New mobile phone rules ‘too severe’
IN THE space of just one hour the Townsville Bulletin took photos of half a dozen distracted drivers using their mobile phones on the road.
The photos were taken near Castletown and at Dalrymple Rd.
From now there’s even more reason for people not to have their mobile phone in hand while driving.
People will cop a $1000 fine and lose four demerit points if they’re caught.
However, the man in charge of Townsville’s driver education facility, Driveit, is against the Queensland Government’s new mobile phone penalties, dubbed the harshest in the country.
Driveit CEO Pat Driscoll said the penalties “are too severe” and could heavily impact workers in Townsville.
He said most people relied on driving to work in the city but the harsh penalties could quickly cost them their licence.
“What we’re doing is pushing people off the edge. They’re certainly going to need a licence to get to and from work,” he said.
The latest Census showed 72,517 or just over 69 per cent of people drove to work.
Mr Driscoll said it was hoped an obstacle would be set up at the Driveit facility, allowing motorists to use it while on a mobile phone to show the dangers of driving while distracted.
“I’ve always thought education is a far better way of doing things, and I mean proper education not an advertising campaign,” he said.
“Overall distracted driving is a big thing, but phones are only one thing.”
Mr Driscoll advised motorists to use a hands-free system and cradle if they had to, otherwise place their phones in a place that would not distract them.
For learner and P-plate drivers, the consequences of being caught using a phone while driving are more severe – they would either lose their licence or be placed on a oneyear good driving behaviour period.
It is illegal for learner and P1 drivers to use a phone in any way while driving, including using maps or hands-free.
Fun Driving Academy instructor Vince Whitworth was against the maps ban for beginner drivers but agreed with the severe penalties.
“That’s what should have happened years ago because people are just stupid looking at their phones,” he said.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the measures were necessary.
“We’re getting tough on distracted drivers using mobile phones because it is costing lives on our roads,” he said.
“A driver’s response time while texting is comparable to that of a driver with a blood alcohol reading of between