New high-tech cameras coming this year that will capture Perth drivers on their mobile phones

WA drivers have been put on notice, with new speed cameras to be rolled out this year able to detect mobile phone use behind the wheel. The cameras, which caught a driver using their phone every four minutes during a recent six-month trial, require legislative change, which the Cook Government described as a matter of priority. Road Safety Minister David Michael said between July 2022 and February 2023, new high-tech cameras deployed at 94 sites around the State picked up 66,787 ‘verified mobile phone offences’. None of those drivers will cop a penalty however because the cameras were being used as part of a trial. But The West Australian can reveal the Cook Government is drafting legislation as a “matter of priority” so the new cameras can start capturing people on their phones and penalise them for it also. Mr Michael told The West it was the government’s intention to use the cameras in an “operational” capacity this year. “We are working towards having a number of these cameras operational this year,” he said. “This technology will dramatically increase the likelihood of phone-distracted drivers getting caught. “But the fear of getting caught should not be the motivator for good driving practice.” It comes as the number of WA drivers who were actually caught and fined by police last year for using a mobile phone almost halved. Official police figures given to The West show 6343 mobile phone infringements were handed out to WA drivers in 2022 — at an average of more than 120 per week. But last year the number of infringements plummeted to 3659 – about 70 per week. RAC’s Will Golsby said the drop in infringements was positive. “But clearly, too many people continue to use their phones illegally,” Mr Golsby said. “We need to ditch the distraction of the mobile phone.” Several years ago the WA Government increased the penalties substantially for using a mobile phone while driving. Laws that came into effect in 2020 meant texting or using social media while driving drew a $1000 fine and four demerits, while touching a phone not in a cradle cost drivers $500 and three demerits. Road Safety Commission data shows inattention-related crashes are still a factor in many fatal and serious crashes every year. In 2021, 91 people were killed or seriously injured in a crash related to inattention. In 2022, that number jumped to 111.