Enforcement has begun for the new road safety cameras
July 3 2023
The new Distracted Driving and Seatbelt road safety cameras have now begun enforcing on Victorian roads following a three-month grace period when warning letters were issued to motorists detected illegally using their mobile phones or they or their front seat passenger not wearing their seatbelts properly. From 1 July 2023, fines and demerit points will be issued to those detected committing these high-risk behaviours.
During the past few months, the Road Safety Camera Commissioner has liaised closely with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria Police, and the camera vendor to ensure that this new camera technology is operating with the highest degree of reliability and accuracy:
- From a technical perspective, the Commissioner is satisfied that the cameras and AI technology can accurately identify illegal mobile phone use and seatbelt offending.
- From a community reassurance perspective, each incident detected is manually verified separately by four highly trained and independent operators, including Victoria Police, before any infringement is issued.
The Commissioner is satisfied that the selection of locations for enforcement follows the same robust and transparent model utilised by both the fixed and mobile road safety camera enforcement systems. These new cameras will be utilised anywhere, and at any site, and at anytime to reduce the incidences of high-risk driving behaviours that illegal mobile phone use and incorrect use of seatbelts place on drivers, their passengers, and other motorists.
For further information on where the new Distracted Driving and Seatbelt cameras will be located, why these locations were selected, and any other questions and information members of the public have with this new camera technology, please visit the Cameras Save Lives website.
Although the new cameras have now begun enforcing, the Commissioner will continue monitoring their implementation with a particular focus on the following:
- site selection and approval procedures
- the management of serious indictable offences detected by these cameras
- there are appropriate processes in place to seek a review of infringement notices issued.