Drivers ignore law on mobiles and cars

Talking on the phone and driving: costly in more ways than one.
Photo: Craig Abraham

TEST TEST TEST The number of Victorians ignoring laws about using mobile phones while driving has increased dramatically during the first half of this year.

Victoria Police figures reveal that 14,884 offences involving mobile phones were recorded in the six months to June 30, compared with 21,748 during the whole of last year.

Police handed out penalties totalling $2.09 million ($141 per driver) and more than 44,000 demerit points (three points per driver) during the six-month period.

If the number of offences involving mobile phones continues at the same rate for the remainder of the year, they could reach the 2002 figure of 30,154, when illegal mobile phone use peaked.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner (Traffic) Bob Hastings said recent deaths involving mobile phone use did not appear to have shocked drivers into changing their behaviour.

“We’ve had some significant cases in the past two years where people have been convicted of culpable driving while texting,” he said.

“So people are clearly aware of the dangers but it does not seem to be making a difference.

“If we have to get tougher in terms of enforcement and punishment, then that is what we will do.

“The world changes, technology changes and sometimes the law can’t keep up with technology.

“We’ve got a whole plethora of devices now going into cars, such as DVD players, GPS (global positioning systems), we need to have a look at what are these actually doing.

“There has to be a debate about phones - about whether we have them at all in vehicles.”

The penalty of three demerit points was introduced in Victoria in 2002, and the fine increased from $135 in 2003 to $141 last year.

In NSW the offence attracts three demerit points and a $225 fine.

The RACV’s acting general manager of public policy, Michael Case, said a sustained, continuing education campaign, rather than harsher punishment, was needed.

Sydney University research, published this month in the British Medical Journal, found the risk of crashing a car quadrupled while using a mobile phone.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, which represents mobile phone companies, said drivers must understand that their first responsibility was to drive safely.

The association, in conjunction with a national motoring organisation, was planning a public education campaign about safe phone use in cars, spokesman Randal Markey said.

The association was also keen to discuss learner drivers’ education with state road authorities, Mr Markey said.

Nokia spokeswoman Louise Ingram said the company distributed tips on safe use of phones to retailers and was committed to education on the issue.

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Mobile phone laws change

Posted Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:28am AEDT

New laws on using a mobile phone while driving come into force in South Australia tomorrow. (ABC News: Mark Smith)

• Map: Adelaide 5000

New laws on using a mobile phone while driving come into force in South Australia tomorrow.

Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo says motorists will face a fine for the inappropriate use of mobile phones.

She says anyone caught will be fined $202 and receive three demerit points if the phone is not mounted or connected to a hands-free device.

“The amendments to Australian Road Rule 300 spell out that unless you are able to remotely use your phone for example via Bluetooth or is mounted in a proper device where you can safely make or receive a call without holding the phone itself, then a mobile phone should not be used in a car,” she said.

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Reporter: Sabra Lane

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Elisha Gray has learned the hard way the value of installing reversing cameras in cars.

The Brisbane mother backed over her two-year-old daughter Shakaya in the driveway of her sister’s home last month.

“I was scared, I thought I killed her,” Mrs Gray said of the horrifying moment that, according to NRMA Insurance, is all too common.

NRMA Insurance says there is a driveway accident involving a child every week in Australia.

Driveway accidents account for more than a third of pedestrian deaths of children under six.

NRMA Insurance used Mrs Gray’s story to urge car owners and manufacturers to install reversing cameras in new cars.

The NRMA Insurance 2006 Reversing Visibility Index found only two vehicles - the Lexus GS430 and the Ford Territory - achieved five star safety ratings out of 270 vehicles tested.

NRMA Insurance Queensland manager Brett Robinson said both the Lexus GS430 and the Ford Territory had enhanced reversing cameras where the rim of the bumper can be easily seen by the driver.

Mr Robinson said it was encouraging that Lexus, Mitsubishi, Toyota, BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Volvo and Jeep all installed reversing cameras in a number of their vehicles.

But he said the cameras were mostly being installed in luxury or four-wheel drive vehicles.

“Over 50 per cent of sedans rated one or less (stars out of five) and less than 25 per cent of four-wheel drives rated one or less as well,” Mr Robinson said.

Mrs Gray said she would now install a reversing camera in her family Holden Commodore station wagon after last month’s accident.

She was reversing out of her sister’s driveway unaware that Shakaya, her second youngest of five children, had freed herself from the vehicle while Mrs Gray chatted with her sister.

Mrs Gray only knew her daughter was missing when she heard a thump and a cry. Shakaya’s abdomen was pinched under the car.

“My sister hadn’t seen her behind the car, I hadn’t seen her behind the car, I reversed and heard a thud and a cry, my sister ran over and told me to move my car forward.”

Shakaya was taken to hospital for x-ray and ultrasound tests, but was not seriously injured.

Mrs Gray believes the mandatory installation of reversing cameras would help decrease driveway accidents.

“A child is worth more than $500,” she said.

Mr Robinson said it was a mistake to assume that only four-wheel drives caused driveway accidents.

He said motorists didn’t have to buy a new car to access a reversing camera as they could be fitted to older vehicles.

A Mazda sedan went from a one star rating to a four-and-a-half star rating with the addition of a retro-fitted camera, costing between $550 and $700, Mr Robinson said.

Former Wallabies rugby union captain Phil Kearns accidentally ran over his baby daughter Andie in the driveway of his Sydney home last year.

She fortunately recovered from her injuries.

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