Hunter Drivers Face $9.5 Million in Mobile Phone Fines
Drivers caught using mobile phones on Hunter region roads during 2025 have been hit with substantial penalties, accumulating to at least $9.5 million in fines. This significant financial impact highlights ongoing efforts to curb distracted driving across New South Wales.
Detection Program Results Show Improvement
Between January 1 and December 31, 2025, the state's mobile phone detection camera program checked approximately 25.6 million vehicles in the Hunter region. During this period, authorities issued around 22,000 infringement notices to motorists.
The infringement rate for 2025 stood at 0.09 per cent, equating to roughly one in every 1,159 drivers. This represents a notable decrease from the previous year's figures, indicating a positive shift in driver behaviour.
Transport Official Emphasises Road Safety Risks
Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary of Transport for NSW Safety, Policy, Environment and Regulation, stressed that no phone communication justifies endangering lives. "At 60kmh, if you look at your phone for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres virtually blind," she warned.
Webb acknowledged that most drivers comply with regulations but expressed satisfaction with the behavioural improvement observed in the Hunter region. "We are pleased to see an improvement in behaviour in the Hunter region with offence rates dropping," she stated.
Financial Penalties and Demerit Points
The $9.5 million total excludes police-issued fines and penalties for mobile phone use in school zones, which carry heavier consequences. In NSW, texting while driving typically incurs a $423 fine plus five demerit points, escalating to $562 in school zones.
Learner and provisional licence holders face stricter regulations, prohibited from using phones in any capacity while driving, including hands-free methods via Bluetooth or phone cradles.
Regional Coverage and Historical Comparison
The Hunter region data encompasses multiple local government areas, including:
- Central Coast
- Cessnock
- Dungog
- Lake Macquarie
- Maitland
- Mid-coast
- Muswellbrook
- Newcastle
- Port Stephens
- Singleton
In the twelve months leading to December 31, 2024, the detection program examined over 25.7 million vehicles and issued approximately 27,000 fines. This resulted in an infringement rate of 0.11 per cent, or one in every 928 drivers.
While the Hunter's 2024 infringement rate slightly exceeded the statewide average of 0.10 per cent, the region matched the NSW average of 0.09 per cent in 2025.
Enforcement Process and Program Objectives
Images captured by detection cameras undergo multiple stages of human review before fines are issued, ensuring accuracy in enforcement. The Mobile Phone Detection Camera program forms part of Transport for NSW's broader strategy to address illegal phone use by drivers across the state.
Authorities continue to emphasise that distracted driving remains a serious safety concern, with technological enforcement playing a crucial role in promoting responsible behaviour on Australian roads.
