60,000 chauffeurs captured out by roadside electronic cameras in ‘troubling’ pattern: ‘Think once more’

60,000 chauffeurs have actually been called out for placing lives in danger after brand-new electronic cameras captured a string of offenses on Aussie roadways.

Photos reveal chauffeurs in a variety of jeopardizing scenarios, consisting of one guy that was driving while holding a child and one more holding a laptop computer in his hands. It follows cellphone and seat belt discovery electronic cameras were turned on throughout Perth roadways on Australia Day previously this year.

Of those caught in the photos, 20,000 were not using seat belts appropriately, 22,000 were holding phones in their hands and practically 6,000 had no seat belt on whatsoever. An added 12,000 had their phones in their laps– which is additionally a finable offense.

The stunning scenes have actually motivated WA’s Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner to beg with chauffeurs to be more secure when driving.

“Quite frankly, what we’re seeing has been truly disturbing and upsetting – children and babies unrestrained in front seat, people bypassing seatbelt alarms by jerry rigging the driver’s buckle, use of laptops while driving at high speeds,” Warner said.

Road safety authorities say drivers ‘need to take ownership’

Drivers are being called on to ‘take ownership’ of road safety when they get behind the wheel.

“If you think this message doesn’t apply to you, please think again, the power to reduce the road toll lies in all our hands,” Warner said.

“The fear of getting caught shouldn’t be your key reason to drive safe – Keep yourself, your family and other road users safe,” he stated.

Drivers captured out will certainly obtain a care notification notifying them concerning the capacities of the brand-new modern technology and “provide a chance to alter their harmful driving practices” before enforcement comes into effect.

There is no set date for when the enforcement period will begin but fines for mobile phone use are as high as $1,000 and a loss of four demerit points in the state.

Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) general manager Will Golsby previously told Yahoo News the cameras were a welcome move.

” WA is regularly among the most awful states in the country when it involves roadway safety and security, and in 2015 was among the most awful for roadway fatalities in a years,” he told Yahoo News. ” RAC sustains making use of roadway safety and security electronic cameras to prevent harmful practices on WA roadways, consisting of making use of cellphones while driving.”

Double demerits unleashed for Easter weekend

The warning comes as double demerits come into effect across the country.

New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory will have double demerits in place between April 17 and 21 then April 24 to 27 this year.

Meanwhile Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania are free from double demerits with normal penalties, plus extra police patrols, in place. in Queensland, double demerits are in place all year round, but police operations will ramp up over the Easter weekend.

Last year, five people lost their lives on WA roads over the Easter long weekend.

“The Road Safety Commission, together with WA Police and the Road Safety Minister are committed to targeting poor driver behaviour through behavioural change campaigns and new initiatives like the fixed and mobile safety cameras – but we need the community to wake-up and realise they are part of the solution,” Warner included.

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