Page 1439 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 2021
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Unfortunately, Canberra drivers use their mobile devices while driving at alarming rates. In 2020, ACT Policing issued over 1,000 infringement notices and 190 cautions for mobile device use. We believe that this is just a fraction of the actual number of drivers using their mobile devices. Using mobile devices while driving leads to more accidents and fewer Canberrans coming home safely to their loved ones. Often those bearing the costs of this dangerous and reckless behaviour are not the drivers themselves. Too often it is other motorists, cyclists or pedestrians, as well as their families. Mr Assistant Speaker, this just is not acceptable.
A number of other jurisdictions have introduced mobile speed cameras to combat the risks presented by driver mobile device usage. In New South Wales, this has reduced offending by around 80 per cent. The ACT government successfully uses automated road safety cameras on ACT roads to address other high-risk behaviours such as speeding and red-light running. These cameras have a proven track record of helping to prevent crashes and reducing road trauma.
It is clear that technology can now also play a role in preventing mobile device use, as a supplement to traditional enforcement methods. We need to encourage and assist people to change their driving behaviour so that fewer Canberrans are injured or die on our roads. That is why the ACT government will introduce mobile device detection cameras to reduce driver distraction, help build better driver habits and make our roads safer for all users.
This is an important step towards the realisation of vison zero, a strategy outlined in the ACT road safety strategy 2020-25 and the ACT road safety action plan 2020-23. Vision zero acknowledges that deaths and serious injuries on our roads are preventable and they are not inevitable.
The bill I am introducing today provides a robust legislative framework to enable and underpin the use of mobile device detection cameras in the ACT. It amends the existing legislation governing the use of fixed and mobile speed cameras to be more flexible and responsive. In particular, it enables the use of this new technology through updated definitions of camera types and the circumstances under which roadside cameras can be used.
This bill does not change the penalties associated with using a mobile device while driving and the existing penalties will apply regardless of whether an offence is detected by a police officer or a camera. At the moment, the penalty for drivers who use their hand-held mobile device to make or receive a call is a maximum court fine of 20 penalty units or infringement notice penalty of $480 and three demerit points lost.
The current penalty for a driver who uses a mobile device for messaging, social networking, a mobile app or accessing the internet is a maximum court fine of 20 penalty units or an infringement notice penalty of $589 and four demerit points lost. This penalty reflects the seriousness of the conduct and the potential risk associated with this dangerous behaviour. Canberrans need to be aware that if they use their mobile phones while driving, there will be a very real chance of being caught, and a very serious penalty involved.
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