Some Canberra drivers are so engrossed with their mobile phones, they do not realise an officer is right beside them until they see flashing lights and hear sirens, police say.
ACT Policing released vision yesterday of Canberra drivers caught red-handed with their phones while behind the wheel.
The footage was captured using body-worn camera technology, on an officer's helmet, and shows drivers using phones while driving at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, travelling more than 20 metres in a second.
Hundreds of drivers are booked every year in the ACT for hand-held mobile phone use, the most common driver distraction infringement, says officer in charge of road policing, Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman.
Driving while wearing headphones, tuning the radio or using a GPS device, or with unsecured children or pets, are other common distractions, he said.
"We're not releasing this video for fun, or to shame individuals," Detective Inspector Boorman said.
"We're putting it out there to show how common this dangerous, and ultimately stupid, behaviour is.
"Every driver caught in this video was distracted by their phone. Most of them were so engrossed in using it, they were surprised to see a police officer on a motorcycle pull up next to them.
"Some didn't even notice that until the flashing lights and siren started."
Detective Inspector Boorman said no phone call, text message, map search or social media update was worth the multiple risks when using a phone illegally while driving.
ACT Policing released the footage just weeks after issuing a similar warning about an increase in dangerous driving on Canberra's roads during coronavirus.
