One million fines a year may shortly be issued for drivers illegally using mobile phones in NSW, unless drivers dramatically change their behaviour, raising more than $348 million in revenue.

The Government will shortly roll out its mobile phone detection camera program, following the conclusion of the trial. These cameras will not feature warning signs for motorists.

I support measures that help us to get home safely, but I am joining with my Labor colleagues in supporting the NRMAs call for warning signs to educate drivers, and for the revenue from the fines to be allocated to the Community Road Safety Fund.



Based on the numbers in the trial, even if more than 30% of drivers change their behaviour, it is likely that there will be more than 1,000,000 fines issued with the program raising at least $348 million.



The Government as a result will now be raising more money than they are spending from the Community Road Safety Fund.


Expenditure was $256.8 million in 2017-18.
The revenue from red light and speed cameras already goes into this fund, which was $176 million in 2018/19.


My Labor colleagues John Graham MLC, the Shadow Minister for Roads has said,

It is clear that mobile phone distraction is a bigger problem than the public or the Parliament had realised.



It is also clear it will be a bigger revenue raiser than the Government has admitted. We need a change in driver behaviour on the same scale as the one we saw with drink driving or seat belts. With more than a million fines likely each year unless drivers dramatically change their behaviour, this will dwarf the revenue from speeding and red light cameras.



None of these cameras will have warning signs. We support the NRMAs call for warning signs in order to educate drivers. We are calling on the Government to guarantee this massive jump in fines is allocated to the Community Road Safety Fund.



To find out more about the rules relating to use of mobile phones when driving you can click here.