'Driving whilst using phone like drunk driving'

North Queensland drivers are on notice with new distracted driver cameras now in use through the region. 1782 mobile phone and seatbelt offences have been picked up in the first week of new cameras going live. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said he had no sympathy for people who chose to behave dangerously behind the wheel.

“In the first week alone (1 – 7 November), 1782 people were snapped doing the wrong thing,” Mr Bailey said.

“This includes 1504 for mobile phone offences, and 278 for seatbelts.

“And a total of 57 drivers were caught two or more times in the first four days, which means the offence attracts double demerit points.

“If this rate keeps up, more than a dozen people a day face losing their licence.

“We know using a phone while driving is the equivalent of getting behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07 – 0.10, so this is like us having 1504 drunk drivers on Queensland roads, it’s unacceptable.

“On average 29 people are killed and 1284 seriously injured each year on Queensland roads as a result of crashes where driver distraction played a part.

“The cameras can be anywhere, anytime, across the whole state, so people need to wake up and change their behaviour for good.”

Mr Bailey said message couldn’t be clearer – put the phone down and buckle up.

“People have a responsibility to keep themselves and those around them safe on the road,” he said.

“As we go into the holiday season, it is especially important that every Queenslander makes it home.

“Driving distracted is proven to be as dangerous as being drunk behind the wheel and if you aren’t wearing a seatbelt correctly the risk of death in a crash significantly increases.

“Last year almost 40 per cent of lives lost and people seriously injured in road crashes where they weren't wearing a seatbelt occurred outside significant urban areas.

“Given only 15 per cent of Queensland's population live outside significant urban areas, this is a large over-representation and one this initiative aims to reduce.”

Mr Bailey said funds from distracted driver cameras would be reinvested in road safety initiatives and education.

“By law, all money from camera-detected offences must be spent on road safety,” Mr Bailey said.

“That includes unlocking new technologies like the school zone and roadworks cameras to be rolled out in high-risk areas from next year.

“It also funds the successful StreetSmarts initiative, which has brought us campaigns like #LiftLegend and Drive smarter, not faster.

“The initiative targets the Fatal Five behaviours - speeding, distraction, alcohol and drugs, fatigue and not wearing a seatbelt, which continue to be the major causes of death on our roads.

“It’s simple – if you don’t want a fine, don’t break the rules.”

More information on road safety can be found here.