New Road rules threaten Phone GPS

I can just see the cops pulling drivers up to see if it's an iPhone or other nav device on their dashboard!
"That's ok, sir, it's not an iPhone, you can go...."

The article only mentions non-mounted phones, ie you are holding the phone when in use. So if you have a car cradle thingy then you're fine.

If you read the full article it explains that if you have a cradle and the sat nav is totally voice activated then it is legal to use the iPhone with sat nav apps.
Phew!

MM

These are words in article

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Victoria will roll out the new rules, which will limit drivers' use of mobile phones and satellite navigation devices, on November 9.
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Gov Departments need to flow with the times while technology grows by the second ,GPS devices will be every where in everything

IT took a cave man 1 million years to think about tying a rock to a stick to make a axe , look how far we came in 100 years

we all need to move with the times

Its a badly written article designed to wind up people.
Its seems that the relevant govt depts and other intersted parties are still negotiating and the states are not compelled to adopt the new laws.

Newspaper slow day.

This was published on 25th August Click here for Article by Gizmodo
This is law in NSW right now.

As far as GPS units, this was raised back in July Clicjk here for NRMA Motoring Blog
It is not illegal to use a GPS (not a mobile phone with GPS capabilities) in NSW.

I suspect that the reference to "and satellite navigation devices" is a mistake, that would kill off Hire cars ,(mostly registered in Victoria) Trucks and tourism by driving visitors form other states.

Some good points raised:
Many SatNav units do bluetooth to mobiles, = SatNav primary role is Navigation not telephony.
iPhone used as music players = A phone will only be allowed to be used for its primary purpose.

Yes it is going to be hard to police. If the Police come up behind you and the phone is mounted in the cradle and the screen is lit, you may get pulled over. If the phone is capable of being a GPS, you may get done.

You could claim that you were on a hands free call or received a text, but that is easy to check by call record on your phone or by carrier.

Tough times

I agree with Ross M. What a rubbish article.

SMH states :

"it would be illegal for drivers to navigate using a mobile that doubles as a satellite navigation device."

but much later, when the reader has probably headed off to a forum or two, or the pub to sell their PDA, it says :

"Drivers will only be able to use mobile phones if they are placed in purpose-made cradles and operation is entirely hands-free."

The second statement makes the first untrue, or at best seriously misleading through omission of relevant and important facts.

But its generating the interest they want by our very writing about it and hitting on the article !

Note that (I think) in SA there is a rule - or proposed new rule - that Learners and P1 drivers are not allowed to use any function of a mobile phone under any circumstances (even if in cradle and hands free) while driving (ie not parked).

here is a link - no guarantee to the accuracy:
L and P1 drivers and mobile phones

IMO, this would have to also prevent the use of a GPS navigation function on a mobile phone since it does not expressly permit it.

ps: this is the current status in SA for full licensed drivers:

Transport SA faq on mobile phones

Ken