The Automobile Association says a review will clarify when motorists can and can't use phones in cars.

Transport authorities are rethinking whether it's all right to use mobile phones in vehicles for things like accessing road safety information.

The Safer Journeys Strategy is calling for a review of legislation by the end of the year to identify "unnecessary barriers" to the use of technology, including accessing road safety information safely on mobile devices in vehicles.

AA spokesman Mark Stockdale said at the moment the law prevents motorists from using a hand held phone while driving and bans texting.

"Any other use of a phone is actually permitted provided that you don't that you don't have to operate the phone frequently, and that covers things like using it to play your music, it covers things like GPS and it will cover things like parking apps.

Stockdale said there are technologies on phones that make life easier for motorists like GPS and parking apps.

"In this review if it better clarifies what you can and can't use a phone for and makes it clear that these technologies that could assist motorists and could even improve safety, well those things are certainly worth investigating."