Human
PERTH, Australia: New artificial-intelligence-powered road safety cameras in Western Australia have flagged more than 31,000 motorists for unsafe driving in their first month of enforcement, underscoring authorities' push to curb distracted and dangerous behaviour on the state's roads.
The fixed and mobile cameras, deployed after an extended public awareness phase, generated nearly $13 million in fines by early November, according to official tallies. Most infringements involved mobile phone use, seatbelt breaches and speeding, with authorities reporting more than 12,000 phone-related and over 10,000 seatbelt offences.
AI systems captured a wide range of "beyond mind-boggling" behaviours, including drivers eating, drinking hot coffee, applying nail polish, grooming themselves or using tablets and laptops at speed, officials said. One truck driver was allegedly detected using both a laptop and a mobile phone while unrestrained and travelling at 100 km/h, the figures show.
Western Australia's Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby urged motorists to rethink risky habits. "It is staggering that drivers still put themselves and others at such obvious risk by ignoring basic safety rules," he said, stressing that while AI flags potential breaches, "two separate reviewers look at the images before anything is issued."
Whitby also called on drivers to use common sense to avoid fines after AI-captured images highlighted what he described as "ridiculous" behaviour behind the wheel.
Authorities say the system enhances enforcement by detecting actions police cannot routinely observe, and all infringement revenue is earmarked for road safety initiatives. Officials warn that as the technology continues to operate amid heavy travel periods, drivers must adjust to avoid costly penalties and reduce risks to themselves and others.
