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If you have a tendency to get distracted while driving, you could be hit with a pretty serious fine!

When you think of dangerous driving, you probably think of people driving while intoxicated, speeding or driving without a licence, but it turns out that the majority of dangerous drivers are people doing things most of us might consider routine. They’re every day habits that can seem harmless, but according to police, they can have deadly consequences.

Losing Focus

Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy told A Current Affair, “People eating, people putting on makeup, talking to people in the back seat or being distracted by others in the car are just some of the things taking driver focus off the road.”

A Current Affair’s investigation found a woman driving with her knees while eating a McFlurry and texting, a tradie writing notes and talking on the phone, and countless people eating lunch with barely an elbow on the wheel. We all know that life is only getting more hectic, and people have less and less time, but taking such a risk and putting others in danger seems like a step too far to save a couple of precious minutes.

Paying The Price

It turns out that these apparently harmless, yet dangerous habits could end up costing you big, as reported on 9News. Depending on where you live, the fine for being caught driving any vehicle without being in full control could reach hundreds of dollars. “Driving any vehicle, you have to be in full control and when you get in the car, you’ve got to say to yourself, this is a dangerous thing I’m going to be doing, I need to concentrate fully,” the Assistant Commissioner said.

If you’re found ‘driving without proper control of a vehicle’ you’ll be booked. In NSW, it’s a fine of $448 plus three demerit points, the same penalty in the ACT, a whopping $600 in WA, a $500 fine and three points in the Northern Territory, $184 in South Australia and $387 plus three demerit points in Victoria.

The message to take away? Nothing is more important than being safe while driving. Not your makeup, your phone, nothing. If you really need to take your hands off the wheel and it can’t wait until your destination, pull over. Your safety and the safety of others is worth being late for.

Are you guilty of getting distracted while driving? Tell us in the comments.

 

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  • I take driving very seriously. My parents taught me that when you are driving you are in control of a piece of machinery that has the potential to kill people. I taught my children the same thing. I NEVER text or read a text while driving and I would never answer a phone call while driving until I got my new car and I can answer calls by tapping the button on my steering wheel.

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  • I see people looking down whilst driving all the time. I’m sure they are texting. Hopefully they get caught out.

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  • Agree with these rules.
    I’m abit worried about drinking water from my bottle (or sipping my coffee) and being fined now, as per what happened to that poor trade in Queensland.

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  • this makes sense

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  • Wow!! Eating a mcflurry and texting! Definitely a fine! Just stop for a minute, you’re putting more than just yourself in danger! And it’s not fair!

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  • Safety is the most important thing while driving.

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  • I can’t believe the amount of people I see driving while eating, putting make up on, doing hair etc. and of course phones. Can spot them a mile off – head down, one arm (or no arms!) on the wheel, drifting lanes or not keeping up with traffic.
    I absolutely agree with no phone when driving. But I am a bit perplexed as to how talking on Bluetooth is ok – distraction is distraction & honestly there’s been times I’m more distracted by someone sitting next to me talking, or my kids talking, fighting, crying in the back – then I would ever be on the phone on Bluetooth.
    I don’t take calls when driving especially with my kids as it’s too dangerous & nothings that urgent. And if a call was, I’d pull over. But other people inside the car can be as distracting, if not more distracting then being on a hands free call.

    I think most people in general need to pay more attention when driving.

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  • I’ve noticed a lot more stories being released with details of fines being issued for non-mobile-phone related distractions. Drinking and eating in the car can be just and dangerous and distracting as mobile phone usage! I think the fines reflect how serious the authorities are about doling out severe penalties to discourage acts that lead to tragic deaths on the roads every single day. It may seem extreme, but I’m all for it.

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  • My four year old knows when he isn’t allowed to talk to me while driving – reversing out of the driveway and when looking for a car park!

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  • Still people have not got the message don’t use your mobile while driving. Fines and points and still they use there mobiles

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  • sometimes I find even talking to my kids can be just enough of a distraction – I won’t answer any calls at all. Sometimes before I set off I will call my family to let them know where I am and that I am coming home but that’s it.

    The only time I look at my phone is if I am using google maps to get somewhere and I will look at it when stopped at a set of lights just to see what the next instruction is on the map, thankfully it talks to me so I don’t need to look at it too often.

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  • I don’t, has I want my kids and I to get home safely

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  • I no longer even talk on phone using Bluetooth as it is a distraction and it takes only a moment of inattentive driving to cause an accident

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  • I understand getting fined for not having your hands on the wheel, but there’s no way I could not talk to the kids in the back. The amount of times I have to tell them ‘Dont Bug your sister!’, ‘Put your arms back in your seat belt!’ And ‘close the window!’.

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  • I think you’d need to be a robot to never be distracted. That being said I generally have at least one hand on the wheel if I’m eating and certainly don’t do my make up!

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