The world’s first mobile phone detection cameras are up and running in Australia.
The safety technology will target illegal mobile phone use by drivers through fixed and mobile trailer-mounted cameras.
“The [New South Wales] government is serious about reducing our state’s road toll and rolling out mobile phone detection cameras is another way we will do this,” Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said in a statement.
Introduced in September, the tech has been installed in 45 undisclosed locations across the jurisdiction.
Unlike traditional traffic enforcement systems, there will be no warning signs alerting motorists of the cameras’ presence.
“As we enter a notoriously dangerous time of the year on our roads, I want all drivers to know that if you use your mobile phone while behind the wheel of a vehicle in NSW you will have a greater chance of being caught—anywhere at any time,” Constance warned.
During a six-month trial, two permanent cameras detected a total 8.5 million passing cars—more than 100,000 of which were driven by someone illegally using their phone.
HD photography equipment uses artificial intelligence to spot lawbreakers—usually browsing social media or texting. In one instance, the front-seat passenger can be seen steering the car while the driver had both hands on their phone.
It’s easy to tell yourself a quick glance at your handset won’t cause any harm. but , as Constance pointed out in September, a car traveling at 40 mph moves about 100 feet in two seconds.
“In that time a kid could have run out in front of you, you could have run off the road, you could have hit another vehicle, you could hit a cyclist,” he told ABC Radio Canberra. “The list goes on.”
Despite criticism—the National Roads and Motorists’ Association accused the NSW government of using stealth to trap drivers—officials are moving forward with the program.
“Some people have not got the message about using their phones legally and safely,” according to Constance. “If they think they can continue to put the safety of themselves, their passengers, and the community at risk without consequence, they are in for a rude shock.”
For the first three months, as drivers and enforcers get acquainted with the cameras, offenders will receive only a warning letter. Starting in March, lawbreakers can expect a $344 fine (up to $457 in a school zone) and five demerit points (10 during double-point periods).
The program will progressively expand to perform an estimated 135 million vehicle checks on NSW roads each year by 2023.
“The decision to pick up your phone can have fatal consequences,” Minister for Regional Roads Paul Toole said. “Whether you’re driving on a major highway or an isolated road in the bush, there’s no excuse for using your phone illegally—and [now], there’s a much greater chance of getting nabbed.”
More on Geek.com:
- AI Now Detects Phone Usage, Smoking While Driving
- Driver Fights Ticket For Using Cellphone With ‘Hash Brown Defense’
- Nissan Uses Faraday Cage to Combat Phone Distractions
from Geek.com https://ift.tt/33EwcOq
via IFTTT
0 comments:
Post a Comment