South Australian motorists have been fined close to $30m dollars since mobile phone detection cameras were introduced in the state last year. The number of drivers being caught is declining, but police say the numbers are still disappointing. There have been 46,476 expiations issued in the first six months.
00:01The mobile phone detection cameras were installed at five different locations across Adelaide last June.
00:07There was initially a three month grace period where police issued more than 64,000 warning letters to drivers who were caught using their phones.
00:16They then began fining drivers in September and since then they say about 46,000 people have been fined, resulting in a total of about $30 million in expiations and levies.
00:29Now there have also been a significant number of repeat offenders.
00:34About 600 drivers received four or more detection notices.
00:39The highest though was one driver who received a staggering 41 fines.
00:44There is some good news though.
00:46Police say the number of people being caught has dropped dramatically since the cameras were introduced from about 1,300 a day to now less than 200 a day.
00:56Despite that reduction though, police say the number of people being caught is disappointing and they want drivers to remain aware of the dangers of distraction, especially in the lead up to the Easter long weekend with so many people across the country traveling to spend the weekend with loved ones.
01:12Unfortunately, this is a time where accidents do occur on the roads in South Australia alone last year.
01:19Three lives were lost and 18 people were seriously injured during the Easter long weekend.
01:24So police are urging anyone who is traveling with family and friends this Easter to take breaks, drive to the conditions and most importantly, don't take any risks.
