In the age of constant connectivity, Australians are finding it increasingly difficult to disconnect – even when they’re behind the wheel. While mobile phone use while driving is a nationwide problem, one state stands out as having the highest percentage of distracted drivers. Recent surveys and enforcement data point to New South Wales having the highest rate of drivers using mobile phones while driving, with enforcement cameras catching thousands in the act and drivers self-reporting higher confidence in their ability to use phones safely compared to other states.
The Alarming Statistics
Australia-wide, approximately 18% of drivers admit to using their mobile phones while driving, according to a Finder survey. However, this figure varies significantly from state to state. According to a comprehensive Budget Direct survey, New South Wales drivers were the most likely to say they felt confident driving while using their mobile phones compared to drivers in any other state or territory.
This confidence translates to action on the roads. NSW has recorded 202 casualty crashes involving a driver or rider using a handheld mobile phone from 2012 to 2020, resulting in 18 deaths and 271 injuries. During this period, there were 191 casualties between 2012-2019 involving drivers using handheld mobile phones.
Queensland follows close behind, with government data showing that on average, 29 people are killed and 1,284 are seriously injured each year in crashes where driver distraction played a part. The state government reports that a staggering 69% of Queensland drivers admit to using a mobile phone illegally on 10% or more of their trips.
Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission conducted a survey of 2,492 Victorians which revealed that 52% of people admitted to using a mobile phone while driving. Another survey of 1,472 Victorian drivers between ages 18 to 60 found that about one-third said they used devices illegally while driving.
Western Australia has also seen significant numbers, with distraction-related car accidents causing 524 deaths or serious injuries between 2016 and 2020.
Age Demographics: The Digital Generation Gap
Across all states, younger drivers are significantly more likely to use their phones while driving. Research shows that 29.4% of Australian drivers aged 28 to 37 reported feeling confident using their phones while driving, well above the national average.
Even more concerning, just over 22% of drivers aged 18-27 surveyed felt comfortable driving while using their phone. By contrast, respondents aged 58 to 75 were the least confident age group to use their phones while driving.
The 18 to 24 and 25 to 39 age groups reported the highest use of their mobile phones behind the wheel in Australia, with a staggering 94% and 91% respectively reporting phone use while driving.
The Deadly Consequences
The consequences of this distracted driving epidemic are severe. Using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of crashing by at least 4 times, with some studies suggesting the risk could be even higher. The Transport Accident Commission warns that drivers who use their phone while driving are 10 times more likely to crash.
Taking your eyes off the road for more than 2 seconds doubles your risk of crashing, and many phone-related activities require much longer periods of attention. Research comparing the impairment of phone use to intoxication found that distracted drivers showed similar delayed response times to drunk drivers. As one Queensland government campaign bluntly puts it: “If you use your phone illegally while driving, you’re just as dangerous as a drink driver.”
State-by-State Penalties: The Enforcement Gap
Each state has implemented different penalties to combat mobile phone use while driving, which may partly explain the variances in compliance:
New South Wales has some of the strictest penalties, with drivers receiving 5 demerit points for illegal mobile phone use and a fine of $410, or $544 if detected in a school zone. During double demerit periods, this increases to 10 demerit points.
Queensland has the largest monetary fine at $1,209 plus 4 demerit points for illegal use of a mobile phone while driving. Double demerit points apply for second or subsequent mobile phone offences committed within 1 year after an earlier offence.
Victoria recently increased the penalties for using a mobile device while driving to a $577 fine and 4 demerit points.
Western Australia has a tiered system, with a $500 fine and 3 demerit points for touching or holding a mobile phone to make a call, but this increases to $1,000 and 4 demerit points for texting, email, social media, photos or videos.
South Australia imposes a $544 fine and three demerit points for illegal phone use while driving.
Northern Territory applies a $500 fine and 3 demerit points for using a mobile phone while driving.
Tasmania issues a $390 fine and 3 demerit points for phone use while driving.
Australian Capital Territory has two separate offenses – $447 for talking and $548 for texting, with 3 and 4 demerit points respectively.
Enforcement Technologies: The Camera Revolution
Mobile phone detection cameras are being deployed across Australia to catch drivers in the act. NSW pioneered this technology in December 2019, with what the state government declared a ‘world-first’ camera system.
Queensland followed, with cameras catching more than 170,000 illegal phone users in the first year of operation (until December 2022). Of those, almost 120,000 were using a phone illegally while driving.
Victoria began its full-scale camera rollout in July 2023 after a three-month trial period. In just the first month of operation across 200 sites, there were more than 6,000 offences logged.
South Australia added mobile phone detection cameras at the end of 2023, with data suggesting approximately 2.5% of drivers use a phone illegally.
The ACT has also implemented camera systems, with 39,000 instances of illegal phone use detected between February and November 2023.
These cameras use artificial intelligence to automatically review images and detect potential offending drivers. Images that are likely to contain a mobile phone offence are then verified by trained personnel before fines are issued.
Legal Loopholes and Confusion
Despite clear laws prohibiting handheld phone use while driving in all states, there remains considerable confusion about what is and isn’t allowed:
- In some states, drivers can use their phones for payments in drive-throughs, while in others they cannot
- The rules vary for when a car is stationary but not parked (such as at traffic lights)
- Different rules apply for learner, provisional, and full license holders
- Some states allow touching a phone in a cradle, while others do not
- South Australia has the strictest laws, with drivers only permitted to answer phone calls via hands-free and not even allowed to use their device as a GPS
Breaking the Habit: What’s Working?
Surveys indicate that the majority of Australian drivers believe that introducing tougher penalties would be the most effective deterrent for people texting and driving. In the three years to 2023, the percentage of respondents who said a fine exceeding $1,000 would stop them from texting and driving more than doubled.
The efficacy of mobile phone detection cameras is also evident. With thousands of drivers caught and fined, the technology is proving to be a powerful tool in the fight against distracted driving.
Public awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of distracted driving are another important aspect of the solution. Campaigns equating phone use to drink driving in terms of impairment have resonated with some drivers.
The Future of Road Safety
As technology continues to evolve, so too must our approach to road safety. The integration of mobile phone detection cameras across Australia represents a significant step forward, but the varying rates of phone use among different states suggest that a more unified approach may be beneficial.
With New South Wales leading the nation in both confidence in using phones while driving and enforcement measures, other states might look to adopt similar comprehensive approaches. Queensland’s hefty fines and Victoria’s widespread camera implementation are also showing promise in deterring this dangerous behavior.
Ultimately, changing driver behavior requires a multifaceted approach combining education, enforcement, and technological solutions. As mobile phones become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, the challenge of keeping them out of drivers’ hands – particularly in NSW – will remain a critical road safety issue.
For Australian drivers in all states, the message is clear: no text, call, or app is worth your life or the lives of others. Keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.
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