What new AI cameras have caught West Aussies doing behind the wheel
“It’s also mind-blowing to see people you know eating bowls of cereal, working on an iPad, or holding a small child unprotected.”
Whitby said the cameras were not introduced to raise revenue.
“My answer to those who say this is revenue collection is this: It is completely voluntary. If you do not want to pay the penalty, do not commit a crime,” he said.
The cameras also took photos of people eating behind the wheel.
The $13 million fine will go into the Road Trauma Trust Account, which is used for road improvements across the state.
When asked about the gray areas of laws regarding consuming food or drink behind the wheel, Whitby said it was common sense.
“I think inherently we know that we can’t control the car properly when our hands aren’t on the wheel,” he said.
“Frankly, balancing a bowl of cereal and feeding yourself with a spoon when your hands aren’t on the steering wheel, common sense tells you that’s not OK.”
This year, despite the cameras rolling, WA has recorded a shocking number of deaths on the roads; the number has already reached 176 ahead of the Christmas period.
This makes 2024 the second-worst year in a decade, after 184 deaths in 2016.
Whitby said the education campaign earlier this year was working, with the monthly crime rate falling from 47,500 in the first month the cameras were in operation to 31,000 between October and November.
“$31,000 a month is still too high. All of the $13 million in revenue that we will put to good use will go to road safety. But we would prefer not to have this money. We would prefer you to do the right thing behind the wheel,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Transport Jessica Stojkovski said that the cameras detect crimes that were previously unnoticed.
“The message is that the technology is now available, unsafe behavior will result in you being fined and subject to penalty points,” he said.
