Final report tabled August 24, 2006. Plenty of information and facts to dissect, discuss and debate.

Inquiry into Driver Distraction (PDF 724Kb)
Final Report:The Committee tabled its final report in Parliament on 24 August 2006*

Functions of Road Safety Committee
The Victorian Road Safety Committee is constituted under the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, as amended. The Committee comprises seven Members of Parliament drawn from both houses and all parties.The Chair is elected by Members of the Committee. Section 15 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, describes the functions of the Committee as:

The functions of the Road Safety Committee are, if so required or permitted under this Act, to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on any proposal, matter or thing concerned with –

(a) road trauma;

(b) safety on roads and related matters.

Inquiry into Driver Distraction: Terms of Reference The Governor in Council, under section 33 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, referred an Inquiry into Driver Distraction to the Road Safety Committee.

The Committee is required to inquire, consider and make recommendations on the role of driver distraction in causing crashes and, in particular to report to Parliament on:

1. the prevalence of mobile telephone use by drivers and its impact on crash causes;

2. the prevalence of in-car video devices, their effect on drivers and impact on crash causes;

3. the types of other devices and activities, both inside and outside the vehicle, that may distract a driver’s attention from the driving task and lead to unsafe driving;

4. the suitability and enforceability of existing laws concerning the use of mobile telephones and other electronic devices by drivers; and

5. the possible need for change to legislation or statutory requirements to implement any recommendations made as a result of the inquiry.

In conducting its inquiry, the Committee is requested to seek information from the manufacturers and distributors of mobile telephones and other electronic devices with in-car applications, research organisations, Government and nongovernment agencies, motoring organisations and the community.

In particular, the measures adopted to address the issue of driver distraction in other jurisdictions and countries should be examined. The Committee is required to report to Parliament by 30 June 2006*.

Dated 9 August 2005

Responsible Minister Steve Bracks,

MP Premier

* extended to 30 August 2006