Victorian drivers to get amnesty from fines as new rules roll out

Transport Minister Ben Carroll has explained how new cameras will be able to detect if a driver is illegally using their mobile phone under looming new road rules.

Motorists will get a three-month amnesty from fines when new cameras to catch them using their phones or driving without a seatbelt are rolled out soon.

Transport Minister Ben Carroll has addressed confusion over how new cameras will be able to detect whether or not a driver is illegally using their mobile phone or smart watch under new road safely laws.

Under the new rules, announced on Tuesday, drivers can use their mounted device or inbuilt entertainment system for navigation purposes, to stream audio and to accept or reject phone calls.

They cannot use devices to scroll, text or use social media.

Drivers can look at their smartwatch to check the time but not to read a text.

Motorists will get a three-month amnesty from fines when the new rules roll out.

The technology will also be used to detect people who are driving without seatbelts, a growing problem among serious road injuries and deaths.

Although the government is yet to announce an official date for when the cameras will be switched on, it can be revealed that a three-month warning period will apply when drivers will not receive fines or other penalties if they are caught out.

Mr Carroll explained it won’t always be possible to tell if a driver was briefly touching their device to change a song or using it to illegally send a quick text message.

Transport Minister Ben Carroll has addressed confusion over how new cameras will be able to detect whether or not a driver is illegally using their mobile phone. Picture: David Crosling

“If they’re using their mobile phone, they will get a fine … because it could be texting,” Mr Carroll said on Wednesday.

“These cameras have been rolled out successfully in New South Wales. They have been found to be a very important deterrent for people using mobile devices.

“There’s always rights of refusal (and) rights of feedback request photo, like any of our mobile phone speed detection technologies. There’s always a right to challenge.”

Mr Carroll said the new rules were aimed at targeting people who used unmounted or “handheld” devices while driving.

“The intention of the road rule changes is that for hand-held devices, particularly mobile phones, that they literally be not touched while you are driving,” Mr Carroll said.

“Your hands should be on the steering wheel and that’s what it’s focused on.”

Mr Carroll added the new rules were designed to deter probationary or learner drivers from using devices while driving.

“These rules are targeted at learners and probationary drivers. Our strong advice is, when it comes to mobile phones, to put them in the glove box or in in the backseat.

“We know that young people, not people that are on full licenses, but young people in particular — when they’re starting out driving, when they’re going to buy their first vehicle — all the research shows that they have a tendency to prioritise the entertainment features of the motor vehicle over the safety features.”

Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne has announced further steps to tackle driver distraction. Picture: Alison Wynd

Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne on Tuesday also announced further steps to tackle driver distraction with tough new rules to take effect from March 31.

The laws have been designed to better account for modern technology and mean drivers can be pinged for incorrectly using in-built technology within cars, mounted devices, smartwatches and tablets on the roads.

Similar rules already apply to the use of mobile phones.

“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.”

It is estimated glancing at a device for just two seconds can be the same as “travelling blind” for 28m when travelling 50km/h.

When travelling 100km/h this lifts to 55m.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines said too many drivers were still putting their lives at risk by using their phones.

“We’re deterring this type of risky behaviour on our roads with these new road rules, as well as phone and seatbelt detection technology,” he said.

“We need every motorist to make the right decisions when they’re behind the wheel. When they don’t, road safety cameras and Victoria Police are there to hold them accountable.”