Latest news with #DepartmentofTransportandMainRoads
Herald Sun
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
‘Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
A young Queensland mum was blown away after the state knocked back her request for personalised number plates featuring her own name. Indica Bradford had dreamt of having her own custom plates since the day she got her licence. 'Everyone has personalised plates and I could get my full name because it's so unique,' she told A Current Affair. 'I was really excited about that for ages.' After years of checking online to see if her name was still available, she finally placed her order. 'I bought my new car, and I thought, I'll finally get them, so I put them on lay-by.' But the excitement was short-lived. A few weeks later, her deposit was refunded. The Department of Transport and Main Roads ruled her chosen plates inappropriate. 'Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) told me it's a strand of marijuana, so that's why they've deemed it inappropriate,' Indica said. Indica says her mother gave her the name after hearing it somewhere years before she was born. 'She loved it for years, and then when she finally had me, she named me the name she loved.' Neither of them had any idea the name was also linked to a subspecies of the cannabis plant. 'I think the majority of Australia would probably be the same. They wouldn't even know what it meant. 'It's just someone's unusual name.' Now, Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. 'I'm not trying to offend anyone. It's just my name, my legal name, on my birth certificate.' However, the government isn't budging. For all the latest science and technology news - download the app direct to your phone. Indica is calling on the department to reverse the decision. Picture: A Current Affair The Department of Transport and Main Roads said all personalised plate requests are assessed against strict criteria set by PPQ, and 'plates that do not meet the criteria are not approved for sale.' The policy is regularly updated to 'reflect current community and social norms' and to align with Queenslanders' expectations. The department added: 'This particular plate combination at the time was deemed inappropriate in relation to its interpretation as promotion of illegal drugs or criminal activity.' Indica isn't alone in having her request denied. Across Australia, thousands of number plates are rejected each year for toeing the line on what's considered offensive, inappropriate, or dangerous. In Western Australia, plates referencing drugs, alcohol, road safety concerns, discriminatory or offensive language, and government acronyms like ANZAC or RAAF are banned. Some rejected plates include CRMNL (crime reference), T3QUILA (alcohol), ADHD12 (mental health), ANILATR (deemed unsafe), and XIXIXIXIX (too difficult to read). WA car enthusiast Ian Atkinson received a complaint from a disability workforce member about his plate SPAKATAK in February 2022. Atkinson said the plates, which came with the car he bought two months earlier, cost about $600. 'When I bought it, I had no idea that it would offend anybody,' he told the ABC. 'It just depends on someone's interpretation.' The plate was approved in 2011 but would not pass today's stricter guidelines. He also tried to get HQQNIGAN (a play on Hoonigan), but that was also rejected because officials feared it might incite road rage. Failure to return cancelled plates can result in a penalty up to $22,000 and possible jail time. Picture: X In New South Wales, plates have been deemed even more controversial. After a Sydney motorist was spotted in Feb 2024, with plates reading OCT7TH, an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel, Transport for NSW ordered the plates to be surrendered. The driver claimed the plates were 'missing.' Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: 'No one will buy his excuse.' Authorities warned failure to return cancelled plates could result in a $2,000 fine, or up to $22,000 and possible jail time if a false statutory declaration is submitted. NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said: 'The NSW Government has zero tolerance for hate speech. 'We are not going to tolerate hatred and intolerance being spread in the community.' Other recalled plates in NSW included 88SEIG (linked to Nazi codes) and NAAZI4, despite the owner claiming, like Indica, that it was related to their name. However, it seems some unusual plates have slipped through the net. In October 2024, a Perth driver was accused of 'belittling the poor' after their luxury Mercedes, with the plate CENTRLINK, was photographed. The car was believed to have retailed for over $150,000. 'I very much doubt the owner of this Merc is on Centrelink,' wrote the person who uploaded the photo. The owner sparked significant public debate but in the end was not fined or required to surrender the plates. Plate rage isn't unique to Australia, in the UK John and Jackie Cooke, were left fuming after their personalised plate N14GAS, a nod to their football club, Bristol Rovers, was recalled in Jan 2025 after nearly 30 years. Some Aussie drivers got away scot-free with their risky license plates. Picture: Reddit The plate stands for 'Number one for the Gas', the club's nickname, and was originally suggested by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) staff in 1997. But concerns it could be misconstrued as a slur led to the plate being revoked. Jackie said: 'In 27 years, no-one has ever complained about this registration number being offensive.' Between 2022 and 2023, around 1,000 personalised plate applications in Western Australia were knocked back for being too offensive. Meanwhile, in Queensland, PPQ rejected 3,901 combinations in 2023 alone. Some of the banned contenders include GEN3CID, SAUC3D, RAMP4GE, BUYAGRAM and F4K3T4X1 (referring to a well-known porn site). Whether it's your legal name, a tongue-in-cheek joke, or your favourite sports team, if it's going on a plate, expect scrutiny. And in Indica's case, you can be named after a party plant your whole life and still be told it's too controversial for your bumper. Originally published as 'Inappropriate': QLD mum left reeling as her name is banned from Aussie number plates
Sydney Morning Herald
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane news live: Motorists more likely to speed in school zones
Latest posts Latest posts 7.23am Motorists more likely to speed in Queensland school zones By Research commissioned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads has found Queensland motorists have become more likely to speed in school zones but not road works zones. The 2024 research, released on Thursday, separated motorists into three categories. While the proportion of drivers classified as moderate or excessive speeders has declined in recent years, most Queensland motorists still fall into the low-level speeder category, where at least 11 per cent of their driving is at speeds up to 10km/h above the limit, but speeds between 11km/h and 20km/h over comprise less than 10 per cent of their driving. 'Overall, findings highlight that there has been little change in overall self-reported compliance with speed limits across all surveyed zones, with the exception of school zones, where there has been a reduction in compliance,' the research found. 'There has been an increase in intentional speeding in all zones except road works zones. There has also been a significant increase in the percentage of motorists reporting having received speeding fines and an increase in reported unsafe driving practices.' 7.13am Here comes the rain again? Days of occasional showers in Brisbane have led to what is promised to be a wet Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology says the likelihood of rain in the River City is at 90 per cent, with up to 15 millimetres expected. There's even the chance of a storm late this afternoon or tonight. Saturday is also forecast to be wet, although the prediction is for much less to fall. Showers should continue to clear on Sunday and into next week. Here's the seven-day outlook at a glance: 7.12am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Momentum is building in the Liberal Party to launch a special inquiry into its future, as Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud jostle over nuclear energy, risking a formal split. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about his views on religious faith as he prepares to travel to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV and hold meetings with world leaders. Four Australian cities have been labelled 'impossibly unaffordable' to buy a home, as separate research shows more than 30 per cent of dwellings now cost $1 million or more. A plan to hit some of the nation's wealthiest retirees with higher taxes on their superannuation nest eggs is shaping as the first test of the political power behind Anthony Albanese's thumping election victory. 7.05am The top news stories this morning Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Friday, May 16. Today we can expect showers and a top temperature of 23 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: Queensland is still home to federal party leaders. No sooner had Peter Dutton left the Liberal scene, the Greens looked north for their own champion, with Larissa Waters taking the reins. The return of QPAC's Out of the Box festival for under-eights is the perfect example of the state centre doing what it was meant to do, new boss Rachel Healy says. In sport, the Maroons weren't able to keep their chances alive in the second game of the Women's State of Origin series, going down to the Blues 26-6. The Gold Coast Suns posted a win over the Hawks in Darwin on Thursday night. Queensland Reds star Filipo Daugunu had a split-second choice to make in his side's clash against the Waratahs last Friday: exploit his side's numerical advantage or put rugby rivalry to the side to save Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from further harm.
The Age
15-05-2025
- Climate
- The Age
Brisbane news live: Motorists more likely to speed in school zones
Latest posts Latest posts 7.23am Motorists more likely to speed in Queensland school zones By Research commissioned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads has found Queensland motorists have become more likely to speed in school zones but not road works zones. The 2024 research, released on Thursday, separated motorists into three categories. While the proportion of drivers classified as moderate or excessive speeders has declined in recent years, most Queensland motorists still fall into the low-level speeder category, where at least 11 per cent of their driving is at speeds up to 10km/h above the limit, but speeds between 11km/h and 20km/h over comprise less than 10 per cent of their driving. 'Overall, findings highlight that there has been little change in overall self-reported compliance with speed limits across all surveyed zones, with the exception of school zones, where there has been a reduction in compliance,' the research found. 'There has been an increase in intentional speeding in all zones except road works zones. There has also been a significant increase in the percentage of motorists reporting having received speeding fines and an increase in reported unsafe driving practices.' 7.13am Here comes the rain again? Days of occasional showers in Brisbane have led to what is promised to be a wet Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology says the likelihood of rain in the River City is at 90 per cent, with up to 15 millimetres expected. There's even the chance of a storm late this afternoon or tonight. Saturday is also forecast to be wet, although the prediction is for much less to fall. Showers should continue to clear on Sunday and into next week. Here's the seven-day outlook at a glance: 7.12am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Momentum is building in the Liberal Party to launch a special inquiry into its future, as Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud jostle over nuclear energy, risking a formal split. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about his views on religious faith as he prepares to travel to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV and hold meetings with world leaders. Four Australian cities have been labelled 'impossibly unaffordable' to buy a home, as separate research shows more than 30 per cent of dwellings now cost $1 million or more. A plan to hit some of the nation's wealthiest retirees with higher taxes on their superannuation nest eggs is shaping as the first test of the political power behind Anthony Albanese's thumping election victory. 7.05am The top news stories this morning Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Friday, May 16. Today we can expect showers and a top temperature of 23 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: Queensland is still home to federal party leaders. No sooner had Peter Dutton left the Liberal scene, the Greens looked north for their own champion, with Larissa Waters taking the reins. The return of QPAC's Out of the Box festival for under-eights is the perfect example of the state centre doing what it was meant to do, new boss Rachel Healy says. In sport, the Maroons weren't able to keep their chances alive in the second game of the Women's State of Origin series, going down to the Blues 26-6. The Gold Coast Suns posted a win over the Hawks in Darwin on Thursday night. Queensland Reds star Filipo Daugunu had a split-second choice to make in his side's clash against the Waratahs last Friday: exploit his side's numerical advantage or put rugby rivalry to the side to save Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from further harm.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Cameras to tackle dangerous driving habit in this Australian state
Queensland is rolling out new 'tailgating awareness monitors' aimed at discouraging drivers from engaging in the unsafe act. But while these will use cameras to help identify and discourage tailgating drivers, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says they won't be used to enforce tailgating offences, so anybody identified by the monitors won't be penalised. Of course, should a police officer spot you tailgating another vehicle, you can be fined $376 and one demerit point. Notably, however, what constitutes a 'safe following distance' is isn't expressly prescribed in legislation. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The new tailgating awareness monitors function like existing Speed Awareness Monitors – signs with digital readouts of vehicles' speed, which read 'Slow for SAM' – with electronic message boards installed close to the detection sites. You'll get a green 'Safe Gap' message if you're travelling more than two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, and a red 'Too Close' message if you're travelling less than two seconds behind. The monitors will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week during an unspecified trial period. Supplied Credit: CarExpert They'll be installed at up to four locations in urban and regional areas, but the Queensland Government has not publicised their locations. TMR says images captured by the system 'will only be viewed by authorised personnel in the conduct of their official duties'. The Queensland Governments says drivers must keep a 'sufficient distance' behind a vehicle travelling in front of them so they can safety stop to avoid a potential crash. This distance varies depending on your speed and the driving conditions. The latest Annual Road Safety Survey by the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland (RACQ) found more than 20 per cent of drivers admitted to tailgating or verbally abusing other drivers, with the motoring club observing an increase in aggressive behaviour among drivers.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New roadside camera trial to target drivers breaching specific road rule in 'real-time'
Road authorities in one state are set to trial new camera technology aimed to change the behaviour of motorists while they're behind the wheel, and hopefully reduce a nasty habit that has been on the rise in recent years. Queensland is rolling out new technology that will warn drivers to back off if they're caught tailgating on the state's roads. The variable message signs will appear on the side of the road and will display messages to passing motorists if the monitoring technology detects them driving too close to the car in front. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has launched the system at one site and has a couple of others planned for the very near future. A spokesperson for TMR told Yahoo News the trial is very much a "fact finding" mission that is aiming to better understand how prevalent the issue of tailgating is. While drivers can be fined $376 for tailgating in Queensland, the data collected in the trial will simply be used to inform future road safety policies. For now, "there are absolutely no plans" to utilise such technology to issue official warnings or infringements, the spokesperson said. The problem of tailgating is, at least anecdotally, on the rise in Queensland, with one in five drivers recently admitting to doing it. The latest RACQ's Annual Road Safety Survey showed that 20 per cent of motorists admitted to tailgating others on the road, a response that has seen a gradual increase over the years. "Tailgating is a major contributor to road trauma in Queensland, being one of the main causes of rear end crashes," said Joanna Robinson, the general manager of Land, Transport, Safety, and Regulation at TMR. "This new technology will detect unsafe tailgating behaviour, and display a message to motorists in real-time." The signs will act much like the Slow for SAM (speed awareness monitors) signs in the state which are electronic displays which provide feedback to divers based on their detected speed. According to the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, rear end crashes are the most common type of road accident in that state, with the organisation urging drivers to make sure they leave a "two second" gap with the car in front, and more of a gap in adverse conditions such as rain. Meaning behind little-known roadside marker popping up on Aussie roads Tragic detail in Aussie roadside photo prompts urgent call to action Millions warned over new cameras with $3,300 fines and six demerit points Authorities around the country are working to reduce the number of road fatalities and change driver behaviour with greater surveillance and monitoring. "We are seeing an increase in people admitting to aggressive behaviours," RACQ's Road Safety and Technical Manager Joel Tucker said following the group's latest survey in October. "We all get stuck in traffic, we all have places to be and sometimes we make mistakes. It's important to keep a cool head and not to overreact to things that happen on the road, because the consequences of impatience or anger can be life-changing," he warned. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
