Changes to New South Wales’ camera detection program will take place on Sunday 1 March.
Ten transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras will now operate to their full capability of bi-directional coverage on single lane roads.
Until now, they only checked up to two lanes of traffic travelling in one direction.
Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray, said there will be no new cameras operating on the network.
Extending the existing units’ capability will help meet the increase in the number of registered vehicles on the roads since the program started in 2019.
“When we switched on mobile phone detection cameras almost seven years ago, the target was to be able to check each registered vehicle in NSW an average of at least 20 times a year,” Murray said.
“Since then, the number of registered vehicles in NSW has jumped almost 12 per cent, from 6.7 million to 7.5 million.
“At the same time, the mobile phone camera program has made a significant impact in the road safety space, with seatbelt offences added in 2024.”
The expansion of the transportable cameras begins in March and will take six months to roll out.
Fixed mobile phone and seatbelt cameras will not change.
According to Transport for NSW, all fines will go towards funding more road safety programs.
“We know lives have been saved as people change their behaviours in response to awareness and education with seatbelt use and distractions through phone use featuring as key contributors to the road toll,” Murray said.
“We need to ensure our program continues to check the appropriate number of vehicles, and we use our technology to its full effect.”
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