Drivers can expect clearer, faster enforcement of mobile phone and seat belt offences when a permanent AI safety camera begins operating near Vincent Street in Leederville on June 1. The Western Australian government says the camera is part of a wider rollout, with offences initially addressed through cautions before infringements begin in December.<\/p>\n
The fixed camera near the Mitchell Freeway is the third permanent safety camera installed under the current program. It follows two permanent cameras installed on the Kwinana Freeway last year and comes after portable AI cameras pinged 184,000 drivers.<\/p>\n
The technology is designed to detect two behaviours: a driver using a mobile phone while behind the wheel and a driver who is not wearing a seat belt properly. The new installation is positioned near Vincent Street in Leederville.<\/p>\n
Drivers will receive cautions for seat belt and phone offences during a six-month grace period. Infringements for those offences will begin on December 1.<\/p>\n
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the camera program had changed driver behaviour. According to Whitby, the rate of offending had declined dramatically as AI cameras were deployed.<\/p>\n
Whitby also said the government would welcome a decline in infringement revenue if it meant fewer drivers were breaking those rules. He said he would be \u201cvery happy\u201d as Road Safety Minister if the program produced no revenue because no one was offending.<\/p>\n
Portable cameras have been used before the permanent installations. Those portable cameras had pinged 184,000 drivers by the time of the announcement.<\/p>\n
The rollout has also produced complaints from motorists who said some infringements were unfair. Almost 300 fines were issued each day between October 8 and April 17, while more than $1 million in fines were cancelled on appeal during the same period.<\/p>\n
Following public complaints, the Department of Transport reviewed its policy. It changed the policy to waive multiple infringements given to drivers for the same offence when they had not yet received notice of the first fine.<\/p>\n
Whitby did not confirm whether that approach would apply to offences detected by the new fixed camera. He said the government would examine the data and consider assistance for people who continued to offend.<\/p>\n
All money raised through traffic infringements goes into the Road Trauma Trust Account, which funds road safety initiatives.<\/p>\n
Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the State Budget would include $339.9 million for road safety work. The funding includes:<\/p>\n
The program presents two stated goals that can operate at the same time: changing unsafe driving behaviour and raising money for road safety initiatives. The government says offending rates have fallen as the cameras have been deployed, while infringement revenue has increased.<\/p>\n
The appeal figures and policy change also show that the system has produced significant public disagreement over how multiple offences are handled. The new fixed camera will use a six-month caution period, but the government has not confirmed whether the waiver policy for multiple infringements will apply to it.<\/p>\n
The camera is scheduled to go live on June 1. Drivers will receive cautions for seat belt and phone offences during a six-month grace period, with infringements beginning on December 1.<\/p>\n
Portable AI cameras have pinged 184,000 drivers. Almost 300 fines were handed out each day between October 8 and April 17, and more than $1 million in fines were cancelled on appeal during that period.<\/p>\n
Money raised through traffic infringements goes to the Road Trauma Trust Account, which funds road safety initiatives. The announced State Budget includes $339.9 million for road safety measures.<\/p>\n