D-DAY looms for mobile phone crackdown Sweeping new changes to mobile phone rules for P-platers and penalties for illegally using a phone while driving will come into effect in a month, Minister for Roads Terry Mulder announced today. Mr Mulder said changes to the current laws would be submitted to the Governor this week for approval but that Victorian Coalition Governments intention is to warn Victorians they would face higher fines and more demerit points if they reach for their phone while driving. Mr Mulder said from 25 November this year drivers caught using a mobile phone will face a $433 fine (up from $289) and the loss of 4 demerit points, up from 3 points. In addition, the total ban on mobile phone use is being extended from P1 drivers on red P-plates, the first year of the probationary licence, to P2 drivers on green P-plates. This includes years two, three and four of holding a probationary licence. “These are some of the most significant changes to our road rules in years and reflect the growing problem of distraction, which has the potential to result in deaths and injuries on our roads,” Mr Mulder said. “The Coalition Government is getting even tougher on mobile phone use because we know that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds to answer a call or read a text message can kill. “We want to see using mobiles while driving become as unacceptable as drink driving now is. “We want parents to talk to young drivers about not starting the habit, and we want people who do it now to stop. We have all sat at the lights and seen people with their heads down, playing with their phones. We have to decide as a community that this is not on, and make it as stupid as drink driving. “Seventy per cent of young and middle-aged drivers report using a mobile phone some of the time while driving. “It’s a scary statistic that 88 per cent of young drivers using mobile phones report reading text messages, and 77 per cent report sending text messages. Sixty per cent of middle-aged drivers report reading texts and 51per cent report sending them. “The message clearly isn’t getting through, which is why we are making the fines and penalties even tougher. “Any driver caught using a mobile phone illegally risks accruing one-third of the 12 demerit point threshold for a single, stupid act. P-platers will risk hitting their five demerit point limit.“We are making no apologies for this because we know that these acts can, and have, caused deaths and injury on our roads,” Mr Mulder said. Mr Mulder said P2 drivers, who include motorists within the second, third and fourth years of their probationary licence, will now be subjected to the same mobile phone rules as P1 drivers (first year licence holders) and learner drivers in a further strengthening of the system. “Young drivers are the most vulnerable road users and we know they face extra challenges because they have grown up with mobile phones, so we plan to take away the temptation to use them while driving, by introducing even stricter laws,” Mr Mulder said. “P2 drivers, who are those in the second, third and fourth years of having their licence, will no longer be allowed to use a mobile phone while driving. To be clear, this includes using a hands-free device while driving or when stationary at traffic lights. “These tough, new penalties mean that probationary drivers, with a demerit point threshold of just five points, are at serious risk of losing their licence if they are caught illegally using a mobile phone because they will have incurred four points. “By extending the mobile phone ban to all P-plate drivers, we are ensuring the most inexperienced drivers focus on the road during the crucial first four years of driving and reduce their crash risk. “I encourage all drivers, particularly parents and guardians, to spread the word about the tougher new penalties and lead by example,” Mr Mulder said. The increased mobile phone penalties and changes to the rules for probationary drivers is one of the key initiatives in Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy (2013-2022) and Victoria ’s Road Safety Action Plan (2013-2016), announced in March 2013. Victoria’s road safety partners: Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), VicRoads and the Department of Justice are working co-operatively to bring down the road toll. This year, the TAC launched the ‘Distractions’ campaign, recognising this as a growing road safety issue in our community. To help drivers avoid the temptation to use their mobile phone, VicRoads has developed ‘Road Mode’ a free app which, when activated, silences incoming calls and text messages, and lets the sender/caller know the driver is driving. For more information on the changes to mobile phone rules and penalties and to download the Road Mode app, please visit vicroads.vic.gov.au Victoria has a new 10-year Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan. For more information visit roadsafety.vic.gov.au
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 06:01:07 +0000
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