Road Transport & Accidents
8. Road Rules
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 26 Aug 2015
- There are numerous road rules that have been created to keep road users safe when operating vehicles. For more information about the road rules within your state or territory contact your local licensing authority.
- The combination of alcohol or drugs and driving is one of the gravest dangers to personal safety that the law attempts to prevent.
- If you are on a learners (L) or probationary (P) class licence you are not permitted to have any blood alcohol concentration whilst operating a motor vehicle.
- All other licences have limits to the blood alcohol concentration that a driver can have while operating a motor vehicle.
- The law prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of drugs.
- You can be arrested if the police think that you are driving under the influence of drugs and they can direct that you provide blood and urine samples for analysis.
- Driving with animals is also only allowed under specific conditions. You are not allowed to drive with an animal sitting on your lap. You are also not allowed to operate a motor cycle with an animal sitting between yourself and the handlebars.
- Seatbelts and child restraints must be used in all applicable scenarios. Every person within the vehicle must wear an approved seatbelt. Passengers under the age of 7 are not permitted to travel in the front seat under any circumstances.
- There are a number of laws regulating how children are to be restrained in a car.
- Children up to the age of 6 months must be secured in a rear facing restraint.
- Children between 6 and 12 months may be in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
- Children between 12 months and 4 years must be in a forward facing restraint.
- Children between 4 and 7 years must be in an approved restraint or booster seat.
- In some states and territories taxi drivers are not required by law to wear seatbelts. However industry standards strongly recommend that they do so for their safety.
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