Drivers caught using mobile phone while driving will cop hefty fines when technology is legalised

Motorists caught using their phone while driving are set to cop hefty fines when new laws are passed this week.

Motorists caught on new hi-tech cameras using their mobile phones could soon be hit with hefty fines, with the state government to legalise the technology after a successful trial.

Laws to be introduced in parliament this week will also allow cyclists to claim Transport Accident Scheme coverage from accidents involving passengers opening car doors.

In 2020, Victoria held a three-month trial using cameras that could detect when drivers were using their mobile phones illegally.

One in 42 drivers were snapped using their mobile phones while driving in a 2020 trial. Picture: John Grainger

The cameras snapped 679,438 vehicles and detected one in every 42 drivers breaking the law. This week, the Andrews government will put forward legislation that allows Victoria Police to use this technology as part of their road safety work.

Cameras will also be able to detect people not wearing seatbelts after a disturbing rise in the number of deaths linked to this problem.

“These improvements to the Act embody the TAC’s single-minded purpose of caring for everyone who uses Victoria’s roads – be it helping injured people get their lives back on track

or preventing road trauma,” TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore said.

Pictures taken by the “distracted driving cameras” will be able to be used as evidence of an offence and it is expected this will be enforced from 2023.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said anything to deter distracted drivers was a good thing.

“Obviously anything that is going to support road safety we are very keen on,” he said.

“We know that distraction and fatigue are key elements in collisions and we are trying to do everything we can to eliminate that.”

The cameras will also detect people not wearing seatbelts.

Other changes will mean people charged with hit and run, dangerous driving cause death or serious injury or culpable driving causing death will have their licence immediately suspended while their case is before the courts.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the laws would help the new cameras prevent avoidable accidents.

“With changing technology presenting new challenges for road safety across the state, our road safety laws are evolving too and these changes – including ensuring distracted driving camera technology can catch and hold to account drivers dangerously using their mobile phones – bring Victoria’s laws into the 21st century,” she said.

In a move set to be welcomed by cyclists, the TAC’S coverage scheme will be widened for “car dooring” incidents.

Victoria Police cracked down on the problem in Richmond last year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

Other changes will exclude people charged or convicted of murder, manslaughter and other serious offences of claiming certain benefits.

“Our transport accident insurance scheme has long been the envy of other jurisdictions across Australia and the world, and these changes to the Act will further improve this critical safety net,” Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said.

“While our ultimate goal is to eliminate death and injury on our road by 2050, the sad reality is that thousands of people are injured on Victoria’s roads each year and need our support.”

“These changes, such as extending coverage to cyclists involved in dooring incidents, ensure the scheme remains contemporary and fair for Victorians in the hour of their greatest need.”

Originally published as Drivers caught using mobile phone while driving will cop hefty fines when technology is legalised