From Sunday, March 1, 2026, drivers across New South Wales are being urged to stay extra vigilant on the roads as key traffic cameras that catch illegal mobile phone use and seatbelt offences get a major capability upgrade. The changes mean the same cameras will now monitor vehicles travelling in both directions on single-lane roads – a step designed to improve road safety and more effectively detect risky behavior.
Until now, the state’s 10 transportable mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras could only capture traffic moving in one direction on single-lane roads. With the upgrade, these cameras will soon scan vehicles from both directions, increasing the number of drivers they can check without adding new units. Authorities say this is essential as the number of registered vehicles in NSW has climbed sharply in recent years.
The cameras, which use artificial intelligence to help spot drivers using a handheld phone or passengers not wearing seatbelts, have already made a significant impact since they first started operating in NSW. Recent data shows that in 2025 around one in every 1,200 vehicles checked was flagged for illegal mobile phone use and about one in every 1,300 for seatbelt non-compliance – figures that reflect changing driver behavior over time.
This latest expansion is part of an ongoing effort to use technology to support safer roads rather than generate revenue, officials say. Once an image from a camera suggests a potential offence, it is reviewed by trained staff before any fine is issued, ensuring fairness in enforcement.
For many drivers, the consequences of being caught are significant. In NSW, a fine of $423 plus three demerit points can apply for illegal mobile phone use or not wearing a seatbelt correctly, with additional penalties possible depending on the number of passengers detected without restraints.
Road safety authorities remind motorists that these offences are among the leading contributors to serious crashes and fatalities, and the technology aims to reinforce simple but critical behaviours: keep your phone down and wear your seatbelt every trip. NSW Transport expects the expanded detection roll-out to take about six months to complete.
In the past financial year, mobile phone and seatbelt cameras in NSW have generated over $100 million in fines, with authorities noting that the technology’s presence has contributed to improved compliance and a reduction in these risky behaviours over time.
As the new system becomes fully operational, drivers are being reminded to focus on safer habits behind the wheel – reducing distractions and always using seatbelts – to avoid fines and help make roads safer for everyone.
