In the two weeks between 25 January and 7 February, Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers caught nearly 500 people a day either not wearing a seatbelt or using their phone behind the wheel.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said he was shocked to see the figures.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable that we’ve seen 6,288 people caught red-handed by new mobile phone and seatbelt cameras,” Mr Bailey said.
“Since 1 November, the cameras have caught a total of 37,594 people who are flouting the road rules,” he said.
Mr Bailey said these people had a clear lack of regard for themselves and those around them.
“Drivers have known these cameras were coming, and had a three-month warning period, yet 26,491 people have continued to use their phone behind the wheel,” he said.
“What’s even more concerning is that more than 11,000 people aren’t wearing a seatbelt, or are wearing one incorrectly.”
The Minister said the cameras could be anywhere, anytime across the whole State.
“It’s time unsafe drivers in Queensland realise it is only a matter of time until they’re caught and fined heavily for driving distracted or not wearing a seat belt,” he said.
“We’re cracking down on phone fiends and those not wearing seatbelts, with new anywhere, anytime high-tech cameras and heavy fines.”
Mr Bailey said there had been an over-representation of regional Queensland drivers in the Statewide statistics, “so I’m urging drivers, put down the phone and clip up the seatbelt, or you will be caught”.
