More than 75,000 vehicles were inspected by a single mobile phone detection camera used in the Hunter for nine days over summer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The camera, placed on the Pacific Highway at Twelve Mile Creek, caught 370 drivers using a mobile phone.
The transportable camera was deployed at the site for nine days between December 1 and January 31.
Had it not been for the three-month grace period that is set to conclude on Saturday, the offending drivers caught would have been issued more than $125,000 in fines.
Instead they were sent warning letters detailing the offence and urging them to change their behaviour.
The penalty for offending drivers, which will kick in from Sunday, is five demerit points and a $344 fine, rising to $457 in a school zone.
The penalty also increases to 10 demerit points during double-demerit periods.
More than six million vehicles have been checked and more than 20,000 warning letters issued statewide since the new cameras were rolled out on December 1.
Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said the transportable cameras were being moved regularly to avoid their locations becoming well known.
"Mobile phone detection cameras are being deployed statewide and transportable cameras are regularly moved to different sites across the network," he said.
"The number of days at each site will differ so that enforcement does not become predictable. This reinforces to all drivers they need to get their hand off their phone and know the rules no matter where they are."
The state government plans to eventually roll out 45 of the detection cameras.
It is not known how many are currently in use, but the program has a target of achieving over 135 million annual vehicle checks by 2022/23.
Mr Carlon said the cameras were part of a suite of initiates aimed at cutting the state's road toll, which reached 352 fatalities in 2019.
"Research has found illegally using a mobile phone while driving is associated with at least a four-fold increase in the risk of having a crash in which someone is killed or seriously injured," he said.
"Texting while driving increases the crash risk even further."
While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here
IN NEWS TODAY
