General News
6 March, 2023
Road rules to change to curb driver distraction
Aiming to curb distraction related road trauma, new rules have been introduced for drivers across the state — with higher restrictions in place for L and P platers. Coming into effect from March 31, new driver rules are being put in place to...
Aiming to curb distraction related road trauma, new rules have been introduced for drivers across the state — with higher restrictions in place for L and P platers.
Coming into effect from March 31, new driver rules are being put in place to reduce crashes and deadly accidents — distraction is involved in around 11 percent of fatalities according to the State Government.
These distraction rules will extend existing mobile phone rules to cover modern technology including in-built vehicle systems, mounted devices, wearable and portable devices such as smartwatches and tablets.
Under the new restrictions, learners and probationary drivers are not allowed to use any portable device, either by touching or using voice control, while driving, regardless of purpose — they will need to be parked to operate portable or mounted devices to take calls, change music as well as for other navigational uses.
According to VicRoads, drivers will a full licence will be able to use mounted devices briefly to initiate, accept, or reject an audio call, adjust volume levels, and carry out a professional driving task, among other things.
Motorists caught driving distracted will receive penalties of four demerit points and a $555 fine. Community awareness campaigns will run over the coming months to educate drivers on the devastating risks of distraction.
“Distraction is deadly — which is why we’re introducing these new road rules to protect the lives of Victorians,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said.
“Everyone has a role to play in keeping our roads safe, so when you’re driving, please make the right choices — pay attention and don’t be distracted.”
The Labor Government is also investing $33.7 million as part of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 to introduce new mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera technology that will help catch people using their mobile phones and not wearing their seatbelts while driving.
Illegally using a mobile phone while driving significantly increases the risk of being involved in a serious crash and the new cameras are estimated to prevent 95 crashes that result in injury or death per year.
“Distraction on our roads is deadly right across the state —which is exactly why we’re modernising mobile phone laws to keep pace with other technologies,” Head of Road Safety Victoria Marcelo Vidales said.
“Every time you’re distracted while on the road, you’re putting yourself and others at risk, whether its a phone, watch, map or tablet because we know drivers are ten times more likely to crash if they’re multi-tasking by texting, emailing or browsing on their device.
“We encourage all drivers to have their full focus on the road at all times. Similar to mobile phone laws, touching any portable device while the car is moving will not be allowed — because any second you aren’t focused on the road could be deadly.”
Mobile phone and seatbelt detection technologies involve AI-enabled camera systems that can capture high-resolution images of passing vehicles in all conditions, including poor weather and low light levels when distracted driving is even more dangerous.
The new camera technology will be operational on Victorian roads in coming months. A three-month warning period will apply from the technology’s activation before drivers face infringement and demerit penalties.