One of Western Australia's top police superintendents has taken aim at distracted drivers who use mobile phones and has welcomed harsh new penalties for drivers who are caught.
From today, Western Australian drivers caught using their phones while behind the wheel will face some of the toughest penalties in the country.
South West District Police Superintendent Geoff Stewart said the new fines were necessary to curb the road trauma.
"Crashes aren't accidents, they happen for reason — inattention caused by people who have an addiction and can't go 30 seconds without having a phone in their hand," Superintendent Stewart said.
"These people are, to quote a Victorian assistant commissioner, 'batshit stupid'.
"I've seen people eating bowls of cereal, cleaning their teeth, and even doing their make-up while they hold the steering wheel with their knees."
Toughest penalties in Australia
Under the new rules, holding or touching a mobile phone to make a voice call when it is not mounted in a cradle will attract a $500 fine and three demerit points.
Drivers caught texting, emailing, watching videos, or accessing social media on their phone will cop a $1,000 fine and four demerit points.
Motorists can only touch their phone while driving to receive and end calls if the mobile is securely mounted to the vehicle.
Superintendent Stewart said the community is sick and tired of distracted drivers and has implored motorists to consider families already effected by road trauma.
"The south-west has experienced 15 fatal crashes this year, 15 people have died, 15 families have had funerals for loved ones," Superintendent Stewart said.
"Hopefully, this will go a long way in reducing the need for us to go and take mangled bodies out of crashes and officers having to knock on someone's door."
WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the higher fines would send a strong message to drivers who engaged in risk-taking behaviour.
"We need to change the culture of many drivers," she said.
"We've done it before with drink driving, we've done it with seatbelts and speeding, now we are doing it with mobile phones."
WA insurance provider RAC has welcomed the increase to penalties, with a survey revealing an alarming number of motorists are still using their phones behind the wheel.
"Ninety-six per cent of those surveyed have seen other drivers distracted by their phone, and 1 in 3 had admitted to using the phone while driving behind the wheel," RAC general manager Will Golsby said.
