You're stopped at the lights on Karrinyup Road when your phone buzzes. It might be the person you're picking up, and the light looks like it'll stay red for a while. So can you use your phone at a red light in WA, just for a quick look?
No. In Western Australia, you can't pick up your phone or read a message while you're stopped at a red light. The same goes when traffic comes to a standstill. If you need to read or reply to a message, wait until you're legally parked. The WA Road Safety Commission's mobile phone rules say this applies even when you're stopped in traffic or at the lights.
This matters when you're learning. On some Perth roads you spend more time sitting in traffic than moving, and every stop can feel like a chance to check your phone. With phone and seatbelt fines starting on the Mitchell Freeway in December, now is a good time to practise what you'll do when your phone buzzes.
What counts as using your phone at the lights?
Picking up your phone to see who's calling counts as holding it, even if you never unlock the screen. Resting it on your lap counts too, even with both hands on the wheel. A phone mount doesn't make it legal to read a text, check an email or look at a social media message while you're stopped in traffic.
The fine depends on what you were doing. Holding your phone, touching it or resting it on your body is $500 and three demerit points. Reading or sending a text, email or social media post is more serious, at $1,000 and four demerit points. Demerit points can go up during double-demerit periods.
Can you use your phone for maps or calls?
Yes, for maps, if the phone sits in a mount attached to the car and you can follow the directions without touching it. Set your destination and turn on spoken directions while you're parked. If the destination changes partway through the trip, find somewhere legal to park before you type in the new address.
Calls work a little differently. You can make or take a voice call if your phone is in a mount attached to the car, or if you use it hands-free without holding or touching it. A WA fact sheet on phone distraction points out that even hands-free calls still take some of your attention. For a learner, letting the call go to voicemail is often easier. A busy merge or an unfamiliar intersection gives you plenty to think about already.
What changes on the Mitchell Freeway on 1 December?
Perth's fixed Mitchell Freeway safety cameras are at Karrinyup Road in Stirling and Vincent Street in Leederville. They have fined drivers for speeding since June. For phone and seatbelt offences, drivers have only been getting caution notices so far. That six-month caution period ends when fines start on 1 December 2026. You can read more in the Road Safety Commission's safety camera guide and the WA Government's announcement of the start date.
Remember, the phone rules already apply everywhere in WA, including the suburban streets around Karrinyup that lead you to the freeway.
The cameras check seatbelts as well. Before you move off, make sure the sash sits over the middle of your shoulder and across your chest, with the lap belt low and snug over your hips. That's the fit the Road Safety Commission's seatbelt guide describes. If the belt rubs your neck, adjust your seat or the belt height while you're parked. Keep the sash over your shoulder for the whole drive.
A simple routine for your next practice drive
Before you leave the driveway, decide who's doing the directions. If you're supervising a learner, give directions early and one at a time. "Turn left at the next set of lights" gives them time to check their mirrors, signal and get into position. A last-second "turn here" can make a learner feel rushed.
If you're the learner, switch on Do Not Disturb before you move off. If you don't need the phone for maps, put it out of reach. When it buzzes at the lights, keep watching the crossing and the traffic around you. If you miss a turn, keep going and let your supervisor or the navigation guide you to the next safe option. There's always another way to get there. If you're looking for quieter roads to practise this, this guide shows where to practise driving in Perth.
Questions learners ask about phones at the lights
Does the rule still apply if traffic isn't moving at all?
Yes. Being stopped in traffic or at the lights is still driving. The rules only stop applying once you're legally parked.
Can I touch my phone in a mount to answer a call?
Yes. If your phone is secured in a mount attached to the car, you can touch it to make or take a voice call. You still can't read or send texts, even with the phone in the mount.
Can I use my phone for maps if it's on the passenger seat?
No. For maps, the phone has to be in a mount attached to the car, and you shouldn't need to touch it. A phone sitting loose on the seat or in your lap doesn't count.
Do double demerits apply to phone offences?
They can. Demerit points can go up during holiday periods and on double-demerit dates, so the same mistake can cost more points at Christmas or Easter.
What's the safest thing to do with my phone as a learner?
Turn on Do Not Disturb and put the phone somewhere you can't reach before you start the car. Checking a phone is a habit that's easy to slip into, so it pays to catch bad driving habits early, before they follow you into your PDA.
Practise good phone habits with Dovetail Driving
Good habits are easiest to build early. In lessons with Lisa, you practise calm, safe routines for the lights, the freeway and busy intersections, one step at a time. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and that's what lessons are for.
Let Dovetail Driving bring your driving skills together. Have a look at beginner driving lessons, or get in touch with Lisa to talk about what you need.
