NSW Traffic Cameras to Scan Both Directions for Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Offences
Mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras in New South Wales are set to be upgraded with new bi-directional capabilities, allowing them to monitor vehicles moving in both directions on the state's roads. This expansion will commence from Sunday, March 1, marking a significant enhancement to the existing traffic enforcement system.
Enhanced Camera Technology and AI Integration
Currently, there are 10 cameras across NSW that capture images of passing vehicles. These cameras utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to review the images and identify potential offences occurring inside the vehicles, such as drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. The AI-detected offences are then verified by trained personnel to ensure accuracy.
Previously, these cameras on single-lane roads only checked up to two lanes of traffic travelling in one direction. With the new upgrade, they will now scan both lanes of traffic as it moves in opposite directions, increasing the coverage and effectiveness of the enforcement program.
Penalties and Funding for Road Safety
Drivers caught without a seatbelt in NSW face a fine of $423 and receive three demerit points. This penalty escalates for each passenger who is unbelted or incorrectly belted. Similarly, using a mobile phone while driving, even if it is placed on the lap, results in a $423 fine. All fines collected from these offences are directed towards funding additional road safety programs, reinforcing the state's commitment to reducing road incidents.
Program Expansion and Vehicle Growth
The full expansion of this safety program will be rolled out over a six-month period. Notably, no new cameras will be added to the existing fleet, which has been operational for almost seven years. According to Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray, the initial target was to check each registered vehicle in NSW an average of at least 20 times per year.
Since the program's inception, the number of registered vehicles in NSW has increased by nearly 12 per cent, reaching 7.5 million. This represents an additional one million vehicles on the state's roads. Murray emphasised the need to ensure the program continues to check an appropriate number of vehicles and utilises the technology to its full effect.
Offence Rates and Trends
Recent data highlights the prevalence of these offences. In 2025, approximately one in every 1,300 vehicles checked by these cameras had someone breaking seatbelt laws, while one in every 1,200 were caught using their mobile phone illegally. This indicates that mobile phone offences are about three times as common as when the cameras were first introduced in 2019, underscoring the ongoing challenges in driver compliance.
The implementation of bi-directional scanning is expected to enhance detection rates and further deter unsafe driving behaviours, contributing to improved road safety across New South Wales.
