A driver has been slugged with almost $30,000 in traffic fines for repeatedly performing the same illegal act dozens of times.
The unidentified South Australian has been caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel 41 times, racking up $27,000 in fines.
SA Police’s officer in charge of traffic services superintendent Shane Johnson told the ABC their licence was immediately suspended.
There were other shocking examples of recidivism: one driver was issued with 23 expiation notices and another was fined 22 times.
They said 16 drivers in the state had been fined at least ten times, and 165 drivers were caught using their mobile phone while driving four times.
SA drivers caught on camera can be hit with a $556 fine plus a $102 victims of crime levy.
An individual offence attracts three demerit points.
Shocking new statistics about drivers using their mobile phones have been released by South Australia police.
South Australia Police revealed mobile phone detection cameras nabbed over 28,000 drivers in the last three months
They reveal mobile phone detection cameras have nabbed over 28,000 drivers in the past three months.
Superintendent Johnson said that figure was sharply down from the three month trial period of new cameras in July to September, when 68,000 drivers were issued with warning letters.
‘This decline in detections is encouraging and indicates most drivers are getting the message,’ he said.
‘If that then changes driver behaviour, then that’s absolutely a good thing.’
Texting while driving has cost South Australians over $15.5million in fines since September.
SA Police plan to install two more mobile phone detection cameras in the first half of 2025 and will also target drivers who use their smart watch while behind the wheel.
‘Smart watches can be a form of distraction and legislation is being looked at for 2025,’ superintendent Johnson said.
‘Our message is if it’s distracting you while driving you shouldn’t be looking at your smart watch.’
‘Distraction has contributed to over 30 lives lost and over 75 serious injuries on SA roads this year alone,’ he said.
A Finder survey revealed 18 per cent of respondents used their mobile phone while driving.
The Transport Accident Commission website stated: ‘Drivers are 10 times more at risk of crashing if they are texting, browsing or emailing on their mobile phone.’
The Transport Accident Commission added, ‘Taking your eyes off the road for two seconds or more doubles your crash risk.’
‘At 50kmh you will travel 28m in 2 seconds, that’s about the length of a cricket pitch.’
