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WA Drivers Still Using Phones: What Mike Bell’s Warning Revealed—and the Rules Now

Mike Bell’s warning was backed by thousands of recorded infringements, but the report’s 600-a-month figure is historical. Here are the current WA rules for drivers and riders.
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A report quoting WA State Traffic Commander Mike Bell highlighted how often police were catching drivers using mobile phones: WA Police figures cited by The West Australian recorded 5,539 mobile-phone infringements in 2021, while the report said more than 5,500 drivers had been caught in the prior year and the rate was averaging 600 a month so far in the article’s year. The article’s publication date was not available in the search result, so that monthly figure is historical, not a current rate. For drivers today, the key point is that Western Australia’s phone rules apply even when traffic is stopped.

What Mike Bell said about phone use on WA roads

The West Australian reported that WA State Traffic Commander Mike Bell had seen “far too many” motorists using phones on freeways, including truck drivers and motorcyclists. The figures accompanying his warning show recorded infringements—not every instance of phone use on the road.

The report cited 5,539 mobile-phone infringements in 2021 and said police had caught more than 5,500 drivers in the prior year. It also described an average of 600 drivers caught per month so far that year, but the search result did not expose the article’s publication date. That rate cannot reliably be assigned a year or treated as a present-day monthly total. The West Australian’s report

What WA’s phone rules mean in practice

The WA Road Safety Commission says it is illegal to hold a phone or have it resting on any part of your body, including your lap, while driving. The rule still applies when you are stopped in traffic or waiting at traffic lights. A red light is not permission to pick up your phone. Road Safety Commission: mobile phones and driving

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Use or offence What the official guidance says Listed penalty
Illegal phone use, including holding or touching the phone while driving Do not hold the phone or let it rest on your body while driving, including when stopped in traffic. $500 and 3 demerit points.
Serious phone use, such as creating or viewing text, email, social, photo or video content Prohibited; a phone mount does not make these activities permissible. $1,000 and 4 demerit points.
Permitted voice call The phone must be secured in a vehicle mounting, or the driver must not hold or touch it. Not stated as a separate penalty for permitted use.
GPS or navigation The phone must be mounted and not touched while driving. Not stated as a separate penalty for permitted use.

The Commission says double demerits can apply during designated periods. Check its current guidance for the applicable conditions and any updates before relying on a penalty figure. Road Safety Commission guidance

Do WA cameras detect drivers using phones?

Yes. The Road Safety Commission says safety cameras detect illegal phone use in vehicles. Its 2026 campaign page states that fines and demerit points apply to camera-detected mobile-phone offences from 8 October 2025. Road Safety Commission: mobile phones and driving

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How to avoid a phone distraction—and an infringement

  1. Set up before moving: Enter your destination and start navigation before departure; secure the phone in its mount if using it for GPS.
  2. Keep it untouched: Do not tap, hold or adjust the phone while driving, including when traffic is stopped. For a permitted call, follow the Commission’s mounting or no-touch conditions.
  3. Put it out of reach: The Commission recommends switching the phone off or placing it out of sight and using Do Not Disturb.
  4. Choose a safe mount if needed: A mount can support permitted calls or navigation, but it does not make texting, social media, video or other prohibited interactions legal or safe.

The Commission’s guidance also applies to motorcycle, bicycle and eRideable riders, with a stated allowance for riders to use an arm-mounted holder. Check the official page for the conditions that apply to your vehicle and use. Road Safety Commission guidance

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Phone distraction is only part of the inattention problem

The Road Safety Commission recorded 21 fatalities in inattention-related crashes in 2024 and 435 people killed or seriously injured in such crashes from 2020 through 2024. These are figures for inattention-related crashes broadly; they are not phone-only crash statistics. The Commission also says looking away for two seconds at 60 km/h corresponds to travelling 33 metres. Road Safety Commission: inattention-related crash information Road Safety Commission mobile-phone guidance

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