Drivers in and around Perth who use mobile phones and do not wear a seat belt will be captured by the camera for the next three months under a test of cutting-edge new technology, first in Australia.
Six of the point-to-point mobile road safety cameras will be placed in pairs around the metropolitan area and 200 km from the city on regional roads, detecting average speed and top speed.
Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia said no fines would be issued in the trial, but that the details of any person caught behaving in a particularly flagrant manner, not only drivers but also passengers, would be they will go to the police to follow up.
“Let’s say someone exceeds the speed limit and does something really dangerous, this information can obviously be used by the police to investigate,” Papalia told reporters Wednesday.
“People, wherever they are deployed, will need to be aware that they could be trapped if they do not wear a seat belt or if they use their mobile phones or if they pass at speed not only at this point but at a great distance.
“People won’t know where the cameras are.”
Camera Icon Drivers in and around Perth who use mobile phones and do not wear a seat belt will be captured on camera for the next three months under a test of the new state-of-the-art technology, first in Australia . Credit: Unknown / SuppliedCamera Icon Six of the point-to-point mobile road safety cameras will be placed in pairs around the metropolitan area and 200 km from the city on regional roads, detecting average speed and top speed. Credit: unknown / supplied
He said cameras were especially needed in the regions, where two-thirds of deaths on WA roads occurred.
Of the more than 160 fatalities last year, 14 were people not wearing seat belts, the minister said, describing the new technology as the “Swiss road safety knife”.
“It’s a unique capability, it’s a big step forward for us here in Western Australia … giving us a big step in road safety coverage,” Papalia said.
He said the trial would generate information on where a large number of certain types of crimes were occurring and where the need for more enforcement was greatest.
Published footage taken from highway still cameras confirmed there was “horrible … terribly dangerous behavior” on Perth’s main roads and there was no reason to suspect this was not happening elsewhere, Papalia said. .
Camera icon. The minister said the trial would gather information on where a large number of certain types of offenses were occurring and where the need for more enforcement was greatest. Credit: supplied
After evaluating the findings of the trial, legislation should be changed to allow the technology to be used to penalize people, which would take time, the minister said.
Evidence showed that drivers responded to punitive measures with a change in behavior, leading to a reduction in deaths and serious accidents.
“What people are telling us is that they’re not scared enough because they don’t see enough cameras,” road safety commissioner Adrian Warner said.
“More than 80 percent of the people we surveyed, and that includes people who have never had an offense in their life and people who suffer infractions on a fairly regular basis … say they are very supportive of using these cameras to detect cell phone use and seat belt use.
“So while they may be infringing, they recognize that these are very risky behaviors.”
Camera IconWA police minister Paul Papalia described the new technology as the “Swiss road safety knife”. Credit: Simon Santi / The West Australian
WA’s fine for using a cell phone while driving, including simply touching it, is $ 500 plus three demerit points, but using it as a playback service while driving is a $ 1,000 fine and four demerit points .
Failure to wear a seat belt starts at $ 550, with higher penalties if children are not subject, state traffic commander Mike Bell warned.
Alexander Jannink, CEO of Acusensus, which developed the technology, said there was no limit to how many cars could be photographed and that anyone passing in front of the cameras would be broken.
Images that do not detect offensive behavior will be discarded.