Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant and Minister for Roads Duncan Gay have announced a crackdown on drivers using mobile phones over the Christmas period.
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Mobile phone offences will be added to the double demerit period over the Christmas holiday from December 24 to January 3, raising the penalty to a loss of six demerit points.
The current demerit penalty for using your mobile phone whilst driving is three points but this is set to increase to four in early 2016.
“Holding your mobile phone to call or text while driving is extremely dangerous and just plain reckless for you, your passengers and everyone else on the road,” Mr Grant said.
“The road toll is up on last year and every single motorist needs to get real and start thinking about their behaviour behind the wheel.”
The crackdown comes after alarming figures were released about the use of mobile phones on roads.
“Last year there were about 35,000 fines handed out for the illegal use of a mobile phone – that is just too many," he said.
The current fine for using a mobile phone while behind the wheel stands at $319 which will remain the same but Mr Grant hopes the increase of the demerit penalties will deter drivers from using their phones while driving.
“I am not a fan of draconian fines but we need to see these stats go down – and if this doesn’t deter motorists, then I’ll hit them in the hip pocket.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get the message out - using your mobile phone while driving can kill.”
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has shown his support for the increase in penalties and said drivers should be more aware of the dangers of using electronic devices whilst driving.
“While driving at 60 kilometres per hour, if you glance at your phone for two seconds, you travel around 33 metres blind that’s a scary fact and exactly why the NSW Government are getting tougher on mobile phone offences," he said.
