WA AI road cameras: 31,000 motorists fined for flouting law including applying nail polish, clipping nails

More than 31,000 motorists have been caught flouting the road rules on WA’s new AI safety cameras — including disturbing instances of drivers applying nail polish, clipping their fingernails and eating potato chips whilst using their mobile phone. The WA Government on Friday revealed it had issued more than 31,855 infringement notices between October 8 and November 8, after an eight-month grace period for the fixed and trailer-mounted cameras came to an end. Of those infringements, up to 12,288 drivers were fined for mobile phone use, 10,285 for seatbelt offences and 9282 for speeding offences. Shocking photographs exposed one truckie — who was not wearing a seatbelt — driving 100km/h on the freeway with no hands on the steering wheel, whilst using a laptop and mobile phone. In a separate photograph, a front seat passenger was captured cradling an unrestrained baby without wearing a seatbelt. And in another startling picture, a backseat passenger was snapped lying horizontally between the driver and front seat passenger. Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said dangerous driving would not be tolerated, and said it was disappointing so many drivers continued to ignore the law. “Distracted driving and people not wearing seatbelts correctly are two major factors adding to the number of lives lost on our roads each and every year,” he said. “Safety cameras give us more reach, more flexibility and more opportunities to hold dangerous drivers to account. “Our government gave Western Australian drivers eight months’ notice to change their habits behind the wheel, but some drivers are still not understanding the danger of their behaviour. “We will continue to build on initiatives and programs that send the message that distracted driving, seatbelt noncompliance and speeding will not be tolerated.” The State Government began slapping WA drivers with infringements for seatbelt, mobile phone and speeding violations in October after detecting more than 300,000 offences during an eight-month trial of the cameras. Touching or holding a mobile phone while driving carries a minimum fine of $500 and three demerit points, whilst penalties for failing to wear a seatbelt start at $550 and four demerit points. Minister Assisting the Transport Minister Jessica Stojkovski warned dangerous drivers would be caught. “The new safety cameras are now detecting a range of behaviours that in many cases previously went undetected,” she said. “Offences associated with mobile phone use and incorrect wearing of seatbelts, by drivers and by passengers, are turning up regularly. “The message is: The technology is now out there, unsafe behaviours will get you fined, and you’ll incur demerit points.” WA is on track for its worst year of road fatalities and has recorded 176 deaths since January 1 — 83 in the Perth metropolitan area and 93 in the regions.