Cameras to detect mobile phone usage (NSW, Australia from 1 July 2018)

[VladTepes]

This is good news. 

From 1 July 2018 drivers can be charged for using a mobile phone when driving ... via camera detection

The Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Road Safety) Act 2018 No 15 has provided the power for speed camera style technology to detect illegal mobile phone use from 1 July 2018.

Drivers who are caught using a mobile phone while driving will receive a fine of $330 and will lose 4 demerit points. If drivers are caught using a mobile phone when driving in a school zone, the fine increases to $439.
All mobile phone offences are also subject to double demerits penalties.

NSW is the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce this legislation. Once the camera detects that a person has been found to be using a phone whilst driving, the footage will be reviewed manually prior to an infringement notice being issued.

The revenue raised from the camera detection technology will paid into the Community Road Safety Fund, which allows community organisations to develop road safety projects in their local areas. Such projects include:
Driver mentoring assistance for disadvantaged youth;
Awareness campaign targeting driveway safety;
Road safety workshops targeting culturally and linguistically diverse communities; and
Road safety seminar series and newly arrived migrants.

It has been reported that during an initial test on Sydney's Harbour Bridge, the new system detected 750 drivers in six hours. This is contrasted with NSW Police having issued less than 100 infringements per week using the current methods.

In justifying the new technology NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, reported that from 2012 to 2017 there were 184 crashes involving illegal mobile phone use and those crashes resulted in seven deaths and 105 injuries.

Source

[KiwiCol]

I see it all the time as I'm out & about in the city driving during work hours. It amazes me how many self important people there are, that think the rules don't apply to them. 
Bring it on I say, NZ will follow suit no doubt.  There is Bluetooth connectivity in most modern vehicles for your mobile & for the older cars, a cheap device that plugs in to the 12v outlet (old cigarette lighter socket) that connects your phone to your radio, cost is about $20.  There's no excuse to be driving & holding / using a bloody cell phone. 

(We're allowed hands free in NZ)

[Sweaty]

Yep, bring it on to stop all the tossers out there.

[Notty]

I now have a free bus pass so its easier to take the bus into the city centre. I stand at the bus stop and count the number of drivers on their mobile phones - it over 25% - they won't see that bike pulling out or the child crossing the road 

[froudy]

The number of drivers illegally using mobiles while driving in the UK is alarming.
I encounter them regularly on the motorway while commuting. They're usually so engrossed in their phone that they meander between two lanes, totally oblivious to what is going on around them

A few years ago a good friend of mine encountered a phone using driver. He pulled alongside them at a set of traffic lights. The driver window was fully open. He reached in..Snatched the phone from the driver and dropped it on the ground before riding off. Whilst I wouldn't condone or encourage this sort of action it maybe taught the driver a lesson.

[Kiwifruit]

Used my Sena intercom bluetooth to phone today. I was stationary just couldnt be fagged taking my helmet off......
Amazing how many drivers are on phones these days.
They get quite shitty when you show your displeasure. Sorry ladies......women are the worst !!

[KiwiCol]

ya left the word 'drivers' off Col . . . 

[grog]

agree, bring it on. i drive all day. every traffic red light someone using phone, texting the most. young girls, p platers at every stop, theyre the worst. bluetooth in both my vehicles, very easy. ute is built in, car was 120 bucks for amazing jvc head unit. ive nearly been hit by cars, trucks and even a bus driver. yep, all on phone. i love my phone, does all my stuff, hate them on drivers.hate with a passion. 

[Mister Fishfinger]

Glad to see it. I would be very interested to know how well the system can identify that a driver is holding a phone in a moving vehicle. That's quite hard for a human observer sometimes, but a big challenge for a computer vision system.

[Suzuki boi]

Delighted something like this is happening.
Probably take 10 years before it reaches over here!
Amount of people playing on there phones is shocking.

[Hooli]

Can we have them for lane hogs too?

[seth]

When ever we have to filter the first thing I notice is that some of the cars don't see/hear us coming but others do and every time you pass the cars that haven't noticed 99%of the time they are on thier phones . 

[Mick_J]

It's not just phones that cause problems, there was a car doing 25 in a 40 today and wondering all over the road while the tosser driving was pissing about with his satnav, he had no iea what was going on around him. 

[lil4399]

Here in France it is now an automatic ban for using a phone in the car, luckily (?) We still have lots of motorcycle Gendarms.

[VladTepes]

I don't have a photo to hand, but I have a sticker on the back of my bike helmet:

Would you drive
better with that
phone up your
arse?