Explaining SA’s laws about using mobile phone while driving

Police will start fining drivers caught by new mobile phone-detection cameras from Thursday – so just what are SA’s laws about using phones in cars?

New cameras that can catch drivers distracted by their mobile phones will begin to officially start from Thursday, with motorists facing hefty fines and demerit point penalties if caught.

The phone-detection cameras were activated on June 19 but police granted motorists a three-month grace period in hopes warning letters sent out during this time would cause people to change their dangerous behaviour.

In the cameras’ first month, a staggering 1000 drivers a day would have been fined across the five locations at South Rd at Torrensville, the North South Motorway at Regency Park, Port Wakefield Rd at Gepps Cross, the Southern Expressway at Darlington and Port Rd at Hindmarsh.

However, many drivers are still unsure exactly what the rules around phone behind the wheel – so read below to clear up misconceptions.

A driver caught using their phone by one of SA’s new cameras. Picture SA Police

USING MOBILE PHONES BEHIND THE WHEEL

If you want to make an audio call – where you have to dial a number or touch any part of the phone – or receive a call, the phone needs to be mounted in a commercially designed holder.

However, making or receiving a video call is forbidden.

Similarly, creating, sending or even looking at a text, video message or email is considered an offence, – even if the phone is correctly secured to the vehicle.

Phones cannot be hand held or resting on the driver’s lap – but operating a phone via Bluetooth, a headset or earphones is allowed.

Commissioner Grant Stevens said the discussion of finding the balance between the vehicle’s bluetooth and using a handheld device was crucial in today’s world where people are becoming dependent on working from their phones.

“I think this is part of the challenge,” Mr Stevens said on FIVEaa on Tuesday morning. “If you’re going to be totally focused on road safety, it’ll be zero alcohol and zero use of any sort of device.

“We could eliminate fatalities overnight by putting in a fairly draconian set of rules.

“(But) you think about the number of tradies and salespeople who now don’t work from an office and everything’s done in their car – so we got to find that balance.

“We expect people to do the right thing and not be completely immersed in their touchscreen, finding the phone number they want to ring, it’s about using the voice controls and doing it sensibly.”

Under SA law, drivers cannot use a handheld mobile phone unless their vehicle is parked.

A woman checks her phone while driving through the CBD. Picture: AAP Image / Morgan Sette

USING GPS ON MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING

There are a good deal of South Aussie drivers who are dependent on their GPS app either for work purposes or due to their poor sense of direction.

While police will allow motorists to use GPS on their phones, the device has to be properly affixed in the vehicle.

Moreover, touching the GPS while you’re driving isn’t allowed.

Drivers need to set the destination on their GPS before leaving and if they need to change their journey or add a stop along the way, must pull over and park to make those adjustments.

LEARNERS AND PROVISIONAL DRIVERS

New drivers on their L-plates or P1 licence are prohibited from using any type of mobile phone function while driving.

This includes, using hands-free mode Bluetooth technology, loud speaker operation, text messaging and the GPS.