If a learner Class C driver below the age of 25 is caught driving while on a mobile device, he or she will be fined $1,251 in addition to 4 demerit points on the driver’s record in Australia’s 2025 driving laws. This law is still being developed, however it shows Australia’s attempt is providing a solution to distracted driving for this demographic.
| Offense | Fine Amount | Demerit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone use by learner driver under 25 | $1,251 | 4 |
| Use of mobile phone in hands-free or any form (for under 25) | Not allowed | Not applicable |
| License suspension upon reaching 4+ points (12 months) | – | 3 months |
More Restrictive Policies For Drivers Under 25
The law is more strict for this age group and prohibits learner drivers under 25 from using hands-free or even allowing the phone to be on their and in close proximity as it is considered risky behavior. Other situations and stances of the vehicle don’t matter, whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary like at a red light or in a stand still traffic. Phones and accessories of all kinds, even touching or resting them, on the person are not at all to be used by learner drivers. $1,251 fine and 4 demerit points are used, in addition to monitored and possibly suspended reinstatement for subsequent infractions.
Points and Consequences
The government is trying to diminish the level of phone usage while driving and is carrying these policies out by fines and demerit points for learner drivers. Accumulating 4 or more demerit points in 12 months could result in a 3-month driving suspension for learner drivers. The table below summarizes mobile phone key penalties for Class C learner drivers under 25.
Why the Crackdown?
The use of mobile phones while driving remains a significant contributor toward the incidence of road accidents involving young drivers. The existing penalties do not seem to change the attitude of many learner drivers toward the use of phones while driving. They still do it, and the results are alarming. The government’s policy of more severe fines and stricter enforcement aims to change the behavior of drivers and instill an attitude of concentration and safety while driving. Offenders are punished and rules are enforced more strictly with new detection methods, including AI cameras.
Practical Advice for Learner Drivers
Learner drivers are not to be advised but rather instructed to avoid phone communication while operating a motor vehicle. The rules stipulate driving phones should be used only in irresistible situations for example they are parked or when they are off the road in a designated area. Drivers are only allowed to use phones when instructed by police. They are not allowed to engage in hands free or phone use in other situations. The use of non phone mounted GPS devices is allowed. These rules, when followed, save lives and licenses.
The $1,251 fines for learner class C drivers under 25 is part of the overarching plan in Australia to reduce the number of hands free and distracted driving on the roads. There’s no better way to say it than this: talking and texting on a phone while driving poses a great danger and will be punished severely, particularly on young, inexperienced drivers. People who follow these rules will keep our roads and highways safer.
FAQs
Q1: Can learner drivers under 25 use hands-free mobile phone devices?
No, learner drivers under 25 are prohibited from any form of mobile phone use, hands-free or otherwise.
Q2: What happens if a learner driver gets caught using a phone more than once?
They will start receiving demerits and will be suspended from driving for 3 months if they accumulate 4 or more demerits in a 12 month span.
Q3: Is phone use illegal if the vehicle is stopped at a red light?
Yes, learner drivers under 25 are prohibited from using mobile phones while in a vehicle, even if it is stopped at traffic lights or in traffic.
Q4: Are there any exceptions for showing a digital driver’s license on a phone?
Yes, the only instance in which a learner driver can handle a phone is to show a digital driver’s license when requested to do so by a police officer.
