Is it an email from your boss about tomorrow’s big meeting? Maybe your friend has posted yet another Instagram pic of her adorable new golden retriever puppy. Or is it just a text from your partner reminding you to buy milk on the way home?

Oh, the temptation to check your watch and respond. But there’s a problem: you’re driving. Is it legal to use your smartwatch while at the wheel? We find out.

What’s a smartwatch?

Like most watches, a smartwatch is worn on your wrist. It’s the smart technology that sets it apart from analogue and digital watches.

Not only can a sophisticated smartwatch tell you your heart rate and how many steps you’ve walked that day, but it can also sync with your phone to send and receive text messages, emails and phone calls or alert you to social media posts.

Smartwatches are becoming ubiquitous and so effective that people have been known to ditch their mobile phones altogether.

New technology can throw confusion into our decisions behind the wheel. But if you’re ever in doubt, remember: if it’s distracting you while driving, you shouldn’t use it while behind the wheel.

Smartwatches and the law

Victoria is the only state or territory with legislation on the use of smartwatches while driving. Here in South Australia, the legislation doesn’t specifically mention smartwatches, but they’re considered an extension of the smartphone for road rule purposes.

Depending on a driver’s licence class, the use of smartwatches might be restricted, like mobile phones.”

South Australian law says a mobile phone, and therefore a smartwatch, can’t be used to make or receive phone calls (with some exceptions), emails, or text messages. You also can’t use it to access social media. The rules vary a little depending on the licence type.

Drivers with a full or P2 licence

Fully licenced drivers and those with a P2 provisional licence can use some mobile phone functions (and therefore a smartwatch) when driving. This includes receiving a call through Bluetooth if you don’t need to touch any part of the phone to answer, or it is mounted in a cradle.

Learners and P1 drivers

A learner driver mustn’t use any mobile phone functions while driving. This includes hands-free mode, Bluetooth, or the loudspeaker. So, for these drivers, using a smartwatch for anything while driving is a no-no.

A final word

No doubt many South Australians will receive or treat themselves to a smartwatch during the festive season. Most people in the smartwatch club want to do the right thing and not let them become a distraction when behind the wheel.

Although we don’t have smartwatch-specific legislation in South Australia, it doesn’t mean we won’t in the future. In the meantime, RAA suggests that motorists think of smartwatches as mobile phones. When you’re driving, if you can’t do it with a mobile phone, you can’t do it with a smartwatch.

If you receive a message while you’re cruising along or stopped at the lights, chances are it isn’t urgent, and it can wait until you reach your destination. If you’re expecting an urgent message, then find a safe spot to pull over before reading it.