New figures reveal number of cyclists caught out by tough new fines for mobile phone use

POLICE are cracking down on cyclists who use their phones while riding, with hundreds of on-the-spot fines issued to distracted riders since tough new laws were introduced.

POLICE are cracking down on cyclists who use their phones while riding, with more than 300 on-the-spot fines issued to distracted riders since tough new laws were introduced.

New figures reveal Victoria Police is catching mobile-mad cyclists more than once per day while hundreds more have been busted failing to obey other road rules.

CYCLISTS PUSH TO BLOCK MOBILE PHONE SIGNALS IN CARS

WOULD THIS CAMERA STOP YOU TEXTING?

CYCLISTS PUSHING TO SHARE SPACE ON FOOTPATHS

A cyclist rides along with no helmet on his mobile phone. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

The were 324 on-the-spot fines issued for phone use between July last year and the end of March, with statistics for the rest of 2018 not yet available.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Julie-Anne Newman said officers regularly focused on educating cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists.

“All aspects of road safety is a concern for police in particular where foot, bike and driver traffic converge in busy multi-use areas,” she said.

“General patrols, bike patrols and local police operations look at speed, drink and drug driving, traffic sign and signal compliance and safety equipment for bicycles.

“Local police are also involved in bike safe promotions with local schools, councils, municipalities and with road safety partners.”

The penalty for using a mobile phone while riding a bike is $484.
The most common cycling-related infringement recorded over the same period was failing to wear or securely fit a helmet, with 2680 riders caught out.

Another 538 people were fined for failing to obey traffic lights while riding a bicycle and another 315 were fined for not using a path or bicycle lane correctly.

But Bicycle Network CEO Craig Richards said the number of badly behaved cyclists on Victorian roads was often overstated.

A cyclist on Chapel Street, riding without a helmet, with headphones on and looking at his phone on Thursday. Picture: Hamish Blair

“People often say riders always go through red lights. But less than two riders a day are fined for failing to stop at a red light,” he said.

“Over half the fines are for not wearing a helmet and mandatory helmets continue to be the most controversial issue among bike riders.

“We look at other countries where the environment is much more supportive of people on bikes and we long to have a healthy, liveable Australia.”

Mr Richards said the organisation expected to see the number of fines for cyclists to fall.

“Mobile phone use is a huge distraction whether behind the handlebars or the steering wheel,” he said.

“We encourage everyone on the road to please keep off the phone and concentrate.”