Alarming Increase in Mobile Phone Use Behind the Wheel in Australia

Can we reverse this dangerous trend and prioritize road safety?

Australian drivers have set a new record, and not in a good way. In 2022, a staggering 362,342 infringement notices were issued to drivers caught using their mobile phones while driving. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has compiled this data. But what is causing this surge in mobile phone use?

The real culprit behind this alarming increase in mobile phone use while driving is the proliferation of mobile phone detection cameras. These cameras have accounted for a staggering 312,945 of the total 362,342 infringement notices issued in 2022. This is a significant jump from the 178,296 infringements issued by cameras in the previous year. It seems that these cameras are effectively catching drivers in the act and sending a clear message that the use of mobile phones behind the wheel will not be tolerated.

Interestingly, while mobile phone infringement notices issued by police officers declined annually from 2017 to 2021, the activation of mobile phone detection cameras saw a sudden surge in overall infringements in 2020. This spike continued in 2022, with the total number of mobile phone infringements growing by a staggering 64% compared to the previous year. This highlights the effectiveness of the cameras in targeting and penalizing offenders.

In terms of speeding infringements, the numbers were slightly down in 2022 compared to 2021. In total, there were 4,551,342 speeding infringements issued, including both camera and police-generated fines. This is a decrease from the 4,867,138 infringements recorded in 2021. However, it’s worth noting that cameras still accounted for a significant portion of the speeding infringements, indicating their role in enforcing road safety.

Moving on to drug-related infringements, the data paints a concerning picture. Discounting the years heavily affected by COVID-19, a higher percentage of roadside drug tests conducted in 2022 resulted in a positive result compared to 2019, which was the previous record year for tests conducted. Out of the 458,133 roadside tests conducted in 2022, 10.2% of them came back positive. In 2019, 9.6% of the 507,315 tests conducted yielded a positive result. This indicates a worrying trend of increased drug use among drivers.

The trend continues with drink-driving. Excluding the years most impacted by COVID-19, the percentage of positive breath tests in 2022 was higher compared to 2019. Out of the 10,639,333 breath tests conducted in 2022, 0.6% of them were positive. In 2019, 0.4% of the 15,248,047 tests conducted had a positive result. This suggests that more drivers are getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

Seatbelt-related offences have also seen a significant increase in 2022. Compared to 2021, the number of seatbelt infringements rose by a staggering 191%. Notably, cameras played a major role in detecting these offences, issuing nearly 60% of the total infringements for this offence. This emphasizes the contribution of camera technology in promoting seatbelt compliance.

Tragically, the road toll in August 2023 reached a concerning level. There were 101 deaths, which is 6.8% higher than the average for August over the previous five years. This brings the total road toll from August 2022 to August 2023 to 1240 deaths. These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws.

312,945 infringement notices were issued by mobile phone detection cameras in 2022
Mobile phone infringement notices issued by police officers declined between 2017 and 2021
Overall mobile phone infringements in 2022 increased by 64% compared to the previous year
Speeding infringements in 2022 slightly decreased compared to 2021
Police officers recorded more infringements compared to cameras
Drug-related infringements in 2022 showed a higher percentage of positive results compared to 2019
Positive breath tests for drink-driving increased in 2022 compared to 2019
Seatbelt infringements in 2022 rose by 191%, with cameras issuing the majority of these infringements
The road toll in August 2023 was 6.8% higher than the average for the previous five years, resulting in 101 deaths

The increase in mobile phone use while driving in Australia is a cause for alarm. The proliferation of mobile phone detection cameras has played a significant role in catching offenders and issuing infringement notices. While speeding infringements have slightly decreased, the numbers for drug-related infringements, drink-driving, and seatbelt offences have all shown concerning upward trends. The recent road toll figures are a tragic reminder of the risks associated with unsafe driving practices. It is crucial for authorities to continue implementing strict measures and promoting road safety to prevent further loss of life on the nation’s roads.