Driving is a complex task and requires the use and coordination of various skills.

Any lapse in concentration increases the risk of the vehicle being involved in a crash. To anticipate and avoid hazards on the road, drivers must give driving their full attention at all times.

Even so, drivers still engage in activities that distract their attention from the driving task. These include using mobile phones, eating, drinking, smoking, conversing with passengers, using audio equipment, and responding to distractions caused by children or other passengers. There are also distractions outside the vehicle such as roadside advertising that take the drivers’ attention away from the task of driving.

Inattention is an issue in both rural and metropolitan areas, for all age ranges and for both males and females. Research shows that distractions can cause:

• drivers to straddle lanes on a multi lane road or veer across the road
• drivers to drive inconsistently, speeding up or slowing down without apparent reason
• difficulty in maintaining appropriate following distances from vehicles in front (e.g. tailgating)
• less awareness of safe gaps in traffic
• slower reaction times and hence heightened crash risk
• impairment of the driver’s judgement.

Research has also found that for younger drivers, having passengers in the vehicle is a distraction and coupled with peer pressure can increase the risk of a crash.

Today there is an increasing number of in-vehicle information, communication and entertainment systems including portable or in car DVD players. Driver distraction is likely to escalate as a road safety issue in the future.

Avoid the temptation of doing other tasks and getting distracted while you are driving. Remember who’s driving the vehicle. Taking your eyes off of the road or diverting your attention even for just a few seconds can be fatal.

FAQ

What’s the difference between inattention and fatigue?

Fatigue is when you are tired and caused by a lack of sleep. Inattention is when you are distracted from the task of driving by other factors such as talking, eating and listening to the radio.

What the Law says

A person must not drive a vehicle without due care or attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons on the road.

The driver of a vehicle (except an emergency vehicle or police vehicle) must not use a mobile phone while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked, unless the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction. This does not apply to a driver using a mobile phone that is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle or is remotely operated by means of a device affixed to the vehicle or worn by the driver in the manner intended by the manufacturer and the phone is not being held by the driver.

Penalties

A person must not drive a vehicle without due care or attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road. The maximum court imposed penalty for driving without due care is $2,500.

In case of an aggravated offence, that is if:

• the offence causes death or serious harm to a person or is committed while the driver is attempting to escape pursuit
• driving while disqualified
• a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more
• is driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or drugs or
• is driving 45km/h or more over the posted speed limit

the driver will be disqualified for a minimum period of 6 months. A period of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months may also apply.

If detected driving while using a hand held mobile phone you will be liable for fine and three demerit points against your licence.