but once that's up all how the technology rolls out in NSW to inform its future decisions.
bets are on. An offence captured by the
phone detection camera will cost you five "We are considering the outcomes from both the investigation
demerit points and a $344 fine ($457 if it's into technological solutions and the summit, including the viability
of camera enforcement technologies," TMR's spokesperson said.
in a school zone) for a first-time incident.
During double demerit point periods, it will "The New South Wales initiative is in its early stages and we will
go up to 10 demerits. continue to watch with interest as it develops."
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