If you are living in Australia and own an iPhone, then you need to think twice before downloading the navigation apps presented by the major GPS players like TomTom, Navigon and recently Pioneer.
As per sources, use of iPhone or any other smart-phone for navigational purposes is to be banned. The Victorian Government road authority, VicRoads are all set to introduce a new amendment to the existing road rules beginning from 9th of November this year. From then it will be illegal for drivers to navigate using your phone’s GPS application software.
As per the VicRoads spokesperson, the phone is to be allowed only for its primary purpose that is making and receiving calls along with other enterprise functionalities; all except navigation. In fact the spokesperson has quoted in The Age newspaper that “If its a phone, its a phone.”
Apparently, there seems to have been increasing cases of drivers being nabbed by police for using their mobile devices, the common excuse given by them was that the unit was being used in navigational mode. This is what triggered the Government to lay down strict ground rules with regards to the use of nav-apps in mobile phones. Drivers not abiding by the new road rule are likely to risk a $234 fine and three demerit points.
Using a mounted device in your vehicle for placing the GPS-enabled phone of yours, where it will not interfere with the person’s driving ability might be the solution. Basically, it is probably regarding the correct way of using the device.
So if you have already shelled out a couple of dollars for the navigation application, then you may need to fish out a handful and get a proper cradle for your iPhone or smart-phone.
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