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NSW phone monitoring cameras going live this year

New South Wales drivers using phones behind the wheel are in the firing line, with the state to permanently roll out its phone-detection cameras.


The cameras will go live later this year, after a six-month trial in which 8.5 million vehicles were checked and more than 100,000 people were caught using their smartphones on the move.

The cameras are currently deployed on the M4 and Anzac Parade from January 2019, but motorists caught during the trial won't be fined.

"Independent modelling has shown that these cameras could prevent around 100 fatal and serious injury crashes over five years," said Paul Toole, NSW Minister for Regional Roads.

Drivers caught using their phones in the cameras' first three months in operation will receive a warning letter, but face fines of $344 and five demerit points once it's fully up and running.

The new monitoring program will be 'progressively' expanded to carry out more 135 million annual vehicle checks by 2023.

"There is strong community support for more enforcement to stop illegal mobile phone use with 80 per cent of people we surveyed supporting use of the mobile phone detection cameras," said Andrew Constance, NSW Minister for Roads.

Acusensus founder, Alex Jannick, created the cameras after his friend was killed by a distracted driver.

“Since my friend James was killed by an impaired and phone distracted driver five years ago, I have had a strong desire to develop this technology to save lives,” he explained.

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