New Australian Road Rules designed to clarify what constitutes legal hands-free use of mobile while driving have been announced in Victoria this week. AMTA is generally supportive of a national approach to ensure drivers are clear on the rules governing drivers’ use of hands-free mobiles.

Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas said yesterday the changes to road rules around U-turns, navigation devices and mobile phone use would be introduced in November this year as part of a Brumby Labor Government commitment to improving safety on Victorian roads.

He said the changes were the result of a comprehensive assessment of the road rules, focusing on improved safety, consistency and common sense.

Mr Pallis said: “Talking on a hand-held mobile phone while driving is reckless and increases the risk of a crash fourfold. Phones and navigation devices will be required to be in appropriate holders or cradles in the vehicle. The advice is simple – hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

AMTA Chief Executive Officer Chris Althaus said the changes had been proposed by the National Transport Commission to clarify what constitutes a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

Under the changes, drivers will not be allowed to use the speaker function of their handset while it is resting on their lap or balanced on their shoulder.

The new rules require drivers to place their handsets in commercially-designed holders or cradles in their vehicles. They are allowed to touch the handset in the cradle to turn it on and off and make calls, which involves keying in the phone number. Drivers can use a mobile phone set to loud speaker function if it is in a cradle.

Drivers can use any hands-free devices, including earpieces that are connected to a phone via a cord or Bluetooth, even if the handset is not placed in the cradle, however, in such circumstances the driver is not permitted to touch any part of the handset (they may touch the earpiece or headphone to operate the phone).

Mr Althaus said the mobile telecommunications industry was generally supportive of moves to ensure certainty among drivers about what is a legal hands-free device.

“It is helpful for drivers to be fully aware of the dos and do nots of using their legal hands-free phones. However, although such clarification is helpful for drivers it’s important to realise that using an approved hands-free device is not a guarantee of safety on the roads at all times,” he said.

“The industry stresses 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 important call drivers can make.

“While technology can address physical and visual factors, education and awareness is required to address cognitive factors.”

Mr Althaus said AMTA was concerned that the Vic Roads fact sheet needed to be clearer on what is, and is not, allowable under the new laws and would contact Vic Roads to discuss the information currently being used to explain how the new road rules applied to drivers.