New drivers will be banned from using hands-free mobile phones

That's it! No more talky and drivy for the ozzy noob drivers...New Australian driving license laws in Australia say all new drivers will be banned from using hands-free mobile phones under plans to cut the youth road toll.
Monash University Accident Research Centre senior research fellow Michael Regan said evidence was mounting that hands-free phones were just as dangerous.

Both hands-free and hand-held mobile phones increase the risk of having a fatal crash between four or five times. That increase in risk is equivalent to having a blood alcohol concentration of .08,

he said.
Dr Regan said L and P-plate drivers were more prone to distraction.

If you're going to target a particular group initially with a piece of legislation, it makes more sense to target them. A ban will send the right message to young drivers that hands-free mobiles aren't safe. Indirectly, that will send a message to the rest of the community,

he said.
[Via Herald Sun]