NSW has introduced new laws, in effect from today, which make it illegal to handle your phone at all while driving. What rules apply in the rest of the country? We’ve rounded up the current laws for every state and territory.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Details differ slightly surrounding GPS navigation and what learner drivers can do, but the most important thing to note is this: making a call using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal right across the country. That’s because it’s risky and stupid behaviour. Note that it doesn’t matter if your car is temporarily stopped at lights: it’s still illegal to make a call with a phone in your hands. All states ban texting and emailing while driving, whether your phone is mounted or not.
If you want to use your phone as a GPS, then it should be mounted in a stand designed for the purpose. The majority of states (everywhere except Queensland and WA) specify that the mount must be commercially manufactured; you can potentially be fined if you make your own.
Common sense suggests that you should minimise use of your phone while driving, and should stick to hands-free mode and a Bluetooth headset if you want to make calls. But precisely what you can and can’t do varies a little state by state. Here’s the law as it stands (with links to the relevant government web sites).
NSW
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a commercially-manufactured cradle if you want to use GPS functions, place a call or play music. You can only touch a phone to hand it to another passenger. Learners and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all. Luke over at Gizmodo has a much more detailed analysis of the new laws for NSW.
Victoria
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a commercially-manufactured cradle if you want to place a call or play music. If you want to use the phone as a GPS, it must be fixed in a commercially-manufactured cradle. Learners and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all.
Queensland
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a cradle if you want to place a call, use a GPS or play music. Learners and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all, and supervising drivers can’t use phones in loudspeaker mode.
Western Australia
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a cradle if you want to place a call or play music. If you want to use the phone as a GPS, it must be fixed in a cradle.
South Australia
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a commercially-manufactured cradle if you want to place a call, use a GPS or play music. Learners and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all.
Tasmania
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a commercially-manufactured cradle if you want to place a call. If you want to use the phone as a GPS, it must be fixed in a cradle.
ACT
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a commercially-manufactured cradle if you want to place a call, use a GPS or play music.
Northern Territory
Phones must either be operated entirely hands-free or placed in a cradle if you want to place a call, use a GPS or play music. Learners and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all.
Anyone have recommendations for good cheap phone mounts suitable for the iPhone 5?
They won't work. Official Apple car mounts have a chip inside that allow iPhone 5s to stay in place. If you put anything else in, it'll shoot it out the window and mock you for not upgrading. The cheap ones without the authentication chip don't throw your phone out the window, but may crash your car while questioning your sexuality
If you don't buy official Apple products at $90 a pop, you're toying with your life!
I'll take my chances. I'll drive slow and I'm perfectly comfortable with my sexuality.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/160900248904?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I got one of these. Works fine; although I’m not using the vent mount bits. Certainly can’t complain for $3.57 delivered.
Sounds good for that price. Shame there's no pictures (I like to see what I buy lol). Will definitely keep that in mind, thanks!
The new rules state if the phone is in a commercially designed mount, you can then touch the device to make phone calls, gps or play music. seems very fair, and clears up the confusion from the past where just touching a phone could get you fined. The government has finally acknowledged that the smart phone has more then one use. this does cause problem for those who use a DIY holder such as the bulldog clip seen on LH in the past. I think there has been a fair amount of confusion from news agencies reporting incorrectly that you will not be able to touch the devices at all with the new laws. this is incorrect.
Surely bulldog clips are "commercially manufactured". If the government can acknowledge that phones have more than one use, then so do other objects. If not then perhaps politicians are only good for one thing too.
I sure as hell didn't manufacture the strip of Velcro® holding my iPhone to the dash myself.
3M® manufactures that. Ohh, I'm sorry by "commercially manufactured" did you mean made by one of the companies who wrote the legislation??
But it would seem I could scroll though tracks on my ipod (or other mp3 player) without breaking any laws whatsoever....
lol I just about to say what happens to people that hold their ipods, they are not phones.
how about eating while driving, or putting make up on.
Actually when one reads through these new regulations that are supposed to 'clarify', most seem to be anything but clear!
Right. But somehow smoking is ok while you drive? wtf.
Good post, but still unsure of the finer rules.
If the phone is in the cradle are you allowed to operate it with your hands? Plus the NSW rule of allowing to pass it to a passenger does this apply in any other states, sounds like it is a law that could easily be abused!
so learners/P plate drivers can't operate phones @ all.. Does this include the music function? if so, i guess you'll be wanting to swap to an ipod; so you fall outside these laws when it comes to listening to music & operating a phone? or have i got it wrong?
You're not allow to operate an MP3 player while driving either.
Also understand that the police are "above the law" in this case and are allowed to do whatever they like with their phones, whether it be for police business or personal use, any time they please.
Above the law.
WORNG LIGHT487
Police are only allowed to use a phone in the line of duty. You know, their job. Where even thought it might be dangerous they will still risk their lives to save yours. Despite you having an obvious hatred towards them!!
The NSW law states any device. So even a GPS needs to be docked. I can't recall if it mentioned iPods. But to put it in easy to understand terms
Docked: can use the device as a GPS, Music Player and for calls. You are allowed to touch the device. You can NOT send or read texts, emails etc.
Undocked: you can NOT use the device as a GPS or a phone. You CAN pass it to a passenger. I would assume you can use it undocked to play music, but you can not touch it to change tracks.
Cars with controls on their steering wheels allows the device to be undocked.
The laws are quite simple really. They don't want you touching your device unless its docked. And only use it if its either docked or COMPLETELY hands free (in the case of modern cars with inbuilt controls in the steering wheel).
Actually I work with police every day of my working life.. My point is on principle of "above the law" and noone should be exempt from laws. Yes, in doing their job.. that's fine.. that's what the exemption is for. The point is, who is going to prove that they were not just on the phone with their BFF?
As i highlighted earlier on Giz,,, Who would then monitor the people whose job is to monitor the police to ensure they are not corrupt?
We both agree on them being able to have exemptions when its in the line of duty. It seems you believe/think/witness them doing so when its not in the line of duty.
I have not seen it happen TBH. But i also don't work with them daily. I do know several police officers who were either mates at school or mates of mates. I can attest for them not doing so. I don't doubt some cops would/might use the exemptions in times when its not permitted. But i doubt its a wide spread problem, and believe more motorists flaunt the laws and dont get caught vs police officers (in this case mobile phone laws). You get dodgy people in all walks of life. I have seen both dodgy and excellent Teachers, Lawyers, Doctors, Tradesmen, Chefs, Sales people, Mechanics etc etc. Some of them just in normal day to day life, some i have worked with/for (have had a varying array of jobs).
Nitrobuggies is one of those really irritating people in life, defending and excusing corruption and hypocrisy. Some Teachers, Lawyers, Doctors etc might be dodgy but there are no laws excluding them from adherence to the law, whereas the law BY DESIGN, by definition, excludes the police from adherence to the law. The police can be chatting away to their mother on their hand held mobile phone whilst speeding in a police motor vehicle because they are late to lunch and they have NOT broken the law in their case. Whether they would do this or not is completely irrelevant!
What do the rules state about shelving xtc while driving 140km/h in a 60 zone and listening to dubstep?
Make sure you hit a pole and not a person?
I don't intend to obey the law and will pay the fine etc if I get caught.
Ugh. It's not just about paying a fine mate...
It's about trying to reduce the risk of you killing someone while you're answering an 'important' phone call or text message...
If you were the only idiot driving this way on a deserted highway then by all means, go for your life - when you're sharing the road with cyclists, pedestrians and other drivers - then it's time to grow a brain and think about the implications of laws designed for safety.
Admittedly yes, on the surface it may seem restrictive, but the data seems to indicate that we can't talk/text and pay attention to driving simultaneously (it only takes a few seconds of inattention and all it takes is that 1 time in 10 that you screw up). Nothing is so urgent that we need to be risking our lives or the lives of others - and after all, what did we ever do without mobile phones years and years ago?
But the law exists because some people, but not all, can't drive and use the phone at the same time. Some are perfectly capable of doing it. Those that can't, will know they can't, and if they cause an accident whilst on the phone should be thrown in jail (and if they kill someone - 30 years). But don't punish those that are capable of doing both. I don't answer it, as I can't afford to lose my license (as I can't work without one), but take a look around while driving, and see the huge number of people using phones while driving. Also look at what other things people do while driving - reading a book/magazine, smoking, drinking/eating, rubbing cream into their skin, etc.
How is reading an text message any different to reading a book? A text message is only 160 characters max. A book is 10000s.
Maybe the best solution is, to increase driving capability in order to get a license. And not give those people a license in the first place.
You say nothing is so urgent - why not tell the general public that? We're strongly advised to not answer the phone whilst driving. But if we don't, clients go all mental, and bitch and moan to managers how we should answer the phone 100% of the time - and they "Don't care. Still answer it." when told we're driving (and sometimes on the way to their house) - (A client who is a police officer even said that once)
Look at the US - they're the blood alcohol limit is 0.08 - as research shows that at 0.05 some people, but not all, aren't in a state to be able to drive. But at 0.08, no one is in a state to drive. Australia punishes those people in the 0.05-0.08 range that can drive without problems.
And a big shame on Today Tonight for showing that footage of the school bus driver using his phone while driving.
I have also heard that pulling over and taking a call with the engine running is still considered driving and hence illegal unless in a cradle or fully hands free. If you want to use a phone hand held then I think you will need to have the vehicle stopped and the key out of the ignition.
Depends on the state.
In NSW if the car is PARKED and engine running it is fine to hold the phone and make calls etc. but the car needs to be parked.
Had an instance in NSW just recently when parked on the side of the road being cautioned by the Police to turn the car off before touching the phone. The thing is we really do not (as drivers) know the details of these laws that are apparently being 'clarified'. I was under the impression I can select tracks from an mp3/media player while at the lights but in no way could be distracted by a video clip playing on the same mp3/media player whether it was in a cradle or not - But a post below disputes this. So many other questions about the use of UHF radios, Is my iphone 3 with no sim in it a media player or a phone etc.
What ever happened to "Let me start by saying I'm not a lawyer..." ??
hahaha nice...
So are the laws different between using a CB radio (trucker style) and a Mobile phone
i got fine because i was talking on phone via bluetooth