South Australia Police (SAPOL) says at least 80 drivers could lose their licences after being captured by Adelaide’s mobile phone detection cameras since they came into force a month ago.
Since September 19, SAPOL said 10,319 drivers received an expiation notice across the five metropolitan locations.
SAPOL released images captured by the cameras, which include one driver holding their phone in one hand and food in the other, and another using their phone while a dog sits in their lap.
It said 80 vehicles were detected four or more times, meaning at least 80 drivers may lose their licences.
Of those, one vehicle was caught 15 times, one on 11 occasions while three others were caught in nine separate incidents.
Offending drivers will face a $556 fine, plus a $102 Victims of Crime Levy and three demerit points.
Prior to that, there was a three-month expiation grace period where SAPOL issued more than 68,000 warning letters to motorists illegally using their mobile phones while driving.
Police said the number of offending drivers has halved in the first month compared with the last 30 days of the grace period.
Officer in Charge of SAPOL’s Traffic Services Branch Superintendent Darren Fielke said the data suggests the new penalties have sent a strong message to drivers.
“After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road after too many demerit point deductions,” he said.
“The goal for mobile phone detection cameras in SA is to make roads safer by changing road user behaviour, and recent data certainly indicates people are thinking twice now.”
SAPOL previously said it had issued more than 2,500 fines to drivers detected by the cameras during the first seven days that they were enforced.
Despite the reduction in motorists being caught since, Superintendent Fielke said it was disappointing that a large proportion of road users were still placing themselves and others at risk.
“These drivers will pay a high price financially and will lose their licence,” he said.
“We can only hope that is all that is lost, and it is not a life lost due to their irresponsible behaviour.”
The cameras are in place at five “high-risk locations”: South Road at Torrensville, the North-South Motorway at Regency Park, Port Wakefield Road at Gepps Cross, the Southern Expressway at Darlington and Port Road at Hindmarsh.
SAPOL said the camera at South Road had the highest percentage of offences when taking into account the number of cars driving through the area, while the Southern Expressway recorded the lowest.
Two other camera locations are currently being considered and are expected to be installed early next year.