Zoe Moffatt
Mobile phone apps are now the biggest distraction to people who use their phones while driving, with police noting an uptick in offending with apps like YouTube or Facebook in Hume.
New Transport Accident Commission (TAC) data from a survey of 2492 Victorians and found that 45 per cent of respondents admitted to interacting with an app while driving.
Fifty-two per cent said they used a mobile phone in their hands, including 26 per cent who said they made or received a call, and 25 per cent who sent or read a text.
Road policing and community engagement Inspector Darren Paterson said while detection rates remain at the same level in Hume, there has been a swing towards app usage in recent years.
“The type of offending has changed in recent years with a swing from phone calls to using apps like YouTube or Facebook,” he said.
“In the mornings offending drivers are often intercepted ‘listening’ to the news whilst a video is playing in an approved cradle.”
Inspector Paterson said the new data is not a surprise and drivers need to be aware of the risks they are placing themselves and all other road users at.
“A large proportion of our enforcement data suggest that mobile phone use continues to be a heavily identified offence.
“Even with legislation changes surrounding the use of mobile phones in vehicle, we have seen little decline in the detection of these offences.
“Distraction offences contribute to varying types of collisions that ultimately could have been avoided.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and the road toll this year is having a devastating impact across our community.”
This new data is released amid a tragic year on Victorian roads with 175 people killed so far, which is 36 higher than the same time in 2022.
The state government has increased the penalties for using a mobile device while driving to a $577 fine and four demerit points.
New mobile phone and seat belt wearing detection cameras have also been introduced throughout the state to reduce road trauma.
Inspector Paterson said operations in cars, foot and on bike patrol will continue to run to detect distracted drivers.
