New rules regulating the use of many portable devices while driving have just come into effect, expanding and clarifying some rules already in place for phones.<\/p>\n
The new road rules came into effect on Friday 31 March, and concern portable devices, wearable devices (such as smartwatches), inbuilt devices, mounted devices, and motorbike helmet devices.<\/p>\n
While driving, full licence holders are not allowed to text, scroll, play videos or games, take video calls, display text messages, social media, emails or photos, or rest a device on any part of the body.<\/p>\n
Drivers must not touch portable devices, allow them to be on their lap, look at one being operated by another person in the vehicle, or pass a portable device to a passenger.<\/p>\n
As a general rule, drivers may use a mounted or inbuilt system for functions such as music and navigation, provided they are not entering text, scrolling or viewing images or video. <\/p>\n
Wearable devices must not be touched, or used for reading or writing text, viewing social media and photos, engaging in video calls, or using a navigation function. However, a driver may initiate, accept or reject an audio call, play or stream audio, or adjust volume levels, but only if using voice controls.<\/p>\n
Permitted motorbike helmet device uses are limited to touching the device briefly or using voice commands.<\/p>\n
The rules are different for Learner, P1 and P2 drivers.<\/p>\n
To view the full list of changes, visit www.vicroads.vic.gov.au\/safety-and-road-rules\/new-vic-road-rules-2023.<\/p>\n