New Victorian road rules requiring drivers to use mobile phone handsets in approved cradles come into effect next week.

Under the new rules, drivers in Victoria from November 9 will be required to place their mobile phones in approved holders/cradles or operated by the driver without touching any part of the phone via Bluetooth.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, said: “The mobile telecommunications industry supports the thrust of its new road rules, particularly the move to clarify the road rules on the use of hands-free mobiles while driving.

“In particular, we support the Victorians’ change to require all drivers to either use an approved cradle or Bluetooth device to make drivers clearly understand they cannot hold a phone while driving.”

The industry also congratulated Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas on his decision to overturn a ban on drivers’ use of the GPS function of mobiles.

Drivers in Victoria will be allowed to use the GPS and MP3 functions in their mobiles provided they are placed in a commercially-designed cradle.

Mr Althaus said AMTA had received encouraging feedback from VicRoads on the issue of a uniform national approach to the new road rules, particularly in relation to handset GPS usage.

“We applaud Victoria’s move to allow the use of GPS functionality in handsets, however, the industry is encouraging all States and Territories to adopt a similar approach to ensure a national, uniform approach across Australia,” he said.

“We have had some encouraging feedback from VicRoads that they are working with other jurisdictions through the National Transport Commission in support of a single national approach.”

VicRoads Manager Road User Behaviour, Antonietta Cavallo, said: "One of the key changes drivers will need to be familiar with is the way mobile phones and navigation devices can be used while driving. Under the new mobile phone rule, you cannot use a mobile phone while driving except to make or receive a call or use the audio function, and the phone is fixed in a cradle or can be operated remotely by the driver. To use a mobile phone as a GPS device it must be in a cradle.

"We know that talking on a hand-held mobile while driving is reckless and increases the risk of a crash fourfold. Texting is extremely dangerous and banned. The advice is simple – ‘hands on the wheel, eyes on the road’," she said.

"A driver found to be handling a mobile telephone or otherwise using it inappropriately will face a fine of $234 and three demerit points," said Ms Cavallo.

The changes start Monday, 9 November 2009. For more information on the new road rules, visit

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/roadrules and for information about penalties relating to traffic offences go to www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/penalties .