Thousands of NSW drivers caught by NSW mobile detection cameras

“At 60km/h if you look at your phone while driving for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind…” Thousands of NSW motorists have been caught using their phones behind the wheel by the new mobile detection cameras in just one week since they were first switched on. 45 cameras were turned on in NSW on December 1st, and in just seven days they caught 3303 drivers illegally using their phones. Minister for Roads Andrew Constance stated that this kind of behaviour from motorists was “dangerous” and put people at risk of “killing themselves”. “At 60km/h if you look at your phone while driving for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres blind – it’s dangerous, it’s stupid and it needs to stop,” he said. “Around 500 drivers a day are getting pinged by these cameras doing to wrong thing. With double demerits starting Friday, we need drivers to the message and get off the phone, otherwise they risk killing themselves or someone innocent on our roads.” Despite being caught by the cameras, the motorists won’t cop a fine or lose demerit points due to a three-month grace period whereby the drivers will receive a warning letter instead. The warning letter period is set to end in March 2020 and from then drivers will be fined $344 and five demerit points. This is increased to $457 if they use their phone in a school zone. SEE ALSO: Firefighters brace for dangerous conditions as heatwave hits NSW Written by Kate Stevens Images: Getty