The state government has announced new driver distraction road rules.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne announced on Tuesday, 14 February that new driver distraction road rules would come into effect across the state from Friday, March 31.
She said the new rules would extend existing mobile phone rules to cover modern technology – as one third of drivers admit to using their phone illegally while driving.
The new rules would 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 would apply, including not touching any portable device, taking phone calls or using voice control unless parked, Ms Horne advised.
A two-second glance at a device means you are travelling blind for 28 metres while driving in a 50km/h zone – and the distance jumps to 55 metres when travelling at 100km/h.
Motorists caught driving distracted would 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,” Ms 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 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 to 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.
