Distracted driving is one of those risks that feels harmless in the moment and looks obvious in hindsight. Most of the attention goes to phones, and for good reason, but a distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off the task. This guide covers what counts, what the Queensland phone law actually says at each licence stage, the current penalties, and a few practical habits that help. It matters most for newer drivers, so if you are a parent checking the rules for a son or daughter, the licence-stage selector below is the part to read.
What actually counts as distraction
Distraction is anything that pulls your attention from driving. Safety researchers group it three ways: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel) and cognitive (mind off the task). A phone is the one that manages all three at once, which is why the law treats it so seriously.
It helps to see the everyday sources rather than think of it as one big thing called "using your phone". These are the ones that come up most in lessons and on Queensland roads.
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Phones and screens
Texting, scrolling, checking a map by hand or glancing at a smartwatch. The one distraction that is visual, manual and mental together.
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Eyes off the road
Reading a billboard, watching a crash on the other side, or looking down to find something. At 60km/h, two seconds looking away is about 33 metres driven blind.
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Hands off the wheel
Eating, drinking, sorting through a bag or adjusting the stereo. Small tasks that leave you slower to react when something changes.
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Mind elsewhere
Running through an argument, a to-do list or the day ahead. Your eyes can be forward while your attention is not, and it is easy to miss.
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Passengers and pets
A lively conversation, mates in the back or an unrestrained pet. Good company, but worth managing while you are still building experience.
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In-car settings
Climate controls, touchscreens and navigation set up while moving. Sort these before you drive off, not at the next set of lights.
Phone rules by licence stage
The rule is not the same for every driver. Holding a phone is banned for everyone, but learner and P1 drivers under 25 also cannot use hands-free or loudspeaker. Pick a stage below to see exactly what applies. These are Queensland rules, set by Transport and Main Roads.
Learner licence Total ban
The strictest rules apply while you are learning.
Hand-heldNever. You cannot hold a phone or rest it on any part of your body while driving.
Hands-free & loudspeakerAlso banned. No cradle calls, no wireless headset, no loudspeaker, no voice control.
In a pocket or bagIf the phone is on you, you cannot touch it, look at it or operate it by voice at all.
Your passengersPassengers of a learner cannot use the phone's loudspeaker function either.
If you are caughtA learner loses their licence after a single mobile phone offence, on top of the $1,295 fine. It is the one rule that ends a learner permit fastest.
P1 provisional, under 25 Total ban
The same complete ban carries over onto your red Ps.
Hand-heldNever, the same as for everyone on the road.
Hands-free & loudspeakerStill banned if you are under 25. No cradle calls, headset, loudspeaker or voice control.
Your passengersA P1 driver's passengers cannot use the phone's loudspeaker while you are driving.
If you are 25 or overA P1 holder aged 25 or over follows the hands-free rules for P2 and open licences instead.
If you are caught$1,295 and 4 demerit points, and a P-plater risks licence suspension or a one-year good driving behaviour period from a single offence.
P2 provisional
Hands-free becomes available, with conditions.
Hand-heldStill banned. You cannot hold or rest a phone anywhere on your body while driving.
Hands-free in a cradleAllowed. A phone secured in a mounted cradle can be used for calls, music and navigation.
Voice from a pocketAllowed by voice only. You still cannot touch it or look at it.
Worth knowing"Hands-free" still uses part of your attention. Set up your route or playlist before you move off, not at the lights.
Open licence
The same hand-held ban, with hands-free permitted.
Hand-heldBanned. Holding a phone is an offence even if it is off or you are stopped in traffic.
Hands-free in a cradleAllowed. Accept a call, follow the map or skip a song from a securely mounted phone.
Voice from a pocketAllowed by voice only, with no touching or looking, and the phone must not block your view.
Common trapChecking a message at a red light still counts. The phone does not need to be in use for holding it to be an offence.
The current Queensland penalties
Illegal mobile phone use while driving in Queensland carries a $1,295 fine and 4 demerit points. A repeat offence within a year brings double demerit points and another fine. For learners and P-platers, one offence can cost the licence itself.
These figures were increased under the Queensland Government's indexation policy from 1 July 2025 and are current as of July 2026. Confirm the latest amount at qld.gov.au before relying on it.
| Situation |
Fine |
Demerit points |
Extra consequence |
| First offence |
$1,295 |
4 |
Recorded on your traffic history |
| Repeat within 1 year |
$1,295 |
Double (8) |
Higher risk of suspension |
| Learner driver |
$1,295 |
4 |
Licence suspended after one offence |
| P1 or P2 driver |
$1,295 |
4 |
Suspension or a 1-year good behaviour period |
| Open licence |
$1,295 |
4 |
2 offences in a year can mean suspension |
When you can legally touch your phone
There are a few narrow exceptions, and they all depend on the car being safely stopped and out of the line of traffic. You can hold your phone when you have pulled over and parked, or when you are stationary in a spot that is not on the road, to:
- Pay for goods or services, such as at a drive-through.
- Get in or out of a road-related area like a car park, for example to reach a boom gate.
- Show a digital driver licence or other document to police when asked.
- Take a card or cash out of a phone wallet for one of the reasons above.
Sitting at a red light or crawling in traffic does not count as stopped. The engine may be idling, but you are still driving in the eyes of the law, and holding the phone is still an offence.
Practical ways to stay focused
Most distraction comes down to decisions made before you drive off, not willpower at 80km/h. A little setup removes the temptation entirely.
None of this is complicated, and the habits that work for a nervous learner tend to work just as well for an experienced driver in a hurry.
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Silence it before you go
Do not disturb, or a driving focus mode, stops the notifications that make you reach for the phone in the first place.
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Set the route first
Enter the destination while parked. Once you are moving, follow the voice, not the screen.
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Put the phone out of reach
For learners and P1 drivers, the boot or a bag on the back seat removes any question of touching it.
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Pull over if it matters
An urgent call can wait for a safe, legal spot to stop. Nothing on a phone is worth a suspension or a crash.
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Sort settings while parked
Mirrors, climate, music and seat all before you move off, so you are not adjusting them at the lights.
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Manage the car
It is fine to ask passengers to hold a conversation for a moment while you deal with a busy intersection.
Common questions from Queensland drivers
Phone rules and penalties were checked against the Queensland Government (qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/mobile-phones) in July 2026. Crash-risk and driver behaviour figures are from the Queensland Government StreetSmarts campaign. Penalties are indexed and can change, so confirm the current amounts with Transport and Main Roads before relying on them. This article is general information, not legal advice.
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