City Services has launched its trial of mobile device detection cameras to encourage long-term behaviour change among the Territory’s drivers.
Opening the trial, City Services said the eight-week run on the Majura Parkway would see the cameras detect when someone was using their mobile device while driving and take pictures of them doing it.
“During the test period, a number of images will be captured,” City Services said.
“No enforcement action (fines, warning letters) will be issued as a result of offending behaviour detected by the camera during the test period,” it said.
“A variable message sign board has been deployed before the camera advising drivers of the testing ahead.”
City Services said the test would be conducted with strict requirements to ensure that people’s personal information was properly managed and protected.
The Directorate said privacy safeguards required during the test included images of front-seat passengers to be pixelated or blurred out; cameras were not to take pictures of the rest of the inside of the car; only the minimum amount of data required to test the cameras’ ability may be captured and retained; and all data and images collected during the test period may not be used for any secondary purpose.
It said other privacy measures included that all data and images collected by cameras must be deleted by all parties at the completion of the test period; all data and images must be hosted and processed in Australia; and all data and images must only be managed and accessed by personnel located in Australia.
“Most Canberrans already do the right thing, but we want to see all drivers on our roads putting their phones and mobile devices down, removing these as distractions and making our roads safer for everyone,” City Services said.
It said that in future, the mobile device detection cameras would be installed at locations where there was a crash history; where illegal mobile device use had been detected; where vulnerable road users were at high risk; and to support ACT Policing’s ‘anytime, anywhere’ approach to road safety.
