DISTRACTED drivers have been slapped with more than $4.6 million in fines after mobile phone detection cameras caught bad behaviour across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.
The state government rolled out its world-first mobile detection camera program in 2019, and since then Transport for NSW claims it has seen a huge change in driver behaviour when it comes to the dangerous issue.
Revenue NSW data revealed 8283 drivers copped a whopping $3.3 million in fines at Hannell Street, Wickham alone in the 2023-24 financial year.
Transport for NSW Safety, Environment and Regulation deputy secretary Sally Webb said from July 1 mobile phone detection cameras have also been used to detect the incorrect use, or lack of, wearing seatbelts.
"Anything that takes your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road of mind off the driving task is dangerous, not just for you, but everyone else on the road," she said.
"Simply taking your eyes off the road for longer than two seconds, the time it takes to read a message on your phone, doubles the risk of a crash."
Hannell Street at Wickham saw the highest number of mobile phone offenders, followed by T C Frith Avenue at Boolaroo, where 305 drivers coughed up $114,285 in fines.
George Booth Drive at Edgeworth was another hot spot, raking in $116,634 from 283 drivers.
The fine for using a mobile phone while driving is $410, or $544 in a school zone and five demerit points, or 10 during double demerits.
Fines for seatbelt offences are consistent with penalties imposed by police in NSW, which is $410 and at least three demerit points for drivers and the same for a driver who fails to make sure a passenger is wearing a seatbelt.
There are a total of 47 fixed and transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras that operate across the state, undertaking more than 135 million vehicle checks each year.
The rate of camera detected mobile phone offences has dropped from 1 in 82 drivers during the pilot period from January to June 2019, to 1 in 815 vehicle checks from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
The infringement rate of 0.12 per cent of vehicles checked in 2023-24 is down from 0.15 per cent of those checked in 2022-23.
There has been a decline in the number of fines each year since mobile detection camera enforcement began on March 1, 2020.
Ms Webb said mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras have been deployed across the state, and transportable cameras are regularly moved from site to site.
"Wearing a seatbelt is a simple and highly effective way to prevent trauma and doubles the chance of surviving a crash as well as reduces the risk of injury," she said.
"We remind drivers to ensure that they and their passengers are wearing their seatbelt correctly every trip."
Mobile detection cameras caught more than 200 drivers at Cormorant Road, Koorangang.
More than 150 drivers were fined at both the Pacific Highway at Catherine Hill Bay and Wyee Road at Morisset.
Other hot spots included The Esplanade at Warners Bay, Macquarie Drive at Croudace Bay and Nelson Bay Road at Stockton, where fines cost drivers $116,883 combined.
In Port Stephens, mobile phone detection cameras busted drivers at Medowie Road and Cabbage Tree Road, Williamtown.
Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras use a number of cameras and an infrared flash to capture images of passing vehicles.
Artificial intelligence software automatically reviews the images and detects potential offences.
Images where there is not an offence are excluded from further action.
All suspected offences detected by the cameras and software system are checked by trained personnel before fines are issued.
Images rejected by the artificial intelligence are permanently deleted, usually within an hour of being taken.
Every cent from mobile phone and seatbelt fines goes into the Community Road Safety Fund, which provides road safety education in schools, flashing lights in school zones and safety infrastructure.
