The quick goodbye beep, the “cool” elbow-out-the-window pose and other seemingly harmless driving habits could take a serious toll on motorists’ wallets.
Authorities warn drivers could be in for a bumpy ride if they ignore some of the more obscure road rules, with National Road Safety Week now underway across Australia.
The annual campaign runs from May 17 to 24 and comes as about 1200 people are killed and more than 40,000 seriously injured on our roads every year.
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Research compiled by Youi Insurance has highlighted a string of little-known driving offences across the country, with some carrying fines worth hundreds of dollars and multiple demerit points.
One of the biggest surprises for drivers is NSW’s crackdown on unnecessary horn use.
A quick goodbye honk could cost drivers more than they realise under some of Australia’s lesser-known road rules. Credit: CarExpert A casual beep to say hello or goodbye could attract a fine of about $410 under current NSW road rules.
Under Rule 224, horns can only legally only be used to warn other road users or animals of danger, or as part of an anti-theft or alcohol interlock device.
Griffith University road safety expert Associate Professor Darren Wishart said even unusual road rules were generally backed by legitimate safety concerns.
“No matter how obscure or unnecessary a traffic offence might first appear to the average road user, it’s very rare that there’s a road rule in Australia that doesn’t carry some kind of safety implication,” he said.
Tourists heading to Queensland’s K’gari — the world’s largest sand island — in hired 4WDs could face fines of about $500 and three demerit points for carrying more than seven passengers.
Drivers can also be penalised for strapping camping gear to the roof of the vehicle.
Wishart said the laws were introduced after serious rollover crashes involving tourists unfamiliar with beach driving.
“If you have a combination of driver inexperience in this environment and plenty of luggage on the roof rack, which raises the centre of gravity, there’s an increased risk of a crash resulting in multiple injuries or fatalities,” he said.
Drivers can face hefty fines for passengers not wearing seatbelts correctly, including placing the strap under the arm instead of across the chest. Credit: Facebook South Australian drivers can be fined for failing to cancel their indicator after completing a turn. Credit: Facebook Other little-known offences across Australia include:
Entering a roundabout in the wrong lane in South Australia, attracting fines of up to $538 and three demerit points Riding an e-scooter on a footpath in Victoria, costing $198 Driving with both headlights and fog lights on in WA, resulting in a $100 fine Stopping beside a continuous yellow line in Tasmania, attracting a fine of about $152 Driving while a passenger has a body part hanging outside the window in the ACT, which can cost $219 NSW drivers can also be fined $423 and lose three demerit points for driving with any part of their body protruding outside the vehicle, including resting an elbow out the window or waving from the car Looking at a passenger’s phone while driving in the Northern Territory, carrying a $500 fine and three demerit points L and P-platers in NSW driving with headphones or earbuds connected to a mobile phone, risking fines of more than $400 and five demerit points And drivers can also cop hefty penalties for wearing a seatbelt incorrectly, including tucking the belt under the arm, with NSW motorists facing fines of more than $400 and three demerit points, while Queensland drivers can be hit with penalties exceeding $1200 and four demerit points. Drivers in some states can be fined if passengers have body parts hanging outside moving vehicles. Credit: Freepik.com/Getty Images Some of the stranger road rules do not stop there.
Victorian drivers can also be fined for leaving a parked car unsecured with the windows rolled down by more than 2cm.
In Tasmania, motorists can be fined about $152 for leading or tethering an animal while driving a moving vehicle.
ACT and SA drivers can also be penalised for reversing further than necessary, while there is no exact distance limit, with South Australian drivers can face penalties exceeding $300 for the offence.
SA drivers can also face fines of up to $356 and two demerit points for failing to cancel their indicator after turning.
NSW once had a road rule making it illegal for drivers to speed through puddles and splash muddy water onto people waiting for or boarding a bus.
NSW once had a road rule banning drivers from speeding through puddles and splashing muddy water onto people waiting at bus stops, but not pedestrians. Credit: Getty Images Oddly, the rule did not apply to ordinary pedestrians waiting at crossings. The offence was repealed in 2020.