Device rules for drivers with a full licence

General rules for all devices

Drivers with a full licence can use a mobile phone or device to make or receive a phone call, use audio and music functions, use GPS navigation or use in-built driver assistance or vehicle safety features.

However, the device must be properly mounted or in-built to the vehicle.

Fully licensed drivers must not touch or use an unmounted mobile phone or device while driving or riding.

While driving, riding or operating a vehicle, you must not:

• enter information, text, numbers or symbols (unless using voice control)
• scroll on the device - such as scrolling through text messages, social media, music playlists
• view text messages, social media, emails, websites or photos
• watch videos, play games or take video calls.

These rules apply to all kinds of mobile phones, devices and technologies, whether portable, wearable, mounted or built into the vehicle.

Rules for portable devices (e.g. a mobile phone)

Portable devices include unmounted or loose mobile phones, tablets, laptops, media players and game consoles.

In addition to the general rules, when driving you must not:

• touch a mobile phone or portable device, regardless of whether it’s turned on or off
• operate it using voice
• look at the screen of a device being used by another person in the vehicle
• place a device on your lap or any part of the body (unless it’s in a pocket or pouch that’s attached to you)
• pass a device to a passenger or take a device from a passenger.

A passenger also can’t pass a portable device to a driver.

You can:

• before you start driving, connect your mobile phone or portable device to your vehicle’s wireless technology (e.g. to view navigation on your vehicle’s display) and place the device out of sight and reach
• use a mobile phone or other portable device to pay at a drive-through
• use a CB radio or any other two-way radio.

Rules for mounted devices and in-built vehicle systems

For mobile phones and tablets to be considered a ‘mounted device’ it must be secured to the vehicle using a holder that is commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose. This diagram shows you where devices and accessories should be mounted.

You can use mounted devices or in-built vehicle entertainment/display and navigation systems for functions such as music and maps, as long as you don’t enter text, scroll, view images or play videos.

In addition to the general rules, when driving you must not:

• use the device for video calls
• if you’re a passenger, you must not use the device if it’s likely to distract the driver.

You can touch the device briefly to:

• initiate, accept or reject an audio call
• play or stream audio material (such as radio channels, music or podcasts)
• adjust volume levels
• use a navigation function
• use a function on a device designed to provide driver assistance or to help operate the vehicle
• use a function on a device designed to monitor a driver’s behaviour or condition
• perform a professional driving task. 

Rules for wearable devices

Wearable devices include smartwatches, smart glasses and wearable head-up displays.

In addition to the general rules, when driving you must not:

• touch the device (other than incidental contact caused by the driver wearing the device)
• use the device for video calls
• use a navigation function on the device
• use a function on a device designed to monitor a driver’s behaviour or condition
• perform a professional driving task.

You can do the following, only if you’re using voice controls:

• initiate, accept or reject an audio call on the device
• play or stream audio material on the device
• adjust volume levels. 

Rules for motorbike helmet devices

Motorbike helmet devices include communicators, heads-up displays, cameras, and in-built or secured mobile phones.  

Helmet device use is limited to touching the device briefly, or using voice commands, to:

• initiate, accept or reject an audio call on the device
• play or stream audio material on the device
• adjust volume levels
• use a function on a device designed to provide driver assistance or to help operate the vehicle
• use a navigation function on the device
• use a function on a device designed to monitor a driver’s behaviour or condition (such as a heart monitor)
• perform a professional driving task.

You can also use earbuds if the phone is mounted and used hands free. However, we don’t recommend using earbuds as it may block out sounds such as other traffic, changing of bike gears or even emergency vehicles. This can affect your ability to concentrate on riding.