UPDATED VicRoads Laws on Phone, GPS & Other Incar Devices

[Sentinel]

VicRoads has released a new document on the use of incar devices and the penalties for their use.

Basically, you can't use your GPS nor phone unless it's voice activated...

Read here ->http://roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au/14_rule_using_mobile_phones_and_visual_display_units.html

[teK--]

I'd like to see how they enforce it! I have my phone mounted on a generic holder which clips on the RHS air vent in the center console. (So it is just above the window wiper stalk).

If I was usin the GPS and I had to key in an address etc (whilst I was stationary of course at traffic lights etc), it is low enough that you can't see what I'm doing from another car and I may as well be selecting a radio station.

[Ric]

...
Basically, you can use your GPS nor phone unless it's voice activated...
...

I think you meant "CAN'T"

The new law says you can't use GPS software in your phone at all while driving, but you CAN use a standalone GPS device so long as it is secured to the vehicle in a commercial holder.

A driver can use a driver’s aid such as a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

[Sentinel]

Correct Ric (on both counts) - I was being generalistic. Interestingly, I also read somewhere about where the 'commercially designed holders' can now be located (can't find it though).

[mihai]

Visual display units
A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or a visual display unit operating if any part of the screen is visible to the driver or is likely to distract another driver.

A driver can use a driver’s aid such as a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

Just a question about the above quote, most of my mates have double din DVD screens mounted in their car. Now they dont use them to play dvds as they are driving, however the screen is still on and displays radio info and song info and so on. Obviously this will be visible to the driver so will they have to revert back to single din? or have it off unless parked?

[GTB Liberty]

Looks like another highly subjective "law" for the Police to use as and when they please.

[smythie]

Visual display units
A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or a visual display unit operating if any part of the screen is visible to the driver or is likely to distract another driver.

A driver can use a driver’s aid such as a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

Just a question about the above quote, most of my mates have double din DVD screens mounted in their car. Now they dont use them to play dvds as they are driving, however the screen is still on and displays radio info and song info and so on. Obviously this will be visible to the driver so will they have to revert back to single din? or have it off unless parked?

Dunno mate. Take for example the top information screen that the later Satnav equipped libs have (or GTR and others) which display a range of information. Those comply with ADR's.

A Carputer or a device such as an ECU Datascan touch screen or 2DIN Audio devices will probably fall into the highly subjective grey areas GTB Liberty mentions. However, if installed with the Handbrake switch correctly (to stop/prevent any video display with the handbrake down) any 2DIN Audio device should not be non-compliant.

These stupid bloody stupid retrospective regulations shit me to tears.

[Ric]

It sounds like the wording got screwed up somewhere. The whole dashboard is a "visual display unit". I think what they intended to say was "video display unit".

[smythie]

[rant]

2. Can I use my mobile phone as a GPS?

No. Using the GPS function of a mobile phone, even if the phone is in a cradle, is not permitted. This is because a mobile phone can only be used to make and receive a call and all other functions of the phone (including GPS) are prohibited.

What a crock of shite! How is it any different to using a Navman/TomTom/etc?

Only valid reason for that specification is to remove an excuse for you when the porkers pull you up for "using your phone"

4. Where is the safest place to secure my GPS Device?

VicRoads recommends that drivers secure their GPS systems to the right of the steering wheel out of the central field of view. This ensures that the GPS does not obstruct the line of view of the driver.

Yeah because the A pillar doesn't already obstruct your view enough
[/rant]

[teK--]

IMHO it's safer to have GPS/"VDU"s mounted in the center of the windscreen as far forward as practical (whilst still allowing clear view of text). That way you can easily read the display at a glance whilst looking at where the car is going, rather than having to look down and at the RHS corner, then something could be approaching on your far left side and you have NFI!

I have and will continue to use GPS software on my phone; I do not see any point in paying hundreds for an equivalent product which I then have to continually mount/dismount from the windscreen and stash in the car worrying if it's going to get stolen. The wording and scope of the new laws are so ambiguous I wouldn't be surprised that any infringements get challenged.

Common sense prevails and it's another sign that yet again the laws are antiquated and out of touch with reality.

[Ric]

I think the real intent of this is to prevent drivers saying "I wasn't talking on my phone, I was doing XXX", by outlawing all other uses of a phone whilst driving.

[teK--]

One policing issue I hear about is people who are alleged to have been talking on their phones, but the allegation is not adequately investigated. I.e. phone activity logs are not subpoenaed or the driver's offer to show the officer their phone call history is declined.

People have been fined for brushing their hair back to scratching their head etc etc!

[nytrojen]

Whenever i hear about these hard to enforce laws, I always remember this:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAyCq7imUJE


Brilliant!

[Digital]

yeah one time my mate was stopped at the lights and had his elbow resting on the door sill and hand on his ear area sort of supporting his head...

what do u know a cop pulls up at the lights and tells him to wind down his window and proceeds to give him a hard time accusing him that he was on the phone. my friend repeated many times that he was not and his phone was in his gym bag and that they can have a look if they wanted and they just proceeded to give him to look of death and say that he was lying. after all that, they ended up just speeding off.....

back to the topic on hand... does that mean for all ppl with sat navs/dvd that have the 'park brake' feature umm disabled.... accidentally of course.... would get done for this?

[smythie]

possibly. But only if the pedantic porker in question bothered to test your car for it.