TRANSPORTABLE mobile device detection cameras are being rolled out across Canberra roads from today (February 14).

Transport Canberra deputy director-general Ben McHugh says drivers will not receive fines, yet.

“Data collection during this phase of the rollout will help inform future road strategies, such as placement of cameras and ACT Policing activities,” he says.

Initially the cameras will be located on Yamba Drive, Canberra Avenue and Horse Park Drive, and will be moved to various sites across Canberra.

“Over the coming weeks Canberrans may also notice two fixed mobile device detection cameras installed on Hindmarsh Drive and Gungahlin Drive,” says McHugh.

“Having these cameras out on the road early will help inform the community that mobile device detection is coming and the importance of not being distracted while driving.”

From mid-2023 warning notices will start to be issued to motorists when offences are detected, and infringement notices will be issued from October.

The mobile detection cameras were initially tested in February last year, with McHugh revealing the cameras work on phones, tablets and smart watches via an algorithm.

“The technology is clever, so it takes a photo of the vehicle and then runs an algorithm over the image to detect whether there’s a possibility of the driver holding or using a device, and then goes through a validation process. There’s a requirement within the technology that all of the faces and images are blurred out, so that the privacy of the operators is maintained,” he says.

In the past five years, ACT Policing have issued an average of 911 infringements and 260 cautions for using a mobile device when driving, but say the actual rate of offending is likely to be much higher.