Shocking reason driver was slugged with almost $30,000 worth of fines

A driver has been fined almost $30,000 for repeating the same illegal act dozens of times.

The unidentified South Australian has been caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel 41 times and has been fined $27,000.

SA Police officer responsible for traffic services Shane Johnson said ABC their license was immediately suspended.

There were further shocking examples of recidivism, with one driver receiving 23 fines and another driver fined 22 times.

They said 16 drivers in the state had been fined at least 10 times, and 165 drivers were caught using their cellphones while driving four times.

SA drivers caught on camera could be hit with a $556 fine plus a $102 crime victims levy.

An individual violation results in three penalty points.

South Australia Police have released shocking new statistics about drivers using their mobile phones.

They reveal that mobile phone detection cameras have caught more than 28,000 drivers in the past three months.

Chief Inspector Johnson said this figure had fallen sharply from the three-month trial of new cameras in July to September, when 68,000 drivers were issued warning letters.

“This drop in detections is encouraging and indicates that most drivers are getting the message,” he said.

‘If that then changes driving behaviour, then that is absolutely a good thing.’

Texting while driving has cost South Australians more than $15.5 million in fines since September.

South Africa’s police plan to install two more mobile phone detection cameras in the first half of 2025 and will also target drivers who use their smartwatch while behind the wheel.

“Smart watches can be a form of distraction and legislation is being considered for 2025,” said Chief Inspector Johnson.

“Our message is that if you are distracted while driving, you should not look at your smartwatch.”

“Distraction has contributed to more than 30 lives lost and more than 75 serious injuries on South African roads this year alone,” he said.

A Finder The survey found that 18 percent of respondents used their mobile phone while driving.

The Transport Accident Commission website stated: ‘Drivers are 10 times more likely to crash when texting, browsing or emailing on their mobile phone.’

The Transport Accident Commission added: ‘If you take your eyes off the road for two seconds or more you double the risk of an accident.’

‘At 50 km/h you cover 28 meters in 2 seconds, which is about the length of a cricket field.’