Mobile Phone Detection Cameras: Function and Implementation on Victoria's Highways
### Title: Victoria's Mobile Phone Detection Cameras: A Step Towards Safer Roads
In a bid to promote road safety, mobile phone detection cameras developed by Acusensus are now being rolled out across all Australian states, following their initial adoption by the NSW Government. These innovative cameras, which use an array of cameras, infra-red flash, and automated artificial intelligence (AI) software, are making a significant impact in Victoria, where they were first implemented.
In the 2020-2021 financial year alone, Victoria Police detected almost 17,000 Victorians using mobile phones while driving, resulting in more than $9 million in fines. The fine for handheld mobile phone use while driving in Victoria is $555 and incurs four demerit points.
The cameras are designed to detect potential offences related to mobile phone use and seatbelt non-compliance. They operate using AI-powered, dual-camera trailers equipped with infrared flash, capable of capturing high-resolution images in all conditions, day or night. The AI screens each image; potential offenses are flagged for independent officer review, but no facial recognition is used.
Between October and December 2024, the cameras detected 9,305 mobile phone and seatbelt offenses, of which 3,792 were for mobile phone use by drivers. This demonstrates significant enforcement capacity, especially considering the cameras were operational statewide during this period.
The program's success hinges on deterrence—actual penalties combined with the perception of high likelihood of being caught. While the specific fine amounts in Victoria are not detailed in the provided sources, the visibility and publicity of camera deployment are designed to change driver habits.
The cameras can also detect unregistered and speeding vehicles using automated number plate recognition technology. Not buckling up incurs a $370 fine and three demerit points in Victoria. Evidence shows that people who were not wearing a seatbelt are likely to be driving impaired.
The development of the distracted driving cameras by Acusensus was motivated by the death of good friend James Rapley, who was killed by a distracted driver in Los Angeles. The company's Heads-Up program won the Inspiration Award at the global mobility trade event, Intertraffic, in The Netherlands.
The objective of the camera investment is to deter people from using their mobile phones while driving. Research from Monash University Accident Research Centre estimates the distracted driving camera technology can prevent 95 crashes where people are injured or killed each year.
While similar camera systems are being rolled out across Australia, the available evidence is strong on enforcement rates and modeled safety benefits, but lacks concrete, post-implementation data on actual reduction in crashes or fatalities directly attributed to the cameras. The 95-crash projection is a modeled estimate, not a measured outcome.
In conclusion, Victoria’s mobile phone detection cameras have proven highly effective at identifying and penalizing distracted driving, with thousands of offenses detected in a short period. The government expects a significant reduction in serious crashes as a result, though this is based on predictive modeling rather than confirmed crash data. The deterrent effect appears strong, supported by high penalties and widespread camera deployment, but ongoing monitoring and refinement—especially regarding detection accuracy—are essential. The cameras represent a key part of a broader, technology-driven push to improve road safety across Australia.
- Despite the lack of concrete data on reduction in crashes or fatalities directly attributed to the cameras, the government believes that Victoria's mobile phone detection cameras, which also detect unregistered and speeding vehicles, are a key part of a technology-driven lifestyle change aimed at improving road safety and reducing sports injuries from traffic accidents.
- In the future, as technology evolves, integration of these mobile phone detection cameras within sports apps could potentially be used to incentivize safer technology practices during sports activities, such as running or cycling, promoting a safer overall lifestyle.
