More Victorian drivers dicing with death by using phones while behind the wheel

More than half of Victorian drivers admit to illegally using their mobile phone while behind the wheel — and apps are one of the biggest distractions.

An increasing number of Victorian drivers admit to being distracted by apps on their mobile phone while driving, a new TAC survey has found.

The high rate of improper use has been highlighted by the study, which also showed that more than half of Victorian motorists admit to illegally using their mobile phones while driving.

Preliminary findings from the TAC’s latest Road Safety Monitor survey found that 52 per cent of respondents admitted to using a mobile phone with their hands while behind the wheel. Of those almost half were interacting with an app.

TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said the risks of driving while distracted were beyond dispute.

“We’ve seen a devastating increase to the number of people killed on our roads and each one of those deaths was avoidable, we need people to put the phone away and play their part in making our roads safe,” Ms Slatter said.

“Driving a car is a task that requires our full attention and if you’re looking at your phone while behind the wheel you’re essentially driving blind,” she said.

The full Road Safety Monitor report will be released next week.

Penalties for using a mobile device while driving in Victoria have increased this year to a $577 fine and four demerit points. Picture: iStock

So far this year, 173 people have died on Victorian roads, up from 139 at the same time last year – a 24 per cent increase.

Respondents to the survey reported using apps behind the wheel at a higher frequency, with one in four admitting to doing so “sometimes’’ or ‘‘most of the time’’. It was not clear which apps were being accessed.

Studies show that distracted driving was a key factor behind road accidents – drivers were 10 times more at risk of crashing if they are using their phone illegally.

The survey also found that 98 per cent of respondents always wore a seatbelt when driving,

3 per cent admitted drink-driving when above the legal limit, and one in four said they deliberately exceeded the speed limit by 10km/h or more.

Penalties for using a mobile device while driving in Victoria have increased this year to a $577 fine and four demerit points.

Rules around mobile phone use in vehicles changed in March, with fully licensed drivers able to use a make or receive a call, use its music functions or operate a GPS only if it is secured in a fixed phone holder.

Other functions such as video calls, texting, emailing, and apps are prohibited.

Originally published as More Victorian drivers dicing with death by using phones while behind the wheel