This Fact sheet provides an overview of Australian Laws Governing  Mobile Phones Use in Vehicle. Organisations should always double check the laws where they operate to ensure they are operating within them.

The Fact Sheet is current as at 2016.

The road rules for mobile phone use are not the same in every Australian State and Territory so drivers should always make themselves aware of the rules related to mobile phone use in the jurisdiction in which they are driving.

The Australian road rules 2012 (ARR) is maintained by the National Transport Commission (NTC) with Rule 300 focused specifically on mobile phones.

Key elements of the Australian Laws Governing  Mobile Phones Use in Vehicle include:

  • A driver may only use the phone to make or receive a phone call (other than a text message, video message, email or similar communication which is not allowed) if the body of the phone is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle while being so used.
  • The other way the driver is allowed to use the phone is if it is not being held by the driver, and the use of the phone does not require the driver, at any time while using it, to press any part of the phone.
  • Exemptions to this rule are emergency vehicles, police vehicles or the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.
  • Phone calls are to be audio phone calls only and not any other form of calls, more specifically video calls (Cited in 2015 Amendment)