Blanket 'no-phone' rule draws criticism

New legislation, due to come into effect in December this year, will make it illegal for provisional (P-plate) drivers in NSW to use mobile phones in any capacity.

Drivers are already banned from using mobile devices unless secured in an appropriate cradle, meaning that GPS functionality and hands-free use of various applications is currently permitted. This new law will put an end to that.

The change is part of a range of initiatives being introduced to combat a notable rise in NSW road fatalities, chiefly among new drivers, but it is drawing the ire of business.

Australian businesses are constantly reminded of the value in employing young workers and encouraged to foster apprentices as a way of skilling up the workforce. This move essentially makes that more difficult, particularly in the case of those with field service teams.

In the age of mobility, field service solutions require staff to constantly utilise mobile phones for scheduling, routing, reporting and other workflow elements. An inability to use these devices unless stationary will have a huge impact, as they have become an essential business tool.

Road safety groups suggest that using purpose-built GPS devices removes the temptation for younger drivers to use other mobile phone functions, such as texting or checking social media accounts. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take into account the loss in efficiency the move is likely to create.

While no-one would condemn any initiative designed to prevent road fatalities, particularly among young drivers, many online critics are seeing this as an ill-conceived move that fails to see the bigger picture.