Distraction focus of new road rules
The State Government will introduce new driver distraction road rules to keep Victorians safe and reduce road trauma.
Roads Minister Melissa Horne said distraction was a key contributor to road trauma, with research showing the risk of drivers crashing increased when texting, browsing or emailing.
Distraction was also involved in at least 11 percent of fatalities – equal to 20 people each year whose death is avoidable.
Ms Horne said the new rules, in place from March 31, would extend existing mobile phone rules to cover modern technology – because one-third of drivers admit to using their phone illegally while driving.
It will bring Victoria in line with the Australian Road Rules, and cover in-built vehicle systems, mounted devices, wearable and portable devices such as smartwatches and tablets.
Ms Horne said learners and probationary drivers were at a much greater risk in their first years of driving, so stronger conditions would apply, including not touching any portable device, taking phone calls or using voice control unless parked.
Motorists caught driving distracted will receive penalties of four demerit points and a $555 fine.
The 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.
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.
People wanting more information on the new road rules can visit vicroads.vic.gov.au/drivingdistractions and on the mobile phone and seat belt detection cameras visit camerassavelives. vic.gov.au