It took decades for the government to implement the laws that resulted in drink driving retreating to the levels that exist today. We went from .08 to .05 and then random breath testing was the measure that enforced conformity. We can be pulled over and tested - anywhere and at any time, and now that test will look for drugs as well as alcohol.
The risk assessors claim using a mobile phone while driving increases the crash risk to a similar level of a drunk driver. Most people agree that the risk increases but we find the mobile phone such an insidious device that we continue to used it while driving. Now a detection measure is coming into play that may be as affective as those RBT laws.
From today, about ten fixed and mobile cameras will be turned on across the state and these will quickly escalate in number to 45. They have the ability to discern the driver passing below and if they have a mobile camera in their hand or on their body they will incur a $344 fine - raised to $457 in school times - and a loss of demerit points.
That demit point loss has been set high to drive the message home. Each offence will see a ten point loss, doubled in holiday periods when accident risk increases. Those cameras enable both the car registration plate and the driver to be recognised, and both the fine and the point loss will be swiftly implemented.
The placement of two cameras in Sydney delivered a three month test during which those detected using a mobile phone received a warning letter in the mail. During that trial it was made clear that having the phone in your lap with the speaker option mobilised is unlawful and will result in the fine and points loss. The law requires the driver to devote their full attention to safely driving the car.
It seems inevitable that a lot of people are going to find themselves unlicensed because of this phone use penalty. Driving without a valid license is a criminal offence and when license loss is entered into the police computers the patrol cars have the ability to read license plates in the car stream. Expect cars registered in the name of a person whose license is cancelled because of points loss to be pulled over to check who is driving that car.
When RBT launched a massive check to detect drivers with alcohol in their system it took a long time to change old habits. When that phone on the seat beside them rings, it will be an automatic urge to pick it up and answer. The wise will learn to switch their phone off whenever they get in the car so that temptation is removed. There will be no warning signs as to where these cameras are located - and mobile cameras can be sited anywhere.
From today those cameras are active and the public are warned that using a mobile phone in any way while driving will cost then money and put their driving license at risk. This is a serious strategy to reduce the road toll and it will be ongoing. Where holding down a job is dependent on having a valid driving license the temptation to use the phone can deliver calamity.
The risk factor of continuing to use a mobile phone while driving just rose to an unacceptable level !
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