National Legal Hotline

7am to midnight, 7 days

Call our lawyers now or,
have our lawyers call you

Call me now Call me later

Traffic Law Victoria Offences Using a Mobile Phone While Driving in Victoria

Using a Mobile Phone While Driving in Victoria

Updated on Jan 17, 2023 • 4 min read • 920 views • Copy Link

Michelle Makela

Published in Dec 11, 2015 • Updated on Jan 17, 2023 • 4 min read • 920 views

Using a Mobile Phone While Driving in Victoria

Under the Road Safety Act 1986, the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009, and the Road Safety Road Rules 2009, the use of mobile phones or other devices such as smartwatches while driving or riding in Victoria is very restricted and significant penalties apply.

Using a mobile phone while driving has been found to be the cause of multiple accidents – many fatal. If you look away from the road for even two seconds, your crash risk doubles. The aim of the law is to prevent road accidents and particularly fatalities.

Learner and provisional licence holders

If you hold a learner licence or a P1 or P2 provisional licence in Victoria, you must not use a device such as a mobile phone for any purpose while you are driving. This means you cannot even use a hands-free system. You are also considered to be driving if you are stationary but not parked in an authorised space, such as if you are stopped at traffic lights.

If you are caught using a device while driving, you will receive a fine and four demerit points. Once you accrue five demerit points, you will most likely have your licence suspended.

Open car licence holders

For the holder of an open or full driver’s licence, using a mobile phone while driving in Victoria is generally prohibited, with only a few exceptions.

If you hold an open or full driver’s licence in Victoria, you are permitted to use your phone to make or receive a phone call or to use audio or music function, but only if it is:

held securely in a commercially designed cradle fixed to your car, or
can be operated without touching any part of the phone.

The driver must not hold the phone, and the phone must not rest on any part of the driver’s body.

You may use your phone as a navigational device only if it is held securely in a commercially designed cradle fixed to your vehicle.

You must not make video calls, text or email while driving, even if stationary, unless you are parked in an authorised parking area.

Motorcycle riders

If you hold an open motorcycle licence, your use of a mobile phone or other device is generally the same as for an open car licence holder.

However, if you have held your licence for less than three years, you must not use a mobile phone or other device for any function while you are riding, including when your motorcycle is stationary unless it is parked in an authorised space.

Smartwatches

Drivers who have a smartwatch, whether it is being worn or not, are held to similar standards as drivers with mobile phones.

If you are driving while wearing your watch, you must not use it for making or receiving telephone calls, sending or receiving text messages, navigation, video messaging, emailing, or accessing social media.

If you have an open driver’s licence, you may use your smartwatch:

for playing music
for making or receiving phone calls, or
as a driver’s aid such as a navigational device,

but you must not:

be wearing the watch at the time, or
touch anything on the watch

or you must:

have it secured in a commercially designed cradle attached to the vehicle.

Penalties

The maximum penalty for using a mobile phone or device while driving a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle or wheeled recreational device is a fine of 10 penalty units, with the usual penalty being $545, as well as the accrual of demerit points (Regulation 300, Road Safety Road Rules 2017).

Drivers may have their licence suspended if they accrue:

for open or full licence-holders, 12 demerit points in a three-year period, or
for learner, P1 or P2 provisional licence-holders, five demerit points in a 12-month period or 12 points in a three-year period.

If you require legal assistance, please telephone 1300 636 846 or request a consultation at www.gotocourt.com.au.

Published in

Dec 11, 2015

Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

Michelle Makela is a Legal Practice Director at Go To Court Lawyers. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Criminology. She was admitted to practice in 2006. Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning.

Home Traffic Law Victoria Offences Using a Mobile Phone While Driving in Victoria

Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

Topics

Offences

Affordable Lawyers

Our Go To Court Lawyers will assist you in all areas of law. We specialise in providing legal advice urgently – at the time when you need it most. If you need a lawyer right now, today, we can help you – no matter where you are in Australia.

How It Works

1. You speak directly to a lawyer

When you call the Go To Court Legal Hotline, you will be connected directly to a lawyer, every time.

2. Get your legal situation assessed

We determine the best way forward in your legal matter, free of charge. If you want to go ahead and book a face-to-face appointment, we will connect you with a specialist in your local area.

3. We arrange everything as needed

If you want to go ahead and book a fact-to-face appointment, we will connect you with a specialist in your local area no matter where you are and even at very short notice.

7am to midnight, 7 days

Call our lawyers now or, have our lawyers call you

1300 636 846