Cutting-edge safety cameras capable of detecting mobile phone use and seatbelt offences have officially launched in Western Australia's Great Southern region, marking a major milestone in the Cook Government's road safety strategy.
Dylan Anderson
Two advanced safety camera trailers will be stationed in Albany and rotated throughout the Great Southern area as part of the next rollout phase. These mobile units represent the most sophisticated safety camera technology in the country, able to detect multiple road offences at once.
High-Tech Detection
The new cameras can monitor and capture a range of high-risk driving behaviours simultaneously. These include:
- Speeding
- Illegal mobile phone use
- Improper seatbelt use
- Speeding by vehicles with specific limits (towed and heavy vehicles)
- Average speed through point-to-point monitoring
The cameras are designed to improve driver compliance and reduce fatal crashes by leveraging automated, objective enforcement.
Early Results and Caution Period
Since January, a similar rollout of four camera trailers in the Perth metropolitan area and fixed units on the Kwinana Freeway detected nearly 107,000 offences related to mobile phone and seatbelt misuse.
Starting 10 June 2025, drivers in the Great Southern region caught by these trailers using mobile phones or failing to wear a seatbelt will receive caution notices rather than fines. This education-focused approach aims to raise awareness of the new enforcement tools and encourage behavioural change before penalties are introduced.
Next Locations
The safety camera program will continue to expand, with two more camera trailers set to be based in Geraldton and deployed across the Mid West region later this year.
Dylan Anderson
Funding and Purpose
The initiative is funded by the Road Trauma Trust Account, which directs 100% of revenue from safety camera infringements toward projects that reduce road trauma in Western Australia.
Ministerial Statement
"Regional drivers are overrepresented in serious crashes and the rollout of these safety cameras is about saving lives," said Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby.
The government hopes this rollout will help shift driving behaviours across the state, particularly in high-risk regional areas.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and reflects official government announcements.
Dylan Anderson
Dylan Anderson
