You must not use a hand-held mobile phone while your vehicle is moving or is stationary in traffic (for example, at traffic lights). You may, however, use a hand-held mobile phone while your vehicle is parked.
- If a person wishes to make or receive a call, including dialling a number and needs to touch any part of the phone to do so, that phone must be mounted (in a mounting commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose).
- If the phone is being used via blue tooth, a headset or earphones without touching, holding or resting the phone on their body, the driver may touch the earpiece or headphone to operate the phone (the phone may be located anywhere in the vehicle, including the driver's pocket or pouch they are wearing).
- It is an offence to create, send or look at a text, video message or email on a mobile phone.
- It is an offence to make or receive a video call on a mobile phone whilst your vehicle is moving.
- Drivers of police or emergency vehicles are exempt.
This does not apply to a driver's aid, such as vehicle system equipment, dispatch system, ticket issuing machine, navigational system, rear view screen, or closed circuit security camera.
Research has shown that using a mobile phone while driving increases crash risk by at least 4 times. There is no safe level of mobile use while driving.
Using the GPS function on a mobile phone while driving
You can use the GPS function on your mobile phone only if the phone is fixed to the vehicle in a commercially designed and manufactured cradle and you do not touch it while you are driving. You will need to set the GPS location on your mobile phone before starting your journey and, if you need to make any changes while you are driving, you will need to pull over and park before making those changes.
Remember, if you are a learner's permit or provisional (P1) licence holder you are prohibited from using any type of mobile phone function while driving. The mobile phone ban includes:
- using hands-free mode including Bluetooth technology
- loud speaker operation
- GPS
- text messaging.
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The term 'heavy vehicle' applies to the trucks, B-doubles and road trains that transport goods across Australia. It also includes buses, trams, agricultural machinery, livestock transporters, tankers, grain and delivery trucks and other long and possibly slow moving vehicles on our roads. The following provides information on upgrading your licence to a higher class.
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The Heavy Vehicle Driver’s Handbook is an important guide that provides detailed information on what you need to know to operate a heavy vehicle safely in South Australia.
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Speed is a key factor in crashes and road trauma.
Fatigue
Fatigue is often ranked as a major factor in causing road crashes.
Mobile phones
Using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of crashing by at least four times.
Know when to cross the line
A level crossing is where the road crosses a rail or tram line. Risk taking around trains and trams is extremely hazardous.
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Buying a car, whether it's for you or your child, is a big responsibility.
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Before you drive in the country make sure you and your car are prepared.
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Driving at night
Driving at night is dangerous and requires more skills and concentration.
High powered vehicles
Provisional licence holders under the age of 25 must not drive a high powered vehicle.
Driving age
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Drivers are required to give a minimum of 1m when passing a cyclist where the speed limit is 60km/h or less or 1.5m where the speed limit is over 60km/h. Cyclists of all ages can ride on footpaths.
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If you are a visitor to South Australia - welcome! We want you to enjoy your stay, but more importantly we want you to stay safe. Here are tips and rules for driving in South Australia.
The Driver's Handbook
The Driver's Handbook is the road rules handbook for all South Australian drivers, including learner drivers.
Mobile phones
Using a mobile phone while driving impairs your driving performance through distraction and increases the risk of crashing by at least four times. The most common types of crashes associated with mobile usage are 'run-off-the-road' crashes and 'rear end' crashes.
Using a mobile phone while driving significantly impairs your:
- reaction time
- visual search patterns
- ability to maintain speed and position on the road
- ability to judge safe gaps in the traffic
- general awareness of other road users.
If you need to use your mobile phone, stop and park safely where you will not endanger yourself and other road users.
Research shows that young drivers can be easily distracted and may experience difficulty in balancing the many demands on their driving - from perceptual, mental and physical tasks. Using a mobile phone while driving, even if you're just looking at a message, increases your risk of a crash by up to four times.
Avoid the temptation to multi-task when you drive. Don't look at your phone or talk to anyone.
Heads up!
Learner's Permit and P1 Provisional drivers are banned from using any type of mobile phone function while driving. The mobile phone ban includes:
- using hands-free mode including Bluetooth technology
- loudspeaker operation
- GPS
- text messaging.
The dangers of using a mobile phone while driving
Using a mobile phone while driving leads to riskier decision making and distracts you in many ways:
- Physical distraction of handling the phone while driving.
- Visual distraction in having to take your eyes off the road.
- Cognitive distraction like having a conversation and driving at the same time.
Riskier decision making | Deciding when it is safe to turn in traffic is a complex task. Using a mobile phone while driving affects judgment and concentration and you may fail to choose a safe gap. When making a decision to turn across oncoming traffic, you also tend not to consider the environmental conditions such as, when it is raining or the roads are slippery. If you don't make safe turns you could crash. |
Slower reactions | You generally react slower when using a mobile phone, particularly when you're deep in conversation. You may take longer to respond to traffic signals or completely miss them. |
Slower and less controlled braking | During a mobile phone call your brake reaction time is slower, and you brake with more force and less control which results in shorter stopping distances available between yourself and the car in front. |
Wandering out of your lane | You're more likely to wander out of your lane when you're using a mobile phone, even on a straight road with little traffic. |
Not being alert to your surroundings | When using a mobile phone, you tend to spend less time checking your mirrors and what's going on around you. This affects your ability to monitor and negotiate traffic safely. |
Heads up!
Safe driving tips for using a mobile phone:
- Never read or send text messages while driving. It is obvious your eyes are not on the road!
- Use voicemail instead of answering your phone while driving.
- Pull over safely and park to make or receive a call.
- Plan breaks in your trip for phone calls.
- Tell your family and friends not to call when you know you'll be driving.
- Never look up phone numbers while driving.
YouTube link - Mobile phone distractions
What the law says
In South Australia, Rule 300 (Use of Mobile Phones) under the Australian Road Rules details what is and isn't legally acceptable use of a mobile phone while driving.
Rule 300 states that:
- If a person wishes to make or receive a call, including dialing a number, and needs to touch any part of the phone to do so, that phone must be mounted (in a mounting commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose).
- If the phone is being used via blue tooth, a headset or earphones without touching, holding or resting the phone on their body, the phone may be located anywhere in the vehicle, including in the driver's pocket or pouch they are wearing (the driver may touch the earpiece or headphone to operate the phone).
- This does not affect the driver's freedom to hold the phone to make or receive calls, or use any other function of the phone, if the car is parked (but not stationary in a traffic queue or at lights).
- It is an offence to create, send or look at a text, video message or email on a mobile phone.
This rule does not apply to learner's permit and P1 licence holders. These drivers are not allowed to use any type of mobile phone function of any kind while driving.