‘Off the charts:' Worst drivers caught on camera
The Road Safety Commission released a new batch of images taken by roadside cameras across Perth and regional Western Australia over the past six months.
The new cameras have been trialled in WA to test their efficiency before authorities begin issuing fines using the technology from October. A passenger holds the steering wheel while the driver uses their mobile phone. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire A driver drinks beer and uses their mobile phone while behind the wheel. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire
Drivers were snapped smoking drugs from a meth pipe, drinking beer and using their phone, resting their leg across the dash, not wearing seatbelts, using iPads and nursing children while they were driving on some of the state's busiest roads.
One driver was caught offending 81 times, another driver 74 times, another 52 times and 10 people were picked up offending more than 40 times each since January.
The cameras recorded 129,000 mobile phone and seatbelt offences, resulting in 44,530 caution notices. A driver rests his leg on the dashboard of his car. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire This one uses an iPad behind the wheel. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire
Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said fixed and mobile safety cameras monitored 25 million vehicles since January and the images captured by the roadside technology were 'mind-boggling.'
'We are seeing people doing the wrong thing again and again,' he said.
'I cannot believe that one driver has been caught offending 81 times. That is extreme serial offending; it is off the charts.'
Mr Whitby said people continued to blatantly ignore the law and the same people were repeatedly caught speeding.
He said extreme cases had been referred to police to pursue in the interest of public safety.
'We are seeing such an extreme and astounding rate of offending by some – not all – in the community that I believe when we start issuing fines from these safety cameras, a huge number of people will lose their licence if they do not change their way,' he said. Aa man smoking drugs from a meth pipe. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire The behaviour has shocked authorities. NewsWire Handout Credit: NewsWire
Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the technology was implemented to try to change behaviour.
'Just looking at mobile phones, which are the major source of distraction and a major source of crashes, particularly on high-speed country roads, Queensland saw nearly a 75 per cent drop-off in the first months after it introduced similar cameras,' he said.
'We are hopeful that, once we get the message out, particularly in regional areas, that we want people to change behaviour, there will be a significant shift in behaviour once people realise that this is the type of thing that is happening and the risk involved is great.'
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