Drivers should learn Victoria’s new road rules or face hefty fines for breaking the law, VicRoads says.

The Mooney Valley Leader said the new laws, including mobile phone use, seat belts, trams and U-turns, apply from today (Monday).

VicRoads spokeswoman Antonietta Cavallo said drivers who failed to obey the new rules could cop on-the-spot fines of up to $300 and incur three licence demerit points.

She said drivers could only make or receive phone calls if their mobile phone was in a cradle or could be operated remotely.

“To use a mobile phone as a GPS device it must be in a cradle,” Ms Cavallo said. “A driver found to be handling a mobile telephone will face a fine of $234 and three demerit points.”

Fawkner TMU Sgt Chris Mcleod said police would not issue warnings to drivers who broke the new laws. “There is no warning period or easing-in time,” Sgt Mcleod said. “If you are confused about the new rules, you are best off not using your phone if it’s not secured.”

Drivers who do a U-turn over a single continuous dividing line, will be fined $234 and incur three demerit points.

Both drivers and passengers will be fined $234 if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt. While sharing the road with trams, a driver must not pass the rear of a stopped tram with its doors open.

“Once the doors are closed and pedestrians have left the road, a driver may drive past the tram at no more than 10km/h,” Ms Cavallo said.