Overview

• Western Australia’s AI-enabled road safety cameras move from warnings to issuing fines and demerit points for mobile phone use, seatbelt breaches and speeding from Wednesday.
• Months of trial operation detected more than 300,000 offences, with reported figures including about 70,000 incorrect seatbelt uses, roughly 20,000 unbelted occupants and around 135,000 phone-related breaches.
• The rollout includes six portable AI cameras and fixed-point units on the Kwinana Freeway near Salter Point and South Perth.
• Penalties now apply up to $1,000 and four demerit points for serious illegal phone use, with other fines including $500 and three points for basic illegal phone use and $550 and four points for an unrestrained driver.
• Authorities issued about 65,000 caution notices and launched the Caught In A Flash campaign, as the police commissioner urged drivers to put on seatbelts and put phones away, with 144 road deaths recorded so far this year.