Reckless, dangerous and downright bizarre—new AI road cameras are catching it all
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Staying safe on the roads is something most Australians take seriously—but not everyone seems to have received the memo.
A recent development in road safety technology has revealed some jaw-dropping behaviours happening behind the wheel.
What authorities uncovered paints a troubling picture of just how far some drivers are willing to push the limits.
Road safety officials in Western Australia have been left stunned by what AI-powered cameras have captured on the state's roads—behaviour so reckless, it has triggered a wave of concern at the highest levels.
In what appeared to be ordinary traffic footage, authorities instead found an alarming snapshot of just how far some drivers were willing to flout the law.
From drivers juggling phones and alcohol to passengers steering cars, the disturbing footage revealed a pattern of behaviour more suited to a comedy of errors than a public road.
One image that stood out among thousands was that of a man appearing to light up a glass pipe—commonly associated with hard drug use such as crystal methamphetamine—while driving.
Another showed a motorist gripping a beer bottle as he operated his vehicle, while a separate case involved a driver nursing a baby. One particularly concerning image showed a P-plate driver letting their passenger take the wheel while they looked down at a phone.
These jaw-dropping images were captured by new AI cameras installed across WA six months ago, with a focus on areas known for high accident rates. The rollout formed part of a broader effort to reduce the state's road toll, with the cameras quietly tracking driver behaviour from both fixed and mobile locations.
During a Budget Estimates hearing in WA’s State Parliament, it was revealed the cameras had already recorded 130,000 incidents, with nearly 50,000 caution letters issued to date. That translated to more than 800 offences and 280 letters sent every single day.
Police Minister Reece Whitby didn’t hold back when presenting the data.
‘Not only is this person using a mobile phone, but he's having a beer at the same time,’ he said.
‘It's quite astounding, the figures are absolutely astounding.’
‘I cannot believe that one driver has been caught offending 81 times. Another driver has been caught offending 74 times, and another 52 times. And there are 10 people detected offending more than 40 times.’
The data also revealed that 75,000 people were caught illegally using their phones behind the wheel, while another 50,000 failed to wear a seatbelt properly—or at all.
The AI-powered cameras were positioned at two fixed locations on the Kwinana Freeway and mounted on six mobile trailers in Albany. A further 55 units were deployed throughout Perth’s suburbs, all operating in stealth until the program’s trial period ends in October.
Until then, drivers would continue receiving caution notices, but fines would begin once the trial concluded. In some cases, a single driver managed to rack up dozens of offences—one even hitting 81 separate infractions, leaving officials bewildered by the sheer disregard for road safety.
Western Australia Police has been contacted for comment.
With so many offences now exposed, the true scope of driver misconduct on WA roads had become impossible to ignore—and the images made sure no one would forget what had been seen.
With so many drivers bending the rules in such dangerous ways, do you think technology like this is the key to making our roads safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we covered how new road rules coming in 2025 promise to bring the ’most advanced’ AI cameras to WA roads.
For senior Aussies keeping a watchful eye on road changes and striving to stay within the law, understanding how these cameras work and when they’ll start issuing fines can be vital.
If you’re keen to stay informed and avoid a surprise notice, that one’s well worth a read too.
Read more: New road rules coming in 2025: ‘Drivers should be aware’
A recent development in road safety technology has revealed some jaw-dropping behaviours happening behind the wheel.
What authorities uncovered paints a troubling picture of just how far some drivers are willing to push the limits.
Road safety officials in Western Australia have been left stunned by what AI-powered cameras have captured on the state's roads—behaviour so reckless, it has triggered a wave of concern at the highest levels.
In what appeared to be ordinary traffic footage, authorities instead found an alarming snapshot of just how far some drivers were willing to flout the law.
From drivers juggling phones and alcohol to passengers steering cars, the disturbing footage revealed a pattern of behaviour more suited to a comedy of errors than a public road.
AI cameras reveal chaos on WA roads. Image source: WA Government
One image that stood out among thousands was that of a man appearing to light up a glass pipe—commonly associated with hard drug use such as crystal methamphetamine—while driving.
Another showed a motorist gripping a beer bottle as he operated his vehicle, while a separate case involved a driver nursing a baby. One particularly concerning image showed a P-plate driver letting their passenger take the wheel while they looked down at a phone.
These jaw-dropping images were captured by new AI cameras installed across WA six months ago, with a focus on areas known for high accident rates. The rollout formed part of a broader effort to reduce the state's road toll, with the cameras quietly tracking driver behaviour from both fixed and mobile locations.
During a Budget Estimates hearing in WA’s State Parliament, it was revealed the cameras had already recorded 130,000 incidents, with nearly 50,000 caution letters issued to date. That translated to more than 800 offences and 280 letters sent every single day.
Police Minister Reece Whitby didn’t hold back when presenting the data.
‘Not only is this person using a mobile phone, but he's having a beer at the same time,’ he said.
‘It's quite astounding, the figures are absolutely astounding.’
‘I cannot believe that one driver has been caught offending 81 times. Another driver has been caught offending 74 times, and another 52 times. And there are 10 people detected offending more than 40 times.’
The data also revealed that 75,000 people were caught illegally using their phones behind the wheel, while another 50,000 failed to wear a seatbelt properly—or at all.
The AI-powered cameras were positioned at two fixed locations on the Kwinana Freeway and mounted on six mobile trailers in Albany. A further 55 units were deployed throughout Perth’s suburbs, all operating in stealth until the program’s trial period ends in October.
Until then, drivers would continue receiving caution notices, but fines would begin once the trial concluded. In some cases, a single driver managed to rack up dozens of offences—one even hitting 81 separate infractions, leaving officials bewildered by the sheer disregard for road safety.
Western Australia Police has been contacted for comment.
With so many offences now exposed, the true scope of driver misconduct on WA roads had become impossible to ignore—and the images made sure no one would forget what had been seen.
With so many drivers bending the rules in such dangerous ways, do you think technology like this is the key to making our roads safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we covered how new road rules coming in 2025 promise to bring the ’most advanced’ AI cameras to WA roads.
For senior Aussies keeping a watchful eye on road changes and striving to stay within the law, understanding how these cameras work and when they’ll start issuing fines can be vital.
If you’re keen to stay informed and avoid a surprise notice, that one’s well worth a read too.
Read more: New road rules coming in 2025: ‘Drivers should be aware’
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