Wahesh
The Forefather of The Kennel
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https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/po...or-texting-from-saturday-20200130-p53w1o.html
Queensland drivers who use their phones behind the wheel will be hit with a $1000 on-the-spot fine from Saturday.
Drivers caught twice risk losing their licence and facing double demerit points, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.
"Thirty-three lives were lost to distraction last year, 1300 crashes, and we believe that is an under reporting," he said.
"Research shows driving distracted by your mobile phone or anything else is the equivalent of driving with 0.07 to 0.1 blood alcohol in your system.
This is the same risk as driving drunk."
The new fine is more than double the current penalty of $400.
Drivers with their phone in a cradle, or going hands free, will be allowed limited phone use. This includes accepting a call, or, for rideshare drivers, accepting or finishing a trip.
Police will have the discretion to decide whether or not to hand out a fine.
Driving while using a mobile phone held in your hand is illegal—even if you're stopped in traffic. This means you can't:
New snooping cameras, designed to detect phone use on the roads, were expected to be rolled out by the middle of the year.
Mr Bailey was unsure how many cameras would be rolled out as part of the trial, nor where they would be placed, but hoped eventually units would be in place in all major regional areas as well as Brisbane and south-east Queensland.
NSW rolled out trial cameras in December that caught more than 3300 people illegally using their phones in the first week.
RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said a "harsh deterrent" was needed after years of education had failed to stop distracted drivers.
“It’s always been difficult to catch people out on their phones, but these new cameras will
make it very tough for motorists doing the wrong thing to hide," she said.
“Enforcement is critical; tougher penalties will only work if motorists think there is a good
chance they will be caught."
Queensland drivers who use their phones behind the wheel will be hit with a $1000 on-the-spot fine from Saturday.
Drivers caught twice risk losing their licence and facing double demerit points, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.
"Thirty-three lives were lost to distraction last year, 1300 crashes, and we believe that is an under reporting," he said.
"Research shows driving distracted by your mobile phone or anything else is the equivalent of driving with 0.07 to 0.1 blood alcohol in your system.
This is the same risk as driving drunk."
The new fine is more than double the current penalty of $400.
Drivers with their phone in a cradle, or going hands free, will be allowed limited phone use. This includes accepting a call, or, for rideshare drivers, accepting or finishing a trip.
Police will have the discretion to decide whether or not to hand out a fine.
Driving while using a mobile phone held in your hand is illegal—even if you're stopped in traffic. This means you can't:
- hold the phone next to or near your ear with your hand
- write, send or read a text message
- turn your phone on or off
- operate any other function on your phone
New snooping cameras, designed to detect phone use on the roads, were expected to be rolled out by the middle of the year.
Mr Bailey was unsure how many cameras would be rolled out as part of the trial, nor where they would be placed, but hoped eventually units would be in place in all major regional areas as well as Brisbane and south-east Queensland.
NSW rolled out trial cameras in December that caught more than 3300 people illegally using their phones in the first week.
RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said a "harsh deterrent" was needed after years of education had failed to stop distracted drivers.
“It’s always been difficult to catch people out on their phones, but these new cameras will
make it very tough for motorists doing the wrong thing to hide," she said.
“Enforcement is critical; tougher penalties will only work if motorists think there is a good
chance they will be caught."
