Find out: what if you're caught driving while distracted

  • Full-licence holders
  • Penalties for Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) holders
  • ​Penalties for full-licence holders

  1. Full-licence holders

    What is distracted driving?

    • Talking and texting on an electronic device while driving; or
    • Using cellphones and hand-held electronic devices while driving.

    What does "use" mean?

    Use means doing any of the following things with your device:

    • Holding it in way that it can be used; and
    • Operating any function on it.

    Hand-held electronic devices

    You cannot use these, if they have the capability of:

    • talking with telephone function;
    • texting; or
    • emailing.

    *Only full-licence holders can use a hand-held electronic device, if it's set up and used in a hands-free way.

    Amateur radio, CB radio and other simple push-to-talk, two-way radios

    Only full-licence holders can use these while driving ,as long as they are not used:

    • in a telephone function; or
    • are transmitting or receiving email or texts.

    When can you use a hand-held electronic device?

    You can use a hand-held electronic device if your vehicle:

    • is legally and safely parked; and
    • is not in the way of traffic.

  2. Penalties for Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) holders
    • Up to $500 fine
    • 3 demerit points
    • Your days of driving experience earned will be lost
    • You'll have to restart the program

     


  3. ​Penalties for full-licence holders
    • Up to $500 fine
    • 3 demerit points