ExplorOz on IPad on car dash

I have heard this muttered before but If that is true the same would apply to a smart phone as they are also capable of providing these services

If you are using it as a driver aid, it is OK. If you are going to watch a movie, it is not.

Same applies for LCD screens used for rear vision camera, they are a drivers aid so OK.

I just installed a 10.1" Android head unit to replace the dead Clarion unit. It will play video if I was stupid enough to use it for that but I use it only for music, navigations, rear view etc drivers aids.

My BIL who lives in Victoria say it is illegal in that state to have ANYTHING hanging off the windscreen withing the swept are of the wipers. Whether true or not I don't know, but if it is it would be a great revenue stream for VicPol.

It IS illegal for a driver to view videos etc while driving but I'm pretty sure it's NOT illegal to have a properly fixed nav device available to the driver - although there are still limitations on its placement AND use while driving , as you would expect and common sense would dictate.

Here is a couple of State advisories I found quickly which verify the above:

Vic

NSW

The Vic link has more detail about fitting and placement of nav-aid devices.

You can use your ATTACHED/INBUILT display for navigation but cannot (dis)play videos or anything which may distract the driver. Fine line - obviously navigation can distract - but authorities expect common sense and have allowed some leeway for driving aids.

If someone could link the actual LAWS it might help anyone charged by an officious law enforcer.

Here's some more advice from the internet, but short of paying for ones own legal opinion, probably the best one can get:
Sydney Criminal Lawyers: Driving While Using iPads, iPods, TVs, CBs, Sat Navs and Phones in NSW: What Does the Law Say?.

Read the legislation to get the facts :

Ken


NSW Legislation - Road Rules
Current version for 10 December 2021 to date (accessed 18 July 2022 at 11:31)


299 Television receivers and visual display units in vehicles
(1) A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or visual display unit in or on the
vehicle operating while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked, if any part of the
image on the screen—
(a) is visible to the driver from the normal driving position, or
(b) is likely to distract another driver.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
Note. Park is defined in the Dictionary, and vehicle is defined in rule 15.

(2) This rule does not apply to the driver if—
(a) the driver is driving a bus and the visual display unit is, or displays, a destination sign or
other bus sign, or
(aa) * * * * *
(b) the visual display unit is used as a driver’s aid and either—
(i) is an integrated part of the vehicle design, or
(ii) is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle while being used, or
(ba) the visual display unit is a mobile data terminal fitted to a police vehicle or an emergency
vehicle, or
(c) the driver or vehicle is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.
Examples of driver’s aids.
1 Closed-circuit television security cameras.
2 Dispatch systems.
3 Navigational or intelligent highway and vehicle system equipment.
4 Rearview screens.
5 Ticket-issuing machines.
6 Vehicle monitoring devices.
Note 1. Bus, emergency vehicle and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.
Note 2. Rule 299(2)(aa) of the Australian Road Rules has not been reproduced in these Rules. The
paragraph has been left blank in order to preserve uniformity of numbering with the Australian Road Rules.
Note 3. Subrule (2)(b) is not uniform with the corresponding paragraph in rule 299 of the Australian Road
Rules. Different rules may apply in other Australian jurisdictions.
(3) For the purposes of subrule (2)(b)(ii), a visual display unit is secured in a mounting affixed to the
vehicle only if—
(a) the mounting is commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose, and
(b) the unit is secured in the mounting, and the mounting is affixed to the vehicle, in the manner
intended by the manufacturer.
300 Use of mobile phones
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not use a mobile phone while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary
but not parked, unless—
(a) the phone is being used to make or receive an audio phone call or to perform an audio
playing function and the body of the phone—
(i) is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle while being so used, or

(ii) is not secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle and 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 thing on the body of the phone or to otherwise manipulate any part of the body of
the phone, or
(b) the phone is functioning as a visual display unit that is being used as a driver’s aid and the
phone is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle, or
(c) the vehicle is an emergency vehicle or a police vehicle, or
(d) the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
Examples of driver’s aids.
1 Closed-circuit television security cameras.
2 Dispatch systems.
3 Navigational or intelligent highway and vehicle system equipment.
4 Rearview screens.
5 Ticket-issuing machines.
6 Vehicle monitoring devices.
Note 1. Emergency vehicle, park and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.
Note 2. Subrule (1) is not uniform with the corresponding subrule in rule 300 of the Australian Road Rules.
Different rules may apply in other Australian jurisdictions.
(1–1) Subrule (1) does not apply if—
(a) the vehicle is stationary in a road related area, and
(b) the phone—
(i) is functioning as a payment device to enable the driver to pay for goods or services that
are required to be paid for in the road related area, or
(ii) is being used to display an electronic coupon, voucher, card or similar article that
requires the body of the phone to be held in close proximity to another device located
in the road related area in order for the article to be used or redeemed, or
(iii) is being used as an electronic device that enables the driver to enter another road
related area or land adjacent to the road related area.
Note. This subrule is an additional NSW subrule. There is no corresponding subrule in rule 300 of the
Australian Road Rules.
(2) For the purposes of this rule, a mobile phone is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle only
if—
(a) the mounting is commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose, and
Road Rules 2014 [NSW]

(b) the mobile phone is secured in the mounting, and the mounting is affixed to the vehicle, in
the manner intended by the manufacturer.
(3) For the purposes of this rule, a driver does not use a phone to receive a text message, video
message, email or similar communication if—
(a) the communication is received automatically by the phone, and
(b) on and after receipt, the communication itself (rather than any indication that the
communication has been received) does not become automatically visible on the screen of
the phone.
(3–1) This rule does not apply to the driver of a vehicle who is the holder of a learner licence or a
provisional P1 or P2 licence.
Note 1. Provisional P1 licence and provisional P2 licence are defined in the Dictionary and learner
licence is defined in the Act.
Note 2. Rule 300–1 provides for the use of mobile phones by drivers who are holders of learner licences or
provisional P1 or P2 licences.
Note 3. This subrule is an additional NSW subrule. There is no corresponding subrule in rule 300 of the
Australian Road Rules.
(4) In this rule—
affixed to, in relation to a vehicle, includes forming part of the vehicle.
audio phone call does not include an email, text message, video call, video message or other
similar communication.
body, in relation to a mobile phone, means the part of the phone that contains the majority of the
phone’s mechanisms.
held includes held by, or resting on, any part of the driver’s body, but does not include held in a
pocket of the driver’s clothing or in a pouch worn by the driver.
mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio.
use, in relation to a mobile phone, includes any of the following actions by a driver—
(a) holding the body of the phone in her or his hand (whether or not engaged in a phone call),
except while in the process of giving the body of the phone to a passenger in the vehicle,
(b) entering or placing, other than by the use of voice, anything into the phone, or sending or
looking at anything that is in the phone,
(c) turning the phone on or off,
(d) operating any other function of the phone.

Thanks everyone for your comments, I'm looking at other options.
My local car radio place said that you can fit an aftermarket Head Unit that will except a HDMI input from an iPad (with Apple connecter) and show whatever is on the iPad screen, basically using it as a screen.
So you could put the iPad down by the seat or glove box and watch what its doing on the aftermarket Head Unit, yes you wouldn't be able to adjust ExplorOz app on the head unit, but most of the time it's set and forget.

This from the outside would look like a Navigation app on CarPlay etc..

Hi John H90,

Another “Facebook myth” that get repeated every so often. The legislation in all states and territories is the same. If being sued as a “drivers aid”, it is quite legal. Same as reversing cameras and cameras that replace some side mirrors on some of the latest trucks.

Macca.