Tougher new distracted driving laws imminent

Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drink driving and taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds while driving doubles your chances of being involved in an accident.

That’s according to research presented by the Australian Road Research Board on behalf of the National Transport Commission, which has presented a range of new driver distraction laws for ministerial approval next year.

NTC chief executive Gillian Miles said that new technology-related distractions, outdated rules and a general lack of understanding from road users present significant challenges.

“Drivers engage in non-driving activities every 96 seconds while behind the wheel,” he said. “Distractions take our concentration off the road which means we may not have time to react to hazards,” he says.

Those distractions, which are a factor in more than 16 per cent of serious crashes on Australian roads, include a range of activities such as the use of mobile phones, smart watches and navigation devices, or eating, applying make-up and handwriting.

Impairment from using a mobile phone while driving is said to be as profound as that associated with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent.

The ARRB says a significant number of Australian drivers continue to engage in distracting activities prohibited by road legislation despite knowing it could increase their chances of crashing.

It said 79 per cent of drivers agree that talking on a mobile phone while driving increases their collision risk, and that 21 per cent admitted that they use their mobile for non-driving activities like texting, taking photos, surfing the internet or using other apps.

Meanwhile, a report released by insurance company Budget Direct, shows that while 80 per cent of millennials perceive themselves as good drivers, 45 per cent admit to taking part in illegal activities behind the wheel at least once in the past week.

Alarmingly, the study found that 61 per cent of millennials aged 18-34 regularly use their vehicle’s vanity mirrors to check themselves out while driving, with Sean McBride from Budget Direct saying drivers must not give in to temptation.

“It’s tempting to try and use our time in the car as an opportunity to get a few things done such as updating social media pages, responding to text messages, or even eating; this can affect your concentration on the road, putting yourself and other drivers at risk,” he said.

However, according to the NTC, there is still confusion as to what kind of behaviour and devices are legal and illegal while driving which could be part of the problem.

A recently debated topic has been eating behind the wheel -- a task deemed just as distracting as texting while driving.

While eating and driving is an activity most of us can admit to doing at least once, it’s something police are starting to crack down on with fines of around $387 for Victorians.

If you’re in NSW and thought to be without “proper control of the vehicle” by, say, having a cheeseburger in your hands while using your knees to steer, it’ll cost you $448.

The National Transport Commission is now seeking feedback on the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) it released on June 27, which aims to develop technology-neutral road rules around driver distraction.

The RIS covers a range of existing and proposed driver distraction laws, and a ‘hybrid’ option, covering the operation of various functions of hand-held, fixed or inbuilt devices via touch, voice and other means.

It can be viewed here and the consultation period ends on August 21. The NTC will deliver its recommendations to transport ministers for consideration in May 2020.