Young drivers face mobile phone ban

The National Road Safety Council submission to a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into driver distraction suggests banning even hands-free devices for novice drivers.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner for road policing Robert Hill has been reported to consider the measure as realistic. 

The state’s road toll is sitting at 175.

Yesterday, a Victoria Police spokesperson told The Courier any initiative that would make the road safer would be welcome.

“We are happy with any measure that would lower the toll and reduce road trauma,” she said. 

Ballarat driving instructor John Malpass said banning the use of mobile phones for drivers younger than 26 would make the roads safer. 

“I think up until kids get a full licence they shouldn’t have any mobile phone device in the car,” Mr Malpass said. 

Mr Malpass, who teaches the VicRoads developed training program through Lead-On Ballarat and also runs a driving school, said he saw people of all ages using mobile phones on the road. 

However, he said everyone would be a bit safer if there were no mobile phones allowed in cars.

“I think ideally everyone would be better off to just fully concentrate on driving rather than concentrating on their phones,” Mr Malpass said.

“I live on the road and I see it every day; people are still using their mobile phones (not just hands-free) to talk while driving.”

Student Sasha Wallace said it was the under-26-year-olds that were most in danger of misusing their phones while driving. 

“The under-26-year-olds are a lot more used to technology, especially using Facebook on phones,” Ms Wallace said.

“Some of my friends used to text while waiting at the lights.”

Ms Wallace said though she had never used mobile phones while driving, she had seen many people at her university make the mistake.

“I know of a few who have had some near-misses,” she said. 

neelima.choahan@thecourier.com.au