Victorian motorists will need to observe new road rules from Monday.
There are changes to the rules about how drivers can use mobile phones, where they can make u-turns and how drivers should restrain children.
Police and VicRoads say all drivers must familiarise themselves with the new rules.The news rules were announced earlier this year but come into effect on Monday.
Motorists who fail to obey the new rules could be issued with on-the-spot fines of up to $300 and three demerit points.Under the new rules, mobile phones and GPS devices can only be used if they are in a cradle.
Motorists holding mobile phones in their hands or sending text messages will face a $234 fine and three demerit points.VicRoads manager of road user behaviour, Antonietta Cavallo says texting while driving is "extremely dangerous" and is banned.
"We know that talking on a hand-held mobile while driving is reckless and increases the risk of a crash fourfold," Ms Cavallo said."The advice is simple - hands on the wheel, eyes on the road," she said.
Other changes involve rules covering u-turns.It will be illegal to perform a u-turn over a single continuous dividing line. Drivers will still be allowed to make a u-turn over broken dividing lines.
Ms Cavallo says between 2004 and 2008 there were more than 1,500 u-turn crashes in Victoria, resulting in 19 deaths and about 600 serious injuries.In changes to seatbelt rules, passengers over the age of 16, as well as drivers, will face fines for failing to buckle-up.
The changes also mean that children under the age of seven must be in an appropriate child restraint.Children under the age of eight can no longer be carried as passengers on motorcycles.
Drivers must not pass the rear of a stopped tram with its doors open.Once the tram doors are closed and pedestrians have left the road, a driver can pass the tram at no more than 10km/h.
VicRoads says the new road rules are being introduced to improve safety and to bring greater consistency with road rules in other states and territories.
