Released 06/02/2021
Mobile device detection cameras will be introduced in the ACT in the second half of 2021 to target driver distraction and improve road safety, following proposed legislation being passed through the Assembly.
The Government has funded this initiative as part of the 2020-21 ACT Budget and is part of our commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ – no deaths or serious injuries on our roads.
Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel said that driver distraction had become a major safety issue on our roads, with drivers who look at their mobile phone being three times more likely to be involved in a crash, and those who text and look at emails on their mobile phone increasing their crash risk ten times.
“Drivers who look at their mobile phones are significantly more likely to be involved in a crash, endangering themselves, the public and other road users,” Minister Steel said.
“Like other jurisdictions, the ACT Government is taking action to roll out mobile device detection cameras to target driver distraction. In other states the cameras have seen a reduction in distraction offences committed following the rollout.”
New cameras will capture high-resolution evidence of phone and mobile device use by drivers using artificial intelligence technology coupled with strict privacy requirements.
These requirements include:
- images of front seat passengers are pixelated, and the cameras must not see into the rest of the car
- all images captured by the cameras that do not contain evidence of a mobile device use offence are rapidly and permanently deleted
- only the minimum amount of data required to detect and enforce offences is retained
- defined use and disclosure of images captured by the cameras, and
- obligations for the secure protection and encryption of the images.
Minister Steel said that road safety cameras used in conjunction with police enforcement will play a critical role in addressing high-risk behaviours on our roads.
“Drivers in the ACT continue to use their mobile devices while driving, with 1,008 infringement notices and 190 cautions issued in the Territory in 2020,” Minister Steel said.
“Further steps are needed to reduce this behaviour, and with the rollout of this new technology we hope that we see less people driving whilst distracted, so that serious crashes can be avoided.
“This is a significant change in technology and we will give the community a period of time to adapt to the operation of the mobile cameras.
“The ACT Government will conduct an extensive campaign, to educate the community with a three-month no-fine warning period when the cameras are first deployed. During this time, warning letters will be sent to infringing drivers without penalty.
“The penalties are significant, and reflect the risk that driver distraction poses to the community.
Every accident that results in serious injury or death is a tragedy and costs the community in some way; including through heartache to family and friends, loss in productivity to our city’s economy and increased pressure on our health system.”
- Statement ends -
Section: Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases