New driver distraction rules to start next month

NEW rules to penalise driver distraction on Victorian roads will come into effect at the end of next month.

The state government announced the start date for the rules, which are intended to keep Victorians safe and reduce road trauma, last week.

Distraction is a key contributor to road trauma, with research showing the risk of drivers crashing increases when texting, browsing or emailing.

Distraction is also involved in at least 11 per cent of fatalities – which equates to 20 people each year.

The new rules will extend existing mobile phone rules to cover modern technology, as 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.

Learners and probationary drivers are at a much greater risk in their first years of driving so stronger conditions will apply to them, including not touching any portable device, taking phone calls or using voice control unless parked.

A two-second glance at a device means you are travelling blind for 28 metres while driving in a 50kmh zone, which jumps to a distance of 55 metres when travelling at 100kmh.

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 risks of distraction.

The Victorian government is also investing $33.7 million as part of is Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 to introduce new mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera technology to 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 Victorian government estimates the new cameras will prevent 95 crashes that result in injury or death per year.

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.

Although in force from March 31, a three-month warning period will apply from the technology’s activation before drivers face infringement and demerit penalties.

“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.”

For more information on the new road rules, head to vicroads.vic.gov.au/drivingdistractions

For more information on the mobile phone and seat belt detection cameras, head to camerassavelives.vic.gov.au