A lawyer has opened up about the “craziest” and little-known road rule that could cost drivers up to $514 if broken.
Jahan Kalantar, managing partner at Executive Law Group, said P-platers could be hit with a hefty bill if they are caught using their phone’s GPS.
He explained that he receives calls ‘every day’ from drivers who have lost all their demerit points because they were also caught streaming music.
“You can’t use your phone in any way if you’re a P-plater,” Kalantar said in a TikTok video.
Jahan Kalantar, managing partner at Executive Law Group, shared a video on TikTok talking about one of Australia’s “craziest road rules.”
“If you can’t use your refinement functionality, it sucks and it’s unfair, but it’s something to keep in mind because more and more people are achieving it.”
According to Transport for NSW, interim drivers are not even allowed to use their phones, even if they have hands-free mode, Bluetooth or speakerphone options, or GPS navigation.
The only times they are allowed to do this is if they need to present their digital license to the police or use their wallet functions at a drive-thru.
P1 drivers caught using a mobile phone illegally will exceed their demerit point limit and face a three-month license suspension, while P2 license holders will only have two demerit points left if they are caught illegally using a mobile phone.
The fine for using a phone while driving is $349 or $514 in a school zone and five demerit points, which increases to 10 demerit points during double demerit periods.
Kalantar said it’s important to raise more awareness about this issue because most young people don’t realize that using Google Maps while driving is illegal.
He said the unfair rule targets p-platers, urging them to follow the rules because it’s incredibly difficult to navigate the city without a license.
Social media users responded, calling the rule “crazy” and “outdated.”
“Not being able to use it as GPS is crazy,” one person said.
“Going on long trips without being able to listen to music is ridiculous,” wrote another.
“That’s unfair, they should make changes to that law,” a third person commented.
‘Why would they make driving more difficult for p-plate users?’ asked another.
‘What a crazy rule. Many young people work as delivery drivers and need a GPS to get around.’
The Sydney-based lawyer receives calls “every day” from people who have lost all their demerit points because they were caught using their phones.
However, NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury did not support the argument that the rule was unfair, saying the rule is intended to ensure a “total disconnect” between inexperienced drivers and their phones.
“It can be a complicated policy, but we understand why these specific restrictions would apply to young drivers, as they are still gaining experience on the roads, and the last thing we want is for them to be distracted by their phones.” he he said yahoo.
“There are enough distractions in the car without cell phones and we just want to make sure they are focused on what is in front of them.”
Khoury said there is no excuse for not knowing the rules and that all young drivers are taught what they can and cannot do while learning to drive.
“They are probably more exposed to the intricacies of the road rules than the rest of us because they have just been through the whole licensing system, which you would think would still be fresh in their minds,” he said.
For more information on the rules for P1 and P2 drivers, visit the Transport for NSW website.
