WA’s top cop weighs in on AI traffic cameras as the state prepares to double its fleet

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says a debate into how the state’s new AI-powered traffic cameras are fining drivers for passenger seatbelt breaches was a worthy one to have and that all options were on the table.

The new cameras have been fining people for traffic infringements like speeding, mobile phone use and incorrect seatbelt use since October.

However, reports by the ABC last week uncovered a horde of irate road users who had been fined multiple times, sometimes in the same day, for seatbelt offences by passengers they weren’t aware of or couldn’t prevent.

The furore comes as the WA government plans to spend a further $24 million to purchase six new mobile AI traffic cameras as well as a range of fixed AI cameras like those on the Kwinana freeway.

Speaking to ABC Mornings, Blanch acknowledged the frustration in the community and the issues of multiple fines.

“I think we would all agree, as a community, not wearing the seat belt increases death on our roads, and that’s got to be in the back of everyone’s mind and certainly, first responders know only too well the trauma and the grief it causes families and themselves when they attend fatal car accidents,” he said.

“Having said that, I know you’ve received a large amount of feedback on your show about this causing grief for many others, particularly in a timeframe where they might receive multiple fines and also being responsible for other adults in the car.

“I think that’s a really worthy debate at the moment, with the introduction of these new AI safety cameras, and I think only that conversation will lead to a better understanding of where that balance lies.”

One caller to the ABC last week said she was pinged twice two days over the holiday period for the same offence.

She said her daughter, who was neurodivergent, had been a passenger in the car and hadn’t been wearing her seatbelt properly.

“I am looking at the road. I’ve tried to do the right thing, I’ve had the right conversations, and I checked her as we were leaving, but I was focused on the road,” she said.

“I’ve gone from zero demerit points to losing my license, and I’m the only one working in the family at the moment.”

When asked about whether passenger seatbelt offences should be separated from driver seatbelt offences, Blanch responded: “I think these are all topics on the table that no doubt everyone’s really pushing for a solution here.”

“I think everyone would agree we don’t want lots of people losing their license because of decisions made and on multiple occasions, they’ve received five or six fines, and that could be a real problem,” he said.

The Road Safety Commission is conducting a broader review into traffic penalties which will include the cameras and how they operate.

Despite the issues plaguing the cameras, the WA government is pressing ahead with plans to expand its fleet of mobile cameras from six to 12.

The new cameras were expected to be operational by September this year, and the commission, which manages their use, told Drive they were proving to be effective.

“In fact, they are providing new insights into driver and passenger behaviour which will be the focus of more education and encouragement awareness campaigns,” a spokesperson said.

A spokesman for Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said if multiple offences are captured before the first infringement arrives in the mail, the subsequent infringements can be waived and this process is happening now.

However, government has backed in its position that drivers are responsible for their passengers.

“Western Australian road users had nine months of warnings, which included caution notices and education campaigns before the cameras went live to understand what these safety cameras are designed to do - which is save lives,” he said.

“The law is clear and the responsibility remains with the driver to ensure passengers are wearing their seatbelt correctly.

“Evidence shows not wearing a seatbelt correctly can have devastating - and deadly - consequences, but any driver who has received an infringement may request a free review of their infringement.”

In December, the state government announced it had dished out $13 million in fines in just one month.

Some of the worst behaviour captured between October 8 and November 8 included a truck driver driving along Mitchell Freeway with no hands on the wheel, using his laptop and mobile phone while not wearing a seatbelt.

Another driver was caught wearing no seatbelt while cradling an unrestrained baby, while another was caught driving 20 kilometres over the speed limit in a school zone while using a mobile phone with no hands on the wheel.

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