The NRMA has raised concerns over moves to ban the use of GPS-enabled mobile phone handsets as in-car navigation devices while allowing drivers to use navigation aids that provide the same service to motorists.

New Australian Road Rules that will be introduced in Victoria on November 9 prohibit the use of in-car mobile phones for any purpose other than making and receiving voice calls.

Under the new rules, which have also been adopted in South Australia, mobile phone handsets must be placed in an approved, commercially-designed cradle. The phone can be touched to make and receive calls.

According to VicRoads, a driver will be allowed to use a driver’s aid (such as a navigation device) but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design or secured in a commercially-designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

According to MX (Sydney) on page two yesterday the NRMA senior policy adviser for Road Safety, Anne Morphett, urged the Road Traffic Authority in New South Wales to consider the convenience of one device.

“If the device is set on audio, GPS on a phone should be allowed,” she said.

Ms Morphett could see no problems with automated navigation software, although some apps could be dangerous.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said AMTA, on behalf of its members, had met with the National Transport Commission (NTC) this week to learn more about the reasons behind the new road rules, particularly in relation to mobile handsets using GPS navigation software.

“Our industry has been supportive of the national, uniform approach to road rules governing drivers’ use of mobile phones,” he said.

“We support efforts to clarify what is legal use of hands-free mobile phones by drivers so people are clear about what they can and can’t do.

“However, part of the process of providing clarity is to have consistency in the approach to the use of in-car technology and being sure that rules are drawn in a technologically neutral way to ensure one device is not favoured over another without sound safety reasons.”

Mr Althaus said AMTA would explore with the NTC and the States the safety reasons underpinning the approach to allow drivers to use in-car navigation devices placed in a cradle and disallow the same function used in a mobile phone in a holder.

“We understand that the police have a very important and, at times difficult role to play in ensuring drivers do the right thing on the road,” he said.

“We stress that although a hands-free device can reduce the physical effort to make and receive calls, drivers should avoid making calls in adverse traffic, road or weather conditions and avoid complex or emotional conversations. Safety is the most call drivers can make.”