Uncover the weirdest road rules in Australia

Every year, Aussies seize the chance to visit family, go on holidays and take day trips. Sometimes these trips may take you to states and territories, or even regional areas, that you’ve never been to before.

And although most of our road rules are consistent across states and territories – speeding is as illegal in Tasmania as it is in Queensland – there are some unusual laws in Australia that you may not know about. To help keep you on the right side of the law and prepare you for your interstate travels, we’ve compiled a list of lesser-known regional road rules.

Weird laws in Queensland

Horses may be an unlikely roadside companion in Queensland, but keep an eye out for them, nevertheless. Drivers in the Sunshine State must give way to ‘restive’ horses (those that can’t remain still). At the signal of the rider of the horse, drivers must pull over until they’re sure the noise from the vehicle or the movement of the vehicle won’t aggravate the horse.

Weird laws in New South Wales

When you make a well-earned rest stop or petrol stop, make sure you lock the car before you pop inside the local servo. In New South Wales, drivers who move three metres from their car without locking the doors and securing the windows are liable to be fined.

Weird laws in Australian Capital Territory 

Canberra is known for its many roundabouts that limit congestion but are notoriously misunderstood. If you’re planning to make a trip to this great city, make sure you brush up on the road rules about roundabouts before you visit. 

Remember to give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, use the correct lane and flick on your left indicator as you leave the roundabout – yes, even if you’re going straight. 

If someone equipped with a fluoro vest and a clipboard approaches your vehicle at a red light, don’t panic. The ACT is the only Australian state or territory that allows ‘roadside commerce’. This means that windscreen washers, donation collectors and other brave entrepreneurs can legally try their luck for a sale when you’re stopped.  

Weird laws in Victoria

Caught up in your music and overshot your destination? Never fear. In Victoria, drivers are allowed to make U-turns at traffic arrows unless there is a sign explicitly prohibiting it. 

Another unique Australian road rule in Victoria is Melbourne’s notorious ‘hook turn’. This hook turn permits cars to turn right from the left lane of signed inner city roads to safely traverse the tram tracks. If you’re driving in Melbourne for the first time, this can take some time to get used to. 

Weird laws in South Australia 

When it comes to unusual laws in Australia, South Australia is gearing up to be Australia’s most futuristic state. The state has legalised approved trials for self-driving cars and drivers can carry in place of their physical licenses. 

Weird laws in Tasmania 

It’s often tempting to squeeze as many cars through a favourable light as possible but beware. Tasmania is unique in that it forbids drivers from exceeding 20km/h when turning at a traffic light. 

Tasmania also requires something called a ‘zip merge’ whenever lanes are merging, and the road doesn’t have lane markings. In this case, you must always give way to any vehicle that is ahead of you.  

Weird laws in Western Australia

If you’re passing a roadside emergency in Western Australia, make sure you drive in SLOMO. The aptly named SLOMO, or ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ law, is one of the most unusual laws in Australia. It requires drivers to slow to a speed of no greater than 40km/h when passing stationary incident response vehicles with flashing lights and, if safe to do so, to move to another lane.  

Weird laws in Northern Territory 

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t drive under the influence of drugs anywhere, but with the Northern Territory’s new roadside drug-testing regime, driving under the influence is more needlessly risky than ever. 

Also, in the Northern Territory you mustn’t drive with dirty windows at night. This could impair your ability to see, and you could be fined.  

Shine Lawyers – we're here to help  

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, whether or not caused by unusual laws in Australia, get in touch with our expert team of accident lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation.  

Our team of expert lawyers can help you to understand your rights and access your full entitlements on a No Win, No Fee*. In some cases, you may also be eligible to access benefits through superannuation. 

Our team’s advice is tailored to help you achieve the best possible outcome for you, whether you’ve been injured in a car or truck, on a motorbike or bike, or even as a pedestrian.   

To get started, use our free claim checker or speak to one of our experts over the phone.  

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