THE State Government has invested a further $156.1 million under its second Road Safety Action Plan to continue to expand its Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Detection Camera technology program through to 2030.
And they’re on their way to recovering the cost of that investment.
But more importantly, they’re shining a spotlight, and a detection camera, on people who use their mobile phone while driving and, in surprisingly large numbers, still failing to wear a seat belt.
From the start of September, these distinctive-looking mobile detection contraptions started showing up in a variety of locations locally, including San Remo, not far from the police station on Phillip Island Road.
You can’t miss it, nor should you get caught by it if you are paying attention.
Drivers caught by these cameras incur the following penalties:
- $611 fine if caught using a portable device like a mobile phone while driving, and 4 demerit points
- $407 fine for not wearing a seatbelt correctly, and demerit points.
These cameras detect and take photos of drivers who use portable devices, like mobile phones. The cameras can also pick up people in the front seats not wearing their seatbelts.
An updated list of approved mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera locations is published on the state government’s website monthly.
Illegally using a mobile phone when driving significantly increases the risk of being involved in a serious crash.
How the cameras work
Each camera trailer has two cameras and an infra-red flash that are enabled with artificial intelligence (AI) software. The cameras take high-resolution images any time of the day or night, and in all traffic and weather conditions.
The AI technology automatically reviews each image.
If it does not see a potential offence, it will reject the image.
If the AI detects a driver who may be using a portable device or not wearing their seatbelt it flags the image for further review.
Images where there might be a potential offence are then checked and verified by qualified independent officers.
If you receive an infringement, you can view the images captured at fines.vic.gov.au.
The images collected are:
- An image showing the vehicle licence plate
- Two images that capture the inside of the vehicle. One is taken at a shallow, forward-facing angle. This is to detect portable device offences such as 'phone to ear' and/or seatbelt offences. The other image is taken at a steep, downwards angle. This is to detect portable device offences including 'resting on body or touching' phone offences and/or seatbelt offences. These images may capture other people too.
These images may show the face of the driver, passengers or other people. The cameras do not use facial recognition technology.
Camera locations
Camera locations are updated monthly.
During September, these Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Detection Cameras may be placed in the following locations locally:
- Anderson – Bass Highway
- Cowes – Phillip Island Road
- Dalyston – Bass Highway
- Kilcunda – Bass Highway (2 locations)
- Koo Wee Rup – South Gippsland Highway
- Lang Lang – Bass Highway (2)
- Leongatha – South Gippsland Highway
- San Remo – Phillip Island Road
- Wonthaggi - Billson Street & Korumburra Road
