Queensland’s most surprising road rules exposed
Queensland drivers can be fined for not following road rules they may not even be aware of. Picture: File
TRUCK drivers may be fuming over fresh laws which will restrict them to only using the left lanes on the M1 from August — but do you know at what speed you’re required by law to keep left unless overtaking?
Are mobility scooter riders required to wear helmets? Are you able to weave through a funeral procession provided you stay within the speed limit? And how close can you park to the car in front of you?
There are a number of road laws which many of us think we’ll get fined for — but you won’t — and then there are other rules which simply catch us by surprise.
Here’s some rules we hope will make you wiser, more patient and save you a fine or two.
Can I stir into an intersection to turn right at traffic lights?
If you’re turning right at an intersection with traffic lights, you may budge to the middle of the intersection, if safe to do so, and once the road is clear of traffic and pedestrians, finish the turn. Should the traffic light or arrow switch to yellow or crimson while you are waiting to turn, you can finish the turn as soon as you can securely do so.
How long do you have to indicate for when leaving a parked position?
You must indicate for a minimum of five seconds when you inject a road from a parked position.
Can you go through a crimson light to make way for an emergency vehicle?
While the law permits you to drive onto the wrong side of the road or drive through a crimson traffic light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle, you should only take this act if there is no other safe option.
Do motorised wheelchair or mobility scooter riders have to wear a helmet?
Users of motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters do not need to wear a helmet. However, mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs, which are used on a footpath or a road, must be registered and only travel on the footpath or nature undress.
Do pets have to be restrained inwards a vehicle?
It is an offence to drive with an animal in your lap or to drive when you don’t have decent control of your vehicle. It’s recommended animals travelling inwards vehicles to be restrained for the safety and welfare of the animal and the occupants of the vehicle, however, the road rules do not specifically require an animal to be restrained while travelling inwards a vehicle.
When you must keep left on multi-lane roads.
On multi-lane roads, if the speed limit is more than 80km/h, or if the road has a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign, you must not drive in the right-hand lane unless you are overtaking, turning right, making a U-turn, avoiding an obstruction, driving in congested traffic or legally using a special purpose lane.
When can you cross a single unbroken white line?
You can only cross a single continuous centre line to come in or leave a road, including coming in or leaving a property, and to securely pass cyclists.
Who has right of way when one motorist faces a Give Way sign and the other is at a Stop sign?
You may think a Stop sign is more powerful than a Give Way sign when providing way, but it’s not. When two drivers arrive at Stop and Give ways signs at the same time, the Stop sign becomes the equivalent of a Give Way sign. Both vehicles must give way to other vehicles before they give way to each other. It is just the vehicle facing the Stop sign that must fully stop. The person facing the Give Way sign only needs to stop if it is necessary.
When are you required to lock your vehicle?
Once you’re more than three metres from your vehicle it is considered unattended. You must switch off the engine, apply the park brake, eliminate the ignition key (if there is no one sixteen years of age or older in the vehicle), wind up the windows (a gap of 5cm or less is acceptable) and lock doors. The rule applies to all roads and road-related areas, including car parks.
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Do you have to report a crash to police if no-one is injured?
Besides needing to report an accident in which someone has been injured or killed, you must also report an accident to police if a vehicle needs to be towed, or the other driver rejects to provide their details.
Pedestrians have right of way when you’re turning in a slip lane.
You may get to bypass the traffic lights at a slip lane, but you can only turn left at anytime with care. That means providing way to any pedestrians or vehicles on the slip lane and to vehicles on the road you’re injecting.
If you find yourself sharing the road with a funeral procession, you must not attempt to drive through or interrupt the progress of the procession or you may be fined.
Sometimes passenger are not permitted to use the speaker phone function.
Learner and P1 licence holders under twenty five are banned from using mobile phones at any time while driving. This includes using hands-free kits, Bluetooth accessories and loudspeaker functions. Supervisors and any passengers of Learners and P1 drivers are also banned from using mobile phones on loudspeaker function.
Providing way to horses
When a person in charge of a pony gives a signal — by raising a arm and pointing to the pony — you must give way. You should drive to the side of the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine. Keep the engine off and the car stopped until there is no reasonable chance that the noise of the engine or movement of your vehicle will further upset the pony
Maximum tow cord length
If you are towing a car with a towline, the towline must not be more than four metres long.
Keep your distance — cars are not permitted to smooch when parked.
You must not park or stop within one m of another parked car or within 1m of a fire hydrant or fire buttplug indicator and less than 10m from an intersection without traffic lights or less than 20m from an intersection with traffic lights.
* For a detailed explanation of each rule please refer to the official Department of Transport and Main Roads