Rapid Finance on 24 October 2017

We all know how dangerous it is to use a handheld mobile phone while driving. This is why Australia has laws in place to ensure drivers have control of their vehicle and aren’t being distracted on the road.

In Australia, it’s illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving to:

  • Talk
  • Text
  • Email
  • Play games
  • Take photos/videos
  • Use any other function on your phone.

Here’s a closer look at the specific laws surrounding mobile phones and driving in Australia.

Note: The information below is current as of October 2017.

Using a Phone While Driving in Australia: 
State by State

Smartphone Driving Laws Around Australia

*Learners and P1 drivers (and, in some states, P2 drivers) aren’t allowed to use a phone in any way while driving.

^In QLD, there are no specific laws for using a phone in a cradle for navigation purposes.

**It’s illegal in Tasmania to use phone-based maps while driving. You can, however, use a portable navigation device for the same purpose.

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Using a Phone While Driving in Queensland

Driving in Queensland

In Queensland, full licence and P2 licence holders can only use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operation, such as Bluetooth, a headset or earpiece, or with their phone in a cradle affixed to the car. Learner and P1 licence holders and motorcyclists are prohibited from using a mobile phone at all while driving.

Texting, emailing, playing games, and taking photos are all illegal while driving, even if the phone is in a cradle. However, the laws around using a maps app in Queensland are unclear.

Drivers (excluding learners and provisional licence holders) can only touch their phone to pass it to a passenger. Otherwise, the phone cannot be touching any part of the driver’s body unless they’re parked and out of the line of traffic.

If you get caught using your phone while driving in Queensland, you could face a $378 fine and 3 demerit points. Cheryl knows you’re on the road right now and she can wait for you to call her back, damn it.

Queensland information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in NSW

Driving in NSW2

In New South Wales, a driver can’t touch their phone in any way unless the car is parked out of the line of traffic and the engine is turned off. The only exception is if you’re passing the phone to a passenger (though this exception doesn’t apply to learner or P-plate drivers, who can’t use a phone whatsoever while driving).

Full licence holders can only use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to audio using hands-free operation, such as Bluetooth, or with their phone in a cradle attached to the car.

Texting, emailing, playing games, and taking photos and videos are all illegal while driving, even if the phone is in a cradle. Phone-based GPS maps can be used if the phone is mounted in a commercially approved car cradle affixed to the car.

If you use your phone while driving in NSW, you could cop a $330 fine and 4 demerit points. Keep your phone away, even if you’re in a Sydney traffic jam – Words with Friends can wait.

NSW information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in Victoria

Driving in Victoria

In Victoria, it’s illegal for full licence drivers to touch their phone or have their phone touching any part of their body, unless they’re passing it to a passenger or parked and out of the line of traffic. They can only use their phone to make or answer phone calls or listen to audio using hands-free or loudspeaker operation with their phone in a cradle attached to the car.

Phone-based GPS navigation can be used if the phone is mounted in a commercially approved car cradle attached to the car.

Learner and P-plate drivers and motorcyclists can’t use their phone at all while driving.

Using your phone while driving in Victoria? You’re risking a $476 fine and 4 demerit points – the steepest penalty out of all Australian states and territories. Maybe you don’t need to skip that Justin Bieber song you ‘accidentally’ put on your driving playlist after all.

Victoria information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in NT

Driving in NT

In the Northern Territory, it’s illegal to use a mobile phone to text, email, play games, or take photos or videos while driving. Learners, P-platers, and motorcyclists are prohibited from using their mobile phones during driving – they must be parked and out of the line of traffic to do so.

Full licence holders can use their mobile phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operation (e.g. Bluetooth or a headset) or with their phone in a cradle attached to the car. Phone-based GPS navigation can be used if the phone is mounted in a commercially approved car cradle.

Drivers can only touch their phone to pass it to a passenger, and the phone cannot be touching any part of the driver’s body (e.g. resting on the leg) unless they’re parked and out of the line of traffic.

The Northern Territory has the least severe penalty for using a phone while driving. But $250 and 3 demerit points is still a steep price to pay for sending an ‘on my way’ text.

NT information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in SA

Driving in SA

In South Australia, full licence holders can only use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operation, such as Bluetooth, or with their phone in a cradle attached to the car. Learners, P1 licence holders, and motorcyclists can’t use a mobile phone at all while driving, and must be parked and out of the line of traffic to do so.

It’s illegal for any driver to text, email, play games, and take photos while driving. In South Australia, it was previously also illegal to use phone-based maps while driving. However, you can now do so as long as the phone is fixed to your vehicle and you set the destination before you hit the road.

The only time a driver can touch their phone is to pass it to a passenger, and the phone cannot be touching any part of the driver’s body unless they’re parked and out of the line of traffic.

If you use your phone while driving in South Australia, you could end up losing $320 and 3 demerit points. The ‘dogs in tutus’ video your friend sent you is hilarious, yes, but it’s not worth a $320 fine.

SA information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in WA

Driving in WA

In Western Australia, it’s illegal for learners, P-platers, and motorcyclists to use their phone at all while driving. They must be parked and out of the line of traffic to use their phone.

Full licence holders may use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operations, including Bluetooth, a headset, or an earpiece, or with their phone in a cradle affixed to the car. Drivers can only touch their phone to pass it to a passenger, and the phone can’t be touching any part of their body unless they’re parked and out of the line of traffic.

It’s illegal to text, email, play games, and take photos and videos while driving. Phone-based maps can be used if the phone is mounted in a commercially approved car cradle affixed to the car.

Using your phone while driving in Western Australia can land you with a $400 fine and 3 demerit points. Checking Facebook at the traffic lights probably isn’t a great idea.

WA information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in Tasmania

Driving in Tasmania

In Tasmania, texting, emailing, playing games, and taking photos is illegal while driving. Full licence holders can use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operation. This might include Bluetooth, a headset, earpiece, speaker, or having the phone in a cradle affixed to the car. Learner and provisional (P1 and P2) licence holders and motorcyclists can’t use their phone at all while driving, and must be parked and out of the line of traffic to do so.

In Tasmania, it’s also illegal to use phone-based GPS navigation while driving. You’re able to use a portable navigation device attached to the car in a cradle for the same purpose, though.

The only time a driver can touch their phone is to pass it to a passenger, and the phone cannot be touching any part of the driver’s body unless they’re parked and out of the line of traffic.

If you text and drive in Tasmania, you’re going straight to jail. Just kidding. But you could be facing a $300 fine and 3 demerit points. And that’s not what you want, is it?

Tasmania information sourced from:

 

Using a Phone While Driving in ACT

Driving in ACT

In the Australian Capital Territory, it’s illegal for learner and P-plate drivers and motorcyclists to use their phone at all while driving; they must be parked and out of the line of traffic to use it. Full licence holders can only use their phone to make or answer a call or listen to music using hands-free operation, or with their phone in a cradle attached to the car.

Texting, emailing, playing games, and taking photos is illegal while driving, even if the phone is in a cradle. In the ACT, it was previously illegal to use phone-based maps while driving. However, this is now allowed if the phone is fixed to your car and the GPS operates hands-free.

It’s illegal for the driver to touch their phone or have their phone touching them in any way while driving unless they’re passing it to a passenger.

Don’t use your phone while driving in the ACT, unless you want to risk losing $447 and 3-4 demerit points. If you really need to answer Malcolm’s call, pull over and park the car.

ACT information sourced from: