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New laws that are to come into effect across Australia will see drivers having to put down their mobile phones whilst driving in the car. Although different states will have different implementations of the law, certain states, including Victoria, will see a marked change whereby phones need to be in a holder fixed in the car with calls being answered without touching the phone.

The actual wording of the legislation states that drivers "will only be able to use mobile phones if they are placed in purpose-made cradles and operation is entirely hands-free."
This law extends to using the built in GPS systems within mobile phones and means you have to have a holder for your mobile if you want to use the GPS navigation features, for example.

Coming into effect in Victoria on 9 November 2009, fines will be $234 and the loss of 3 demerit points, however manufacturers have been quick to produce fixing cradles that should enable legal use of phones.

A similar ban on talking and texting is due to come into effect on 1 November 2009 in New Zealand, with a lower fine of NZ$80.

Of course this is nothing new to drivers in the UK and many States in America where drivers have been used to reducing or eliminating the calls they make whilst in the car, and making those calls with the aid of a fully fitted car kit or hands free device.

The idea of having to have the device fixed is however more draconian and as drafted, the Australian law prohibits hands free calling even with a hands free kit, if your phone is left on your lap, for example.

There are a large range of Bluetooth car kits that can help you drive more safely as well as fully fitted hands free kits such as the Parrot MKI9000.
 


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