Mobile-phone detecting speed cameras come online

New ultra high-resolution cameras designed to catch motorists using mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving have been switched on in New South Wales (NSW).

After a six-month trial in and around Sydney, new legislation has been passed in NSW allowing for the use of world-leading camera technology to catch drivers illegally using their phone.

"NSW is the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce legislation like the Road Safety Bill, showing this government's ongoing commitment to road safety as technology and societal trends change," NSW roads minister, Melinda Pavey stated.

Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria are expected to enact similar laws enabling the technology. Authorities say move will help curb road casualties and fatalities claimed to be caused by the prolific use of mobile phones by drivers.

The new camera technology employed by Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) works in all weather conditions, day and night, and up to speeds of 300km/h.

Given the six-month trial has green-lit new laws in NSW, it stands to reason that privacy concerns around the use of the cameras have been quashed.

This flies in the face of a range of privacy related legislation including the Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW). Under the NSW state act, certain intimate surveillance, such as surveillance in the workplace, is prohibited. As couriers and truck drivers are arguably in their workplace, some quarters argue the camera may infringe these rights.

The new mobile phone speed cameras in NSW take high-resolution photos of all motorists who pass by, which are then sorted via artificial intelligence designed to recognise phone use. Those photos are then verified by authorised personnel and penalties are meted out.

"Controls are in place to ensure images captured by the system are securely stored and managed by authorised personnel only, in a similar way to other camera programs," says Transport for NSW.

Drivers in NSW caught touching their mobile phone, even for a second, will get five demerit points and a $337 fine.

In Victoria the fine for mobile phone interaction while driving is $484, while in South Australia it is $534.

Queenslanders currently face penalties of $400 for tampering with their phone while driving but the north eastern state is planning on upping the fine $1000. Drivers convicted of mobile phone use twice would lose their licence under new measures.

Samantha Cockfield, the director of Road Safety at the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), said it was only a matter of time before the mobile phone cameras were introduced in Victoria.

"Part of our announcement in relation to speed cameras in rural and regional areas also will see extra funds to investigate how well those mobile [phone use detecting] cameras can work and looking at the legislative work that will be required to operate them," she told carsales.com.au.

Asked about the potential privacy concerns, Cockfield said that the safety of road users had to be a priority.

"In NSW that's one of the things that's being looked at quite heavily. You've got to weigh up everything but it looks like there will be ways through some of those [privacy] issues.

"For us it's people's lives on the line. If you use your phone while driving you're undertaking an illegal activity. If people are going to continue doing it we have to look at every means we have available to us [to combat it]," Cockfield said.