Settlement Guide: 7 Australian Road Rules you might not know about

Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road and use the metric system of distances and speeds. Australia is a large country with a highly urbanised population of ca. 24 million clustered along the coast. Consequently the road network varies greatly in type, surface and the provision of services en route. There are often very long distances between towns which have fuel, water and/or food.

Australian Road Sign Source: Ron Sumbers via Pixwords

For many new migrants, the road rules in Australia can sometimes be confusing and can lead many of us to commit driving offences without even realising it.

Here are seven Australian road rules you might not know about.

There’s no such a thing as safe drink driving

Source: Pixabay

Australia has strict laws about drinking alcohol and driving, with the legal limit set at 0.05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Learners and probationary license-holders must have a 0.00 BAC.

Talking or texting on a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal

Source: (Dark Horse)

It also includes holding the phone away from your face on loud speaker even while stationary in traffic. Also in NSW, if you get caught using a hand held mobile phone in a school zone the fine is $397 and four demerit points.

Driving through an orange traffic light if it was deemed you had time to stop is illegal

Source: traffic lights by AAP Image-Dan Himbrechts

Both in NSW and Victoria it carries the same offence as running a red light: $397 and three demerit points in NSW and $282 and three demerit points in Victoria.

Not stopping at a stop sign is illegal

Source: AAP

A stop sign means stop. Police warns it’s not a roll through. The car must come to a complete stop and the wheels must stop moving. Failing to do so is a $282 ticket and three demerit points in Victoria and $298 and three demerit points in NSW.

Read more here.

Tooting your horn and waving goodbye is illegal

Source: Supplied

A toot of the horn and a wave goodbye out the window as you drive down the street could cost you almost $600 and three demerit points in NSW. In Victoria, the toot and wave will set you back $282 but no points.

Driving with an animal on your lap is illegal

Source: VicRoads via Facebook

In NSW the fine is $397 and three demerit points, in Victoria it’s $211 but no demerit points are taken off you.

Driving barefoot is OK!

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Driving barefoot is legal in both NSW and Victoria. In fact,

some road safety experts advocate it

, especially if the option is thongs or high heels!

Put your driver's knowledge to the test with this practice quiz created by SBS Italian - based on questions asked by RMS NSW (note though that exact laws vary by state).