Millions of drivers in NSW have been urged to “belt up with phones down” ahead of major changes to the state’s roadside camera detection program.
NSW Transport’s 10 transportable Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Detection Cameras will operate to their full capability on single lane roads from this Sunday, March 1 – capturing traffic from both directions. Until now, the cameras only checked up to two lanes of traffic travelling one way.
Though no new cameras will be added, NSW Transport Secretary Josh Murray said that extending the capabilities of the existing ones will help match the increase in the number of cars on the roads since the program began in 2019.
“When we switched on mobile phone detection cameras almost seven years ago, the target was to be able to check each registered vehicle in NSW an average of at least 20 times a year,” Mr Murray said.
“Since then, the number of registered vehicles in NSW has jumped almost 12 per cent, from 6.7 million to 7.5 million.”
Mr Murray said that the state government’s mobile detection program had had a “significant” impact on road safety in NSW, bolstered by the addition of seatbelt offences in 2024.
“One in just under every 1300 vehicles checked by these cameras in 2025 had someone breaking seatbelt laws while around 1 in every 1200 were caught using their mobile phone illegally,” he said.
“Compared to as many as 1 in every 400 cars when we first started camera enforcement of mobile phone offences.
“We know lives have been saved as people change their behaviours in response to awareness and education with seatbelt use and distractions through phone use featuring as key contributors to the road toll.
“We need to ensure our program continues to check the appropriate number of vehicles, and we use our technology to its full effect.
“The expansion of the transportable cameras begins in March and will take six months to roll out. Fixed mobile phone and seatbelt cameras will not change. As is the case with all camera infringements, all fines go towards funding more road safety programs.”
To date, 52 people have lost their lives on NSW roads so far this year. The state’s total road toll in 2025 was 314.
According to statistics released earlier this month, more than $100 million was pulled from NSW drivers last financial year through traffic-enforcement cameras.
In 2024-25, around 130,000 fines were issued for camera-detected mobile phone use, while more than 126,000 fines were issued for seatbelt noncompliance.
Revenue NSW data shows those camera-issued offences alone generated more than $100 million in penalty revenue, with seatbelt enforcement, introduced only on July 1 2024, accounting for more than $50 million in fines in its first year.
Mobile phone detection cameras generated a similar amount in penalties over the same period, according to Revenue NSW’s camera-issued infringement data.
A NSW Transport spokesperson said the cameras were introduced to improve safety and reduce serious injuries on the state’s roads.
“Transport for NSW uses AI-assisted traffic enforcement cameras to help improve road safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads,” the spokesperson said.
In NSW, both mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras – fixed and transportable rely on artificial intelligence to identify potential offences.
“These camera systems use a number of cameras and an infrared flash to capture clear images of passing vehicles in all traffic and weather conditions,” the spokesperson said.
Transport NSW said the systems are AI-assisted, not fully automated, with images reviewed by trained staff before any infringement notice is issued.
