Canberrans will be warned to keep their hands off their phones while driving in the lead-up to the installation of mobile phone detection cameras across the territory.
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Laws were passed in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday to clear the way for the installation of phone detection cameras.
Those caught on camera touching their phone or passing it to a passenger will cop a $589 fine and four demerit points.
But the fines won't kick in straight away with warnings to be issued in the first three months of the scheme.
Drivers will still be allowed to use Bluetooth systems and cradles to hold their mobile phones and to use devices for navigation.
The cameras will capture images of drivers in their cars and artificial intelligence will detect whether they are touching or holding a phone. The offence will be validated by a human before a traffic infringement notice is issued.
The program is expected to raise $19 million with a cost of just under $10 million.
Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel said an information campaign would urge drivers to remove devices from view and turn on the "do not disturb" function to prevent distractions while driving.
"We are hoping that as a result of the education campaign, as a result of the warning period we'll see a reduction in the number of people committing these offenses over time and that's reflected in the forecast," he said.
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When asked if the fine revenue would be funnelled into road safety initiatives, Mr Steel said money raised would go into consolidated revenue and the government was investing "hundreds of millions of dollars" into safety upgrades to roads.
A procurement process will occur over the next few months with the aim of cameras being installed by the end of this year.
The number of cameras that will be installed is unknown but Mr Steel said some would be in fixed locations while others would move around the territory.
"Canberrans can expect that they could be anywhere at any time on roads in the ACT and it'll be up to Access Canberra operations as to where they go," Mr Steel said.
"They'll have to be put in safe locations, but they'll be in locations where we think that there is a high level of offenses that are occurring in relation to using a mobile phone."
Access Canberra will rely on advice from ACT Policing and road safety experts to determine where the cameras should be installed.
Mr Steel said the cameras could be positioned at intersections and mid-block traffic crossings where drivers slow or come to a stop and might be tempted to use their devices.
Canberrans can currently use the Fix My Street website to suggest a location for mobile speed cameras.
Mr Steel said the government was considering adding the option for the public to suggest a location for a mobile phone detection camera to the website.
ACT Policing handed out more than 1000 infringements for using a mobile device while driving, but the actual rate of offending is considered to be much higher.
Superintendent Corey Heldon said ACT Policing supported the new cameras but it wouldn't mean fewer police officers out enforcing the road rules in the territory.
"It's a compliment to the work that we're doing and it's a further ... deterrence strategy for road safety," superintendent Heldon said.
Road Safety Advisory Board member Rod Katz said the new legislation was a good prompt for drivers to do the right thing by putting their phones away.
"We can all be better drivers. We're all pretty good, but if we're distracted, we are not great. We are dangerous, so do the right thing," Mr Katz said.
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