Our mobile phone obsession has led authorities to toughen laws for Victorian drivers, amid fears texting and tweeting will lead to tragedy.
The penalty for illegally using a phone while driving will rise almost $150 to $433 from November 25 and include four demerit points.
Under the mobile phone crackdown, P-plate drivers will be banned from using their phones altogether. If they are caught illegally using their phone, they will incur four of their five demerit points.
Roads Minister Terry Mulder says the growing problem of mobile phone use on the roads has the potential to cause deaths or serious injuries.
"We see this as being the greatest threat to the road toll continuing as a downward trend," he told reporters on Monday.
"Unless we act and act very quickly in this matter, we're going to end up with an epidemic in terms of fatalities and serious accidents out on the road network.
"No message can be that important that's going to cause you the potential to have a serious accident, lose your life or seriously injure or kill someone else."
Changes to the laws will be submitted to the governor this week for approval.
VicRoads vehicle and road use policy director James Holgate says fully licensed drivers can use a hands-free phone as a navigational aid or music device, but if drivers reach for their phone for any other reason, it will be an offence.
Hands-free phones can be used but must be fitted in a commercially provided holder or used with a bluetooth connection.
"The main risk of using a phone is the actual process of activating and answering a call," Mr Holgate said.
"If you can do that without touching the phone, then you'll comply with the law and you're relatively safe."
