Canberra’s roads will be safer for all users now that a bill to roll out mobile phone detection cameras by early next year passed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
“We want Canberrans to understand that any time you take your eyes off the road to use your mobile phone while driving, you’re risking your own life and the lives of other road users,” said Chris Steel, Minister for Transport and City Services.
The Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Amendment Bill 2021 allows for the operation of mobile device detection cameras, and revises security and privacy safeguards for mobile offence detection cameras to share deidentified images.
Mr Steel said the new cameras would reduce driver distraction, a major cause of accidents.
“Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds doubles the risk of a crash; mobile phones are too often the source of that distraction,” Mr Steel said.
“A driver who looks at their phone for just two seconds while driving at 60 kilometres an hour travels 33 metres blind.”
Last year, ACT Policing issued more than 1000 infringements for using a mobile device while driving. Mr Steel thought the actual rate of offending was likely to be much higher.
The ACT Government also launched a new communications campaign to raise community awareness of these risks.
The campaign will also ensure people understand the rules on using mobile devices while driving.
The campaign includes TV, radio, digital, and out-of-home advertising, and will be delivered in several phases before next year.
“We are calling on drivers to follow a series of simple steps to build better habits and stay focussed when driving,” Mr Steel said.
“These include removing your devices from view entirely, setting yourself up before you get on the road, and turning on the ‘do not disturb’ function to remove notifications.
“Every accident that results in serious injury or death is a tragedy for our community. So as the campaign says: if you’re driving, leave your phone alone.”
The ACT Government has funded the roll-out of mobile device detection cameras as part of their commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ – no deaths or serious injuries on Canberra’s roads.
What are the rules?
Under the Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017, it is illegal for a driver to use a mobile device while the vehicle is moving or is stationary but not parked. (Exemptions apply for emergency or police vehicles.) Parking includes stopping and allowing the vehicle to stay (whether or not the engine is running).
A mobile device in the ACT includes a mobile phone and any other wireless hand-held or wearable device designed or capable or being used for telecommunications (for example, a tablet or smartwatch), but does not include a citizens band (CB) radio or any other two-way radio.
Drivers can use their mobile device for GPS purposes; to stream, play or listen to music or audio files; or to make or receive audio calls if the device is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle, or if the driver does not press or manipulate the device (e.g. through Bluetooth).
Drivers who use their hand-held mobile device to make or receive a call can incur a maximum court fine of 20 penalty units or an infringement notice penalty of $480 and 3 demerit points.
The current penalty in the ACT for a driver who uses a mobile device for messaging, social networking, mobile application or accessing the internet is a maximum court fine of 20 penalty units or an infringement notice penalty of $589 and 4 demerit points.
The penalties for mobile device use will be the same regardless of whether the offence is captured by a camera or the police.
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