Australia’s 2025 law revisions include the formalization of Australia’s first Road Safety initiative. First time drivers will now have to place an Australia-wide monitored safety GPS device on their vehicles. Australia-wide monitored GPS devices will record trips and safety rule violations. Below is an outline on how the directive will be rolled out, its importance and how first time drivers, parents and trainers will maintain compliance.
Background and Rationale
New and young drivers have faced distracted and unsafe driving practices disproportionately during the last few years. As the government conducted reviews and prioritized data-driven road safety interventions. As a result, the law GPS implementation for learner drivers and provisional license holders driving aged over 25 years. The primary focus will be to lessen the number of first-time driving accidents, as well as accurate reporting of trips undertaken for provisioned licenses to authorities.
How the New Law works
From January 2025, first time drivers will be required to have a fully functional GPS device fitted to their vehicles. The device must be approved by the government and must record the trips and routes and record time travelled on a trip. The road rule affects learner permit and provisional license holders, and all vehicle types driven. The required data will confirm safety protocol compliance alongside recorded training/set time for each trip and over protocol driving speed.
| Field | Data Example |
|---|---|
| Driver Type | Learner (L) |
| GPS Brand | SafeTrack |
| Start Date | Jan 2025 |
Consent, Enforcement, and Privacy
Even more than privacy laws, safety will always be the top priority, but the consent protocols will also have to be implemented, and the drivers, and owners of the vehicles (if different) will have to be made aware of the location, purpose, and nature of the tracking technology in use. Each state has surveillance acts to ensure tracking of individuals is done without their consent is done overtly. Disabling, not properly fitting, or removing the prescribed GPS device will result in fines, and can even result in the suspension of their license, or other hefty financial penalties.
Educational Requirements
Driver educators must now teach future drivers the use of GPS tracking devices, and the training curriculum has specific sections on installation, use, and maintenance of these devices. Other than that, new drivers will receive educational materials and other resources to help families in data security, and following unsafe driving behavior GPS tracking will help families understand. This will formally help to teach accountability and foster safe habits in novice drivers. This is an initiative from the broader educational framework.
Effect on Road Safety
Authorities expect better enforcement of driving hour regulations, adherence to routes, and considerable drops in accident occurrences. Previous programs in other areas resulted in a reduction in repeat traffic violations, and notable improvements in the driving behavior of novice drivers. Continued research and monitoring of the new legislation will determine the need for future modifications and a full implementation, given the favorable outcome anticipated.
Brief Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will need to have a GPS unit installed?
A: Every learner and provisional license holder driving a vehicle after January 2025.
Q: Which data will be collected with the unit?
A: Data on the duration of the trip, speed, the route taken, and adherence to the driving conditions will be captured.
Q: What happens if the regulations are not followed?
A: Offenders will face fines, possible license suspension and repeat testing.
