Traffic Law

It is not uncommon for the owners of 4×4 vehicles to deflate the vehicle’s tyres before they reach sand dunes or other off-road terrains. This practice can, and sometimes does, raise the attention of NSW Police who will often deem such practices to be unsafe. Deflating your vehicle’s tyres and subsequently driving on public roads…

Often when people think of road safety, they think about the rules and regulations surrounding motor vehicles. However, pedestrians have obligations too. One of these obligations is to cross a road by taking the shortest, safest route possible. This is the rationale behind fining pedestrians for jaywalking. What is jaywalking?  ‘Jaywalking’ is an American term…

Careless driving means driving without the degree of care and attention that a reasonable and prudent driver would exercise in the circumstances. The lack of due care and attention does not have to amount to negligence towards another person. It may just be a failure to exercise a reasonable degree of care and attention in…

A local government body in Western Australia is planning to ban the practice of wheel clamping within its boundaries. The City of Stirling recently voted unanimously to draft the Immobilisation and Detention of Vehicles Local Law 2019. The bill would ban wheel clamping in most circumstances and regulate the detention of vehicles including on private…

The RACQ recently released a list of the most commonly broken Queensland Road Rules. Some of these are rules that drivers may not be aware of. Some of them are rules that people know but break anyway. Being mindful of the Queensland road rules when you’re driving not only keeps the roads safe but can also…

The National Transport Commission (NTC) is currently reviewing how the Australian Road Rules deal with driver distraction. The current rules relating to driver distraction were developed in 1999 when mobile phones were mainly used for calls and text messages and in-vehicle technology was limited to television screens. The review will consider the variety of ways…

On 1 November 2018, the Victorian government introduced some changes to the road rules. There are now more severe penalties in relation to certain offences under the Road Safety Act 1986 (RSA) and the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009 (RSDR). It is hoped the changes will deter drivers from speeding and from driving whilst unlicenced or disqualified. Changes…

If you drive a vehicle with a weight of more than 4.5 tonnes on any road in Australia (except Western Australia) then you may find yourself before a Local Court or Magistrates Court for Heavy Vehicle offences. The requirements under Queensland and New South Wales legislation in this area are now quite onerous since changes…

The rules regarding cyclists in Tasmania both on roads and on paths are contained in the Road Rules 2009. The road rules apply to all vehicles including bicycles. They also set out some additional rules that apply only to bicycles and some rules that apply to motorists when encountering cyclists on the road. Additional rules…

Cyclists in South Australia must obey the same road rules as motorists as well as some extra rules that apply only to cyclists. When cyclists ride on a bike path or a shared path there are also rules they must abide by. The laws around riding bicycles are set out in the Australian Road Rules.…

Cycling rules are different in every state and territory. In Western Australia, cyclists of all ages are permitted to ride on the road or on the footpath, but must obey all road rules. Cycling rules are contained in the Road Traffic Code 2000 and in the Road Traffic Act 1974.  The most important road rules as they…

A new road rule involving stationary emergency vehicles was introduced in New South Wales on 1 September 2018. Another recent change is the introduction of lower speed limits in certain congested areas in Sydney suburbs over recent months. Cycling groups are calling on the state’s police to ramp up their efforts to enforce the little-known…

There are a few road rules in Queensland that are specific to a particular road or which are different to road rules in other states. If you are new to Queensland, or have been driving elsewhere, it is a good idea to refresh your memory of the road rules in this state. Truck drivers on…

Cyclists in Victoria are permitted to ride on the roads, on bike paths and on shared footpaths. Cyclists are generally not allowed to ride on pedestrian footpaths. Cyclists must obey all road rules as well as being subject to some extra rules that apply only to bicycles. Failure to obey the road rules can result…

A bicycle is a vehicle within the meaning of the Queensland Road Rules. If you are riding a bike on the roads, you must obey the road rules the same as any other vehicle. Cyclists can be issued with fines for breaking road rules, but no demerits are issued to cyclists. While all the road…

Under the Road Rules 2014, a bicycle is a ‘vehicle’ and the road rules for cyclists are the same as the road rules as drivers. There are also some special road rules for cyclists on New South Wales roads. Bicycle riders can be penalised if they commit offences on the roads. Penalties are generally issued…