Australia’s driving laws have tightened from 10 October 2025, with new distracted‑driving penalties for eating, drinking, and vaping at the wheel, carrying fines that can reach A$1,500 and demerit points depending on state and offence severity .
New road rules 2025
From 10 October 2025, distracted driving rules have been expanded nationwide to explicitly target eating, sipping non‑alcoholic drinks, and vaping while a vehicle is in control, including when stationary in traffic or at signals where applicable state law treats the driver as still “driving” . Authorities have linked multitasking behind the wheel to a rise in crash risk and are backing enforcement with increased roadside checks and technology-assisted surveillance to improve compliance across states and territories .
What has changed
- Eating, drinking, and vaping are treated as high‑risk distractions attracting on‑the‑spot fines and demerit points across Australia, with advertised penalty ranges differing by jurisdiction and offence circumstances .
- Focused enforcement will include P‑platers and parents driving with children, reflecting higher observed distraction rates and risk profiles for these groups under the 2025 reforms .
- Repeat offenders face escalated consequences, including potential licence suspension where state rules allow, especially for provisional licence holders under targeted enforcement programs and campaigns .
Indicative penalties
- Eating while driving: commonly cited fine bands between roughly A$400 and A$1,200 and around 3 demerits depending on state policy and officer discretion under the updated regime .
- Drinking non‑alcoholic beverages: similar distracted‑driving treatment, with fines often overlapping the eating range and applied where driver control is deemed compromised .
- Vaping or smoking: higher‑tier penalties in multiple outlines, frequently positioned at the top of distracted‑driving bands given hand‑held device use and reduced attention, with stated maxima up to A$1,500 in some summaries .
- Mobile phone use: remains separately policed with higher fines and demerits than general distraction, continuing strict camera and patrol enforcement under existing programs .
Enforcement and technology
Police will deploy random spot checks and leverage AI‑assisted monitoring where implemented to detect handheld behaviours and in‑cabin distractions under local evidentiary standards, complementing ongoing mobile‑phone camera programs in several states . Campaigns led by transport agencies will run across schools, media, and licensing centres to drive awareness and reduce fatalities, with a stated national goal to cut road deaths materially through 2026 .
P‑platers and families
Provisional drivers face stricter thresholds with potential double demerits and faster escalation to suspension for repeat distracted‑driving offences, reflecting a preventive approach to high‑risk cohorts identified in 2025 policy updates . Parents transporting children are urged to plan rest stops for snacks and caregiving rather than multitask while moving, with penalties applied where distraction compromises vehicle control .
Practical guidance
- Treat the cabin as a distraction‑free zone: finish meals before driving, secure beverages, and avoid handling vapes or other handhelds while in traffic queues .
- Use planned breaks: pull over safely to manage food, drinks, and family needs, especially on school runs and long trips under heightened enforcement windows .
- Provisional drivers: review state‑specific demerit thresholds and suspension triggers to avoid rapid licence consequences from clustered infringements .
Related licensing updates
October 2025 also sees tightened licence conversion rules for international licence holders, with common grace periods of 3–6 months before mandatory conversion, plus knowledge and practical testing where applicants are not from exempt countries, varying by state authority processes . Migrants should confirm local timelines with state agencies such as Transport for NSW or VicRoads to avoid fines or disqualification after the grace period lapses .