New Victorian road rules: What drivers need to know

Victoria has launched a major road safety initiative aimed at cutting the state's mounting death toll, introducing strict new rules on distracted driving backed by AI-enabled detection cameras and hefty fines.

The push comes as the state confronts a stark reality: 240 people died on Victorian roads in 2022, up from 233 the previous year. Nearly a third of these fatalities involved drivers who were not wearing seatbelts—a preventable tragedy that has prompted authorities to act.

Starting this week, distracted drivers across the state face a $555 fine and four demerit points under the new regime. Enforcement is powered by phone and seatbelt detection cameras positioned at high-accident locations statewide. The technology flags potential violations using artificial intelligence, though a human reviewer assesses every image before any action is taken.

The rollout affects all 6.6 million Victorian drivers, though the rules apply differently depending on your licence type. Drivers with full licences retain some flexibility: they can use in-built entertainment systems to play music, navigate, or answer calls while driving. Mounted phones and tablets are permitted, provided they are commercially designed and properly secured. Drivers cannot, however, scroll, enter text, or view images on these devices while the car is moving.

The restrictions become far tighter for learner and provisional drivers. They are prohibited from touching any portable device—no phones, no navigation, no voice-controlled commands. Even a phone resting in a lap is now illegal. VicRoads has been explicit: "You must pull over and park to change a song or enter a different address. You are not permitted to touch a mounted device for any purpose during a drive."

Wearable devices face similar constraints. Unrestricted drivers can access these via voice control only. For provisional riders on motorcycles, helmet devices can only be used for music and directions, and only if both are configured before the journey starts.

The financial penalties escalate quickly. A $555 on-the-spot fine is the baseline, but a court conviction can reach $1,849. For P-plate and L-plate drivers, the demerit consequence is more severe: accumulating more than four points in a single year triggers automatic licence suspension.

Authorities are cushioning the transition with a three-month warning period, giving drivers time to adjust their habits. After that grace period expires, enforcement intensifies.

Road safety advocates argue the measure addresses a critical problem. Distracted driving and seatbelt non-compliance are significant contributors to Victoria's rising road toll, and the state's decision to deploy AI-powered detection suggests authorities believe the deterrent effect of visible surveillance will change behaviour more effectively than traditional enforcement.

For Victorian drivers, the message is unambiguous: distracted driving is now decisively off-limits, and the cameras are watching.