Using Your Phone Could Cost You $1,255 – Warning for Australia’s Learner Drivers In Australia, learner drivers have to deal with more expensive penalties for offending road rules and for using mobile phones. Another warning from the authorities showed the enforcement of the penalties and the unattainable focus needed from learner drivers. For learner drivers, the penalty for using a mobile phone and driving is $1,255 plus a few demerit points which can severely slow the learner’s ability to get a full licnce.
Penalties For Learner Drivers
Learner drivers need to focus and pay attention to the road, skills are still developing. Risking distractions, phones, and other devices can derail the progress made and open the learner to catastrophic risks. Police authorities indicate that young drivers underestimate risks whilst driving and using a phone. What young drivers don’t realize is that driving and texting can take focus away from the road for 5 complete seconds, more than enough time to cover the distance of a football field.
Legal Restrictions
Australian regulations clearly state that learner and provisional drivers, whether at learner level or P1 and P2 stage, must not engage in any form of mobile phone usage while operating a motor vehicle. This encompasses any hands-free, speaker, or Bluetooth options. This law is in force whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary at traffic lights. For learner drivers, the maximum penalty for mobile phone usage is $1,255 along with four demerit points. Offenders of this rule may face license suspension.
| Licence Type | Mobile Phone Rule | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Learner (L) | No use at all, even hands-free | $1,255 |
Avoiding Fines
Law enforcement and road authorities encourage use of the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature that blocks calls and notifications to keep the phone within reach. This is a suggestion that should be followed before every journey. Supervising drivers should be responsible to ensure that learners practice all safe habits. This will avoid the incurrence of fines and help developing safe and responsible driving habits for life.
Avoiding Enticement
Learner drivers should follow simple strategies to avoid phone enticement while driving:
- Store the phone in the glove box or back seat.
- Set navigation before starting the trip.
- Ask a passenger to handle calls or messages.
- Use approved car kits only once holding a full licence.
If these simple suggestions are new habits in your way to practice driving, it will help the learners avoid all possible penalties while on the road.
The Bigger Picture
According to transport experts, fines for phone use while driving are initiated as a part of a larger strategy to deal with reckless behavior behind the wheel. Distraction is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Since young drivers are the most at risk, national campaigns coupled with aggressive policing are aimed at control risk behavior to keep young drivers safe.
FAQs
Q1. Can learner drivers use a GPS on their phone?
No. Learners drivers cannot use any phone features, including GPS, unless the phone is mounted and set before the trip.
Q2. Do hands-free calls constitute the mobile phone use for learners?
Yes. Learners are still prohibited from making hands-free calls.
Q3. What happens if a learner loses their license from phone offences?
They must reapply when eligible and this can postpone a full license by months or even years.
