A new wave of road rules is set to shake up Aussie drivers in 2025, with authorities gearing up to crack down on behaviours that could cost you big.

What started as a minor update in regulations has quickly turned into a nationwide push to target key driving habits, and the consequences are not what you might expect.

With new technology and stricter enforcement on the way, the landscape for Aussie motorists is about to change dramatically.

In 2024, authorities across Australia amped up roadside camera technology, alerting drivers that new offences would be closely monitored in the year ahead.

New surveillance measures aim to reduce road risks. Image source: Pexel/Life Of Pix

South Australia, in particular, made headlines with its recent updates on mobile phone detection cameras, a technology introduced in June as part of a trial.

By September, drivers started receiving fines as the trial concluded.

South Australian police revealed a significant drop in the number of motorists caught using their phones.

‘The initial three-month trial saw a total of over 68,000 detections,’ said Superintendent Shane Johnson, officer in charge of traffic services.

‘Now, after three months of operations, that number has declined to just over 28,000.’

However, there were still shocking figures to report, with one motorist caught 41 times, resulting in a staggering $27,000 in fines.

The driver’s licence was suspended while investigations continued.

Additionally, 16 people were fined 10 or more times, and 165 others faced multiple penalties in the final months of 2024.

In a shift to catch even more offenders, a quiet change to the law in mid-2024 now allows police to fine drivers for having their phones resting in their lap.

‘The Road Rules Amendment Regulations have broadened the definition of “use” to circumstances where a mobile phone is being held, including in the driver’s lap,’ a spokesperson for South Australia Police said in September.

‘Drivers should be aware of recent changes to Australian Road Rules regarding mobile phone use, which came into effect on 6 June 2024.’

Authorities have been clear that they hope to see further reductions in distracted driving, and are particularly eyeing the use of smart watches in 2025.

‘Smart watches can be a form of distraction and legislation is being looked at for 2025,’ Superintendent Johnson added.

‘Our message is if it's distracting you while driving you shouldn't be looking at your smart watch.’

Other states already impose hefty fines for using a smartwatch behind the wheel, including nearly $500 in Victoria and over $360 in NSW.

Meanwhile, in Queensland, while there is no specific law yet regarding smart watches, drivers could still face fines for driving without due care, which can exceed $500.

In Western Australia, a new system of AI-powered roadside cameras is set to roll out on January 26, 2025, targeting both mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

WA's Road Safety Minister David Michael described the upcoming technology as the ‘most advanced’ in the country.

These new AI cameras will identify risky driving behaviours, including phone use, seatbelt violations, and speeding.

A warning period will run for the first few months, but enforcement will kick in from May 2025.

In short, 2024 has seen a marked push to reduce distracted driving, with authorities gearing up for even stricter enforcement in the coming year.

The introduction of cutting-edge technology and tougher regulations indicates that staying focused on the road will become even more crucial for Australian motorists.

Key Takeaways

• Authorities across Australia are intensifying road rule enforcement, with new technologies like mobile phone detection cameras targeting distracted driving.
• South Australia saw a dramatic drop in phone use behind the wheel, with fines issued for drivers caught in the act, including one individual facing $27,000 in penalties.
• New laws broaden the definition of mobile phone use, and authorities are eyeing smartwatches as another potential distraction for 2025.
• Western Australia is set to roll out AI-powered roadside cameras in January 2025, focusing on phone use, seatbelt violations, and speeding, with stricter enforcement starting in May.

With stricter penalties and surveillance, do you think these changes will actually make Aussie drivers safer? We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below and let us know!

 

[IAN3005]

And the going down on your son
You will dismember him....

F**kwit!!

 

[Mark@Home]

You in the mirror....

View attachment 66594

Reported. You need to grow up and, given your age, you need to remember the standards of propriety which you WILL have been taught as you grew up.

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I'm surprised they haven't banned kids in the car - they are a major distraction !

or passengers who constantly yap!

 

[Greentrees]

I believe the steering wheel on new smart cars will have handcuffs on them so you can't scratch your balls while driving.

I’ll be right. I don’t have balls!

 

[deni67]

I don't have a modern car, ours is from 2009, still runs beautifully, and gets us from A to B like anyone else with their fancy gadgets.

 

[Defiant540]

Spread it on your berries.

so what is the C word anyway? they said you would have the answer

 

[Veggiepatch]

Reported. You need to grow up and, given your age, you need to remember the standards of propriety which you WILL have been taught as you grew up.

Go bark at the clouds, you turnip!

 

[deni67]

so what is the C word anyway? they said you would have the answer

Put it this way, it's not the word cut but it does have those letters in it, just add one more letter!
And stop pulling our legs, you know very well what the word is!

 

[magpie1]

Put it this way, it's not the word cut but it does have those letters in it, just add one more letter!
And stop pulling our legs, you know very well what the word is!

ps. Another HINT.........It is not CUTS.

 

[MaggieAmalia]

Hope they catch all the idiots who have to talk on a phone instead of driving responsibly.....so many innocent lives get lost....so the more cameras, the better !!

A very happy young man was singing in his car en route to work. At a red light a traffic a vehicle pulled up alongside and he continued to sing.
The green light comes on so both vehicles drive off.. Then on came the police vehicles siren indicating the other driver to pull over... He complied. One of the policy aggressively asked the young man to explain as to why he was taking on the phone. He stated he wasn't. Then both insisted they saw him on the phone.. The response again was a denial of committing that road offense. Then one insisted they saw his lips moving in conversation and to explain that fact. He then calmly stated that he had been singing happily while driving and certainly was not on any phone. The police insisted he hand over his phone which was on the passenger seat. They couldn't open it up and asked him to do so. Which he then opened up. Then the instruction was to open calls made.. no evidence of that having occurred. Then the request for calls received... No evidence of that having happened... Then messages received and made... Again nothing there. Then one started to get very aggressive and and accused the driver of having deleted all records.. so he was shown after the phone was activated that no calls made it received and nothing had been deleted. So not finding anything the aggressive cup demanded to know what he would do if the phone was to ring. Response would be of surprise as it wasn't turned on so he might glance at it. He stated he never turns the phone on since the previous night as he doesn't want to be distracted as he doesn't look at it until after his days shift at work so he would be very surprised if it rang.
Response.."Aha!!! So you would use the phone.."

"Ok then. Here's a ticket and if you don't pay the fine you go to Court. The distressed young man aged 18 started to weep at the injustice. The other cop who had been silent asked him why he was so distressed. He responded in shock and said "I was very happy singing on my way to work until you pulled me over and accused me of something I haven't done. Just give me the ticket and my phone and leave me so I can ring my mother. Which he then did. To say I was furious was mild. My son was broken hearted at the nasty and out of integrity manner he had been dealt with. The other police had asked him would he be ok to drive and he had responded not until he that spoken to his mother. That man said he could appeal the fine in court. My son still weeping shook his head. Why .. Because..The traffic fine is classified as a criminal offense.. He was flying to Canada the next day to start the exciting new life he had dreamed of since a 5 year old boy ...having a traffic infringement court appearance would have prevented his entering the country. I asked him to give the fine to me and i would deal with it.
I phoned his phone carrier and shared the above info of the incident and they stated that they could absolutely prove and provide that information to the relevant parties to prove his innocence. Optus customer service were horrified and angry at how he had been treated and they were determined if he agreed to support his position of being innocent with the evidence of his innocence. But my son stated it would necessitate a court appearance by him to defend his position and if i could pay the unjust fine post his departure and the lesson he learnt was not to trust any police including any good cop/bad cop storyline and to stand his ground and take the appropriate legal action.
So one cannot respect that traffic policeman and it's sad to see on the news that their morale in that with environment is declining and that they are leaving that career in hordes
.. My son lived in Canada for over 3 years and after a brief return ti Australia he returned to live there again.

No accountability taken by the nasty traffic cop for his unpleasant and destructive interaction with a decent young man... Not surprising that the younger generation have little or no respect for the boys in blue...

 

[DLHM]

No accountability taken by the nasty traffic cop for his unpleasant and destructive interaction with a decent young man... Not surprising that the younger generation have little or no respect for the boys in blue...

Atrocious to read what happened to your son!

Some of the older generation also have little or no respect for the bully cops. They take their position to the extreme by doing what they can to intimidate and disrespect citizens. I’ve seen some shocking actions over the years by some cops who like to “exert their authority”.

 

[Luckyus]

Help your local police, beat yourself up!!!! And they wonder they are referred to as the filth?

 

[Towing]

I heard of a case where a lady went through a stop light because had she stopped she would have been in the middle of the interestion. THe lights were faulty and caution didn't work - proven. At the next intersection she stopped on caution and the Police car hit the back of her car and tended it not driveable at all - not even off the road. The audacity of the Policeman when he asked her why she stopped. She politely reminded him that he had just fined her for going through a red light. Result was she was minus her car - they also had to wait for complete rear end set of parts.

 

[Ezzy]

People have been saying for years that we are becoming more & more AMERICANISED.