Australia has made a huge change to the law this year; every new driver will now have to have a GPS tracker on their car. In a first of its kind, this measure seeks to easily monitor the behaviour of provisional licence holders at driving and the potential risks to safety. The government is adamant this is a legal reform, and its purpose is to defend every person on the road in Australia.
Additional Regulations For Provisional Drivers
All tentative licence holders and provisional drivers will now have to abide by the new law regarding the use of GPS. These new laws say provisional drivers have to activate a GPS tracking system every time they get behind the wheel. The tracking system should monitor, record and store driving speeds, and specific locations in addition to driving behaviour. While the GPS legislation is mandated at a national level, the specific methodology of how it is implemented and enforced tends to differ across the various states and territories.
Privacy and Legal Considerations
Even though there are privacy issues, law still protects individual’s rights on the use of GPS technology. The privacy policy stands in consent and transparency. The owners and the drivers of the vehicle know what type of information is going to be retained and the purpose it is going to serve. It is still illegal to misuse the GPS tracking system. In Australia, it is illegal to track people without the knowledge of the tracked individual, as it is in violation of Australia’s comprehensive privacy and surveillance laws. These legal measures, as part of policy, serve young drivers and their families. Written notice, clear information, policy compliance, and trust help preserve peace of mind and privacy.
Expected Impact on Road Safety
Authorities are expecting this new rule to lower the reckless or distracted driving accident rates, especially on the young and inexperienced drivers. Parents, regulators and instructors can rush in during safe practice to help children and young drivers when risk driving behaviours are detected. First results from some states that are starting to use pilot programs indicate impressive results with use of GPS. There is a visible decrease in speeding and use of the mobile phone while driving in people under surveillance.
Compliance with Set Regulations on Use of GPS Tracking Technology.
While the federal laws establish the requirement for GPS usage, states such as New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland has passed regulations concerning the handling, storage and access of the GPS data. Employers using GPS on fleet vehicles has to comply with laws concerning the privacy of employees. Routine audits and compliance reviews will be conducted to monitor compliance with the new law, while also balancing the individual’s right to privacy.
FAQs
Q1. Is GPS tracking mandatory for all drivers in Australia?
A1. No, it is mandatory for new drivers holding provisional licences only.
Q2. Can the GPS data be used against drivers legally?
A2. The data is mainly used for the monitoring of safety and governed under the privacy law.
Q3. What happens if a new driver does not activate the GPS tracking?
A3. They may be fined as well as get the provisional license suspended.
Q4. Does this GPS tracking infringe on driver privacy?
A4. The law provides privacy protections by requiring consent and restricting the data collected to the purposes of safety only.
Road safety has always been vital in Australia, and now, they bring in new chapter with use of GPS trackers on cars. They wish to instill good habits early on with young drivers, and simultaneously, try to address privacy issues with boundaries set. Smart and safe roads in Australia by 2025 and beyond, is something that is set to be achieved, and in turn, is reflected by this true news.
