The mobile industry has upped lobbying efforts against inconsistent state laws regarding use of mobile devices in cars.

With an ever-increasing number of mobile handsets now coming with GPS and turn-by-turn navigation functionality as well as in-built MP3 players, the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association has urged state governments to re-think laws which are proving confusing for both operators and end users alike.

Currently, both South Australia and Tasmania have banned the use of GPS-enabled mobile handsets in cars – but at the same time both allow the use of dedicated GPS units (such as TomTom or Garmin devices.) Late last year, the Victorian state government went in the complete opposite direction, legislating to allow drivers to use GPS-enabled mobiles if the device is placed in an approved dock or cradle. Over the coming year the Queensland, New South Wales and Northern Territory governments are expected to review laws regarding mobile-handset GPS in cars.

“We’re very concerned about road rules which have moved away from being technology neutral where you have one rule for the GPS function in a mobile and a completely different rule for a navigation device where they perform the same function and even use the same software,” AMTA CEO Chris Althaus told CommsDay.

“There is no justification for this differentiation for devices – certainly not on the grounds of safety,” he said. “It’s having a significant commercial impact on industry where their products are legal for use in one state and not another.”

States have been acting on in-car mobile GPS laws since the National Transport Commission recommended a ban on the use of mobile devices for navigation. Following pressure from AMTA, the South Australian government is now reviewing its laws, and earlier this week AMTA wrote to Tasmanian minister for infrastructure Graeme Sturges urging the state to review its own laws.

Late last year a similar debate took place in New Zealand – a draft of new legislation regarding mobile phone use in cars would have banned use of GPS-mobiles, but was quickly amended following public outcry to make GPS use legal. Talking, texting or emailing while driving remains illegal.

A spokesperson for Telstra said that while driver safety remains paramount there was a need for more balanced legislation on use of converged mobile devices. “The thing that we would advise consumers is to always check their local state laws regarding any mobile phone use for any purpose in vehicles,” the spokesperson said, adding that devices may need to be advertised differently according to different state laws. “We will obviously be reviewing our marketing materials in light of any changes to state laws.”

“The industry is focussed on driver safety,” she said. “We need to strike a balance between [use of GPS on mobile handsets] and driver safety. We’re working with state governments and the National Transport Commission to make sure safety is a priority.”