South Australian drivers warned of new mobile phone cameras after thousands caught in first week

Thousands of motorists have been caught touching mobile phones while driving in just the first week of operation of Adelaide’s new mobile phone detection cameras.

Of more than 8000 people caught on the metropolitan area cameras, 6397 have already been sent warning letters — but SA Police warn, from September 19, it will be a $658 fine that is sent to offenders.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mobile phone detection cameras turned on in SA for ‘educational phase’.

During the first week of operation — June 19 to 25 — more than one million cars passed under the five mobile detection cameras which have been installed in “high-risk” locations across the city.

The cameras are on South Rd at Torrensville, the North-South Mwy at Regency Park, Port Wakefield Rd at Gepps Cross, the Southern Expressway at Darlington, and Port Rd at Hindmarsh.

The cameras recorded 8603 potential offences within a week, SA Police said on Friday.

So far about a third of those motorists have been sent a warning letter so far, but police said the incidents are still being processed.

“The number of warning letters may increase when the data is settled in the next few days,” SA Police said.

Superintendent Darren Fielke earlier this month said the warning letters would be issued during the “educational phase” of the camera rollout.

“They will give you a nice and gentle reminder about the significance of distraction in terms of how it contributes to tragedy on South Australian roads,” he said,

But drivers will soon be copping more than a warning.

From September 19, the three-month “grace period” will end and drivers detected illegally using a mobile device while driving will be issued an expiation notice.

That will include a $556 fine, and three demerit points. For adults, a $102 Victims of Crime levy will also apply, while drivers under the age of 18 will only need to pay $20 for the levy.

“This is the first time South Australia has had mobile detection cameras,” Fielke said earlier this month.

“We know that distraction accounts for 25 per cent to 30 per cent of serious injuries and fatalities on the state’s roads.

“The cameras are here to change driver behaviour.”

The safety initiative has cost the state government $15.9 million, but an unexpected problem discovered during a trial phase of the cameras in May could dramatically increase the operational costs

The mobile phone detection cameras work using AI technology, but an error was found to have led to a small number of instances in which offences were linked to the wrong driver, as drivers sped up and slowed down while passing under the cameras.

The camera system was subsequently “worked through very, very closely” according to SA Police Minister Dan Cregan at the time.

7NEWS understands, to overcome the system flaw, hundreds of thousands of fines each year will require additional police staffing to manually verify the images however Cregan confirmed no frontline officers would be seconded to complete the mammoth task.