1. Never Use a Hand-Held Mobile: In Australia it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving unless you use a hands free in-car kit or portable hands free device. Some states also require you to place the phone in a commercially designed cradle. If your cradle is windscreen mounted ensure it's positioned to minimise visual obstruction.  When using a portable hands free device make sure it is set up and working before you start to drive. A hands free device can reduce the physical effort to make and receive calls, however, it alone doesn’t make using a mobile phone while driving safe.

 

2. Never Look Up Phone Numbers, the Internet or Send Email or SMS: Always keep both eyes on the road and do not read or send SMS text messages or look at the internet.  Also, do not email or take notes during a call while driving. If required, use a directory assistance service which connects you directly to the number and don’t look up phone numbers from your phone’s memory. Set your phone up to use short one-buttom dialling or voice-activated dialling.

 

3. Plan your trip - Always Pre-set GPS and Try to Make Calls when Stationary:  plan your trip and always preset your destination in GPS software before you start driving and uses turn-by-turn voice guidance.  Try to make calls when stationary or during  rest breaks on long trips.

 

4. Don’t Call in Heavy Traffic, Poor Road Conditions or Bad Weather: Don’t accept or make calls if traffic, weather or road conditions would make it unsafe to do so. Also, even if the traffic conditions are light, always tell the person you are speaking to that you’re driving and that you may have to end the call if driving conditions change.

 

5. Don’t Engage in Complex or Emotional Conversations: If a call becomes complex or emotional tell the person you are speaking to, you are driving and suspend the call. Complex and emotive conversations on a mobile phone, or with other passengers, and driving don’t mix – they are distracting and can be dangerous.
 

6. Use Message Services to Answer Calls: If a call is unnecessary or you consider it unsafe to answer at the time, don’t answer the call and let it divert to voicemail or an answering service.

 

7. Pull Over Safely if You Stop to Make a Call: If you choose to stop to answer or make a call or retrieve a message, pull over carefully in a safe area. Don’t stop where you could be a hazard to other vehicles, pedestrians or yourself.

 

8. Use Your Phone’s Features to Reduce the Effort to Make a Call: Carefully read your phone’s instruction manual and learn to use the speed dial and redial features of your phone. Also, if possible, use a phone with voice activated dialing and automatic answering features to reduce the effort to make and receive a call.

 

9. Tell callers you’re driving while on the phone: Always let the person you’re speaking to know that you are driving. This lets them know that you may not always respond immediately and reminds you that driving safely is your first priority. “Hello, I’m in the car at the moment…”

 

10. In Emergencies Use Your Phone to Call for Help: Dial '000' or '112' in case of fire, traffic accident, road hazard or medical emergency. Both '000' and '112' are free calls, and will connect you to emergency services. Almost two- thirds of all genuine calls to ‘000’ are made from mobile phones.

 

Disclaimer

 

The "Mobile Phones and Driving - Safety Tips" page of AMTA's website is to assist mobile phone users with general information regarding the use of mobile phones while driving. Users of the "Mobile Phones and Driving - Safety Tips" page are required to comply with all State, Territory and Federal laws and rules covering the use of motor vehicles, including the use of mobile phones while driving. These safety tips should be read in conjunction with those laws and rules and do not replace or modify those laws or rules.

 

Circumstances may also exist where use of a mobile phone is unsafe. Users must use their own judgement and these safety tips do not suggest that the use of a mobile phone while driving is necessarily appropriate.

 

Users of this website must make their own enquiries and where necessary obtain specific advice in relation to any of the activities referred to in the "Mobile Phones and Driving - Safety Tips" page.

 

AMTA accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any decisions that users may make as a result of any information they have gained from the "Mobile Phones and Driving - Safety Tips" page."