Australia is the land of some strange and wacky road rules – not all of them well-known – but just how strictly are they enforced?
Drivers across the country have periodically been caught out for unusual requirements while behind the wheel of a car that result in fines worth hundreds of dollars each, with some infringements even costing millions within years.
Test your knowledge of the rules.
Transport and Main Roads put this question to drivers on X:
Can you be fined for queuing across a pedestrian crossing?
Answer: The answer is yes. Drivers face a penalty of $237 for the offence.
“You must not enter a crossing or intersection if you cannot drive through it because the crossing or the road beyond is blocked,” TMR said.
“Always slow down and be prepared to stop if there’s any danger you may collide with a pedestrian for everyone’s safety.”
Transport and Main Roads Queensland tested drivers with this question on X – Can this driver turn left after the bike has crossed but before the pedestrian?
Definitely not. Despite the green light, the car must give away to all those crossing the road first.
According to the TMR’s website, the same rules apply for cars using a slip lane when people are crossing the road.
woman was hit with multiple fines after police spotted her taking a child to school on an e-bike in Liverpool, in Sydney’s south-west.
So what did police say she did wrong?
Posting on the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Facebook page, police said the woman had been pulled over for not complying with a number of road rules – including riding an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, not having the correct licence, and carrying a passenger under eight years old on the bike without using a sidecar.
The child, police allege, was five years old and riding pillion.
Police would like to remind the community that these E-Bikes are considered motor vehicles in the state of New South Wales and are required to comply with all ADR (Australian Design Rules),” police wrote.
“They need to be road registered, display official number plates issued by Service NSW and the rider must hold a Class R driver licence and wear the correct protective helmet as per AS/NZS 1698.”
The woman’s fines added up to $2575.
Transport and Main Roads Queensland has put drivers to the test with this trick road rule question.
“The red car and yellow car are approaching a T-intersection,” it posed in a Twitter post.
“Who needs to give way?”
The blue car must give way to both the yellow car and red car.
A man was travelling along Monash Road in Blacktown, in Western Sydney, about 7.10am on Friday last week.
Police, however, clocked the green Toyota allegedly driving at more than double the speed limit.
The Toyota was detected driving at a speed of 103kph instead of the 50kph allowed on that road.
When the driver was stopped, he pulled out a heavy vehicle licence.
His response?
“I am so late for work,” the 22-year-old man said.
