Letter shows ‘5 demerit points and $344 fine’ threat is just one big scare

The threat of hefty fines and demerit points for being caught texting behind the wheel by a new mobile phone detection camera is all talk, for now.  

New South Wales motorists caught by the cameras, installed earlier this month, are only receiving warning letters rather than stiff penalties. 

One such letter, seen by Daily Mail Australia, warned drivers caught by cameras this month that they would normally be fined $344 and five demerit points. 

But the letter revealed there was a grace period until March 1, 2020.  

‘After the end of the warning letter period, infringement notices will be issued and penalties will apply for illegal mobile phone usage detected under the program,’ it said. 

The 45 mobile phone detection cameras began operating statewide from December 1, with 3,303 drivers caught using phones behind the wheel in their first week.  

Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said those drivers were lucky. 

‘At 60km/h if you look at your phone while driving for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind – it’s dangerous, it’s stupid and it needs to stop,’ Mr Constance said.

‘Around 500 drivers a day are getting pinged by these cameras doing the wrong thing. 

One of the first warning letters: Motorists have been warned (pictured) those caught by the cameras using their phones while driving will be fined $344 and five demerit points after March 2020

From December 1 to December 7 the 45 cameras across New South Wales caught 3,303 drivers using phones behind the wheel (a driver is pictured on their phone while the passenger steers)

When the warning phase ends drivers will cop a $344 fine, or $457 in a school zone, and five demerit points and 10 during double demerit periods.

Executive Director of Transport for NSW’s Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlon said the cameras could prevent up to 100 fatal accidents over the next five years. 

‘We need to see a steep behavioural change from motorists to save lives. While drivers caught on camera get a warning now,’ he said.

‘New South Wales Police will continue to issue fines for illegal mobile phone use as part of their regular operations.’ 

The mobile phone detection camera program will continue to roll out in new areas so that by 2023 they were expected to conduct 135 million vehicle checks.

The technology captures wide-angled pictures of passing motorists showing their windscreen to check if they are using their mobile phone.

Executive Director of Transport for NSW’s Centre for Road Safety Bernard Carlon said the cameras could prevent up to 100 fatal accidents over the next five years (stock image)

It was initially piloted at the M4 at Prospect, Anzac Parade at Moore Park and a number of other areas around Sydney that have not been disclosed. 

Director for The Centre of Road Safety Bernard Carlon told Daily Mail Australia they were trying to reduce road fatalities.

‘Using a phone behind the wheel increases the risk of crashing fourfold – this is unacceptable,’ Mr Carlon said.

‘The scale of the problem cannot be ignored. Over the first 25 days of the mobile phone camera trial more than 20,000 drivers were observed illegally using a phone – from just two camera locations.’

Crash data also showed that from 2010 to 2014 there were 236 crashes where ‘hand-held mobile phone use by drivers was identified as a contributing factor’. 

Data also revealed that two per cent of all fatal accidents from 2008 to 2016 in NSW were the result of someone using a hand-held phone. 

Under the law provisional drivers were not allowed to use mobile phones while driving for any reason other than navigation and only if it can be done hands free.

However open license holders can use a mobile phone while driving if it is secured in a cradle or ‘can be operated without touching the phone’.  

Director for The Centre of Road Safety Bernard Carlon told Daily Mail Australia they make no apologies for aiming to reduce road fatalities (one of the 45 mobile phone detection cameras pictured)