In Australia, there are now higher fines for using mobile phones while driving, as some states and territories have fines as high as $1,000 to $1,500. This is part of the concern growing around accidents caused by using phones, especially texting and social media while driving.
Use of cell phones while driving is now, nationally, a bigger issue.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Issue | Use of cell phones while driving is a major national road safety concern |
| Fines and Penalties by State | – Queensland fines exceed $1,000 with 4 demerit points – New South Wales has same penalties with mobile phone detection cameras – Victoria and Western Australia fines now closer to Queensland & NSW levels |
| Crash Risk | Texting while driving increases crash risk by more than 10 times compared to not texting |
| Safety Impact | Driving while texting endangers the driver and other road users |
| Offender Demographics | Mostly young drivers; older drivers less frequent but also caught scrolling |
| Purpose of Fines | Fines aim to punish and to positively change driver attitudes towards safer behavior |
Advanced Camera Technology in Use
NSW, Queensland, and the ACT have embraced the use of high-tech mobile detection cameras. These cameras, meant to be used for safety enforcement, are able to capture a driver on a phone, even in the dark, and during bad weather. Thousands of fines have been given out since the cameras were first used. The system significantly reduces mobile crashes.
Double Demerit Points for Repeat Offenders
Along with the hefty mobile fine is also a hefty punishment of demerit points. Many states apply double demerits if the same offence happens within a short timeframe. The penalties are meant to curb the behavior.
Public Response and Concerns
Not everyone has reacted the same, though, as some road safety advocates and insurers believe distracted driving results are too high and have supported. Though some critical opinion might examine the alleged harshness of the penalty, they should argue such for phone use in laps cases such as use of gps in a car, where it would be very limited disengagement from driving. Law enforcement had countered such arguments with preemptive reminders about the presence of legally compliant alternatives, like the use of the properly mounted hands free devices as phone accessories.
Do Not Touch Your Phone While Driving.
In the forseeable future, the number of cases of deaths due to careless driving has drastically increasing. As such, the Australian government has set very few parameters in which to work in. As such, while driving on roads, be they within the confines of a city, or larger roads, the quantity of the money that has to be paid in the cases of the phone being used while driving has been set to 1500, which does not consider the addition of voided points on the driving liscence. The closing point surfaced from the the road security bodies of the country suggests that money inspired actions of policy are not the focus for the country, instead saving lives in the roadways of Australia seem to be.
