Latest news with #roadrules
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Automotive
- BreakingNews.ie
Quiz: Are you a good driver? Do you know the rules of the road?
Everybody likes to think they are a good driver. We can be quick to point out other people's poor driving, leading to the beep of a horn or shake of a fist, while being blind to our own poor judgement. Advertisement So, why not put your knowledge of the rules of the road to the test by taking our quiz?
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Warning over Australia's 'most obscure' road rule attracting $2,000 fines
Australian drivers are expected to know the road rules in their jurisdiction, but every now and then, a lesser-known law catches people off guard. Almost everyone's been guilty of leaving their car unlocked for a quick dash into a shop or to grab a coffee — sometimes without even thinking about it. But in most parts of the country, leaving your car unsecured is actually a fineable offence. Speaking to Yahoo News, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh branded the rule possibly the country's least known of all. "This is perhaps the most obscure road rule," he said. "Most drivers are completely unaware of it and are usually shocked when the police confront them and explain that they can be fined for leaving their windows and or doors unlocked." While being lesser known, this rule exists to reduce the risk of car theft and break-ins. Leaving a car secured means doors and windows are both properly locked, to ensure it's not an easy target for opportunistic thieves. It also helps protect public safety, as stolen vehicles are often used in further crimes or dangerous driving. In some cases, if an unlocked car is stolen and causes damage, the owner could be partially liable. Overall, the law encourages drivers to take basic precautions and reinforces personal responsibility for securing their property. There is an exception to the rule, Singh, Principal Lawyer at Astor Legal, said. Drivers are allowed, in most cases, to leave a window open by up to two centimetres, which can offer minimal ventilation if, for example, a dog is inside. "The legislation provides a defence if you have a window rolled down less than two centimetres," he said. "If the window is rolled down any more than that, then you will be liable to be fined." He said he's personally heard of these cases being prosecuted in court. "We have seen instances of police issuing fines for this offence. Reasonable police officers will sometimes issue a warning first, however, we have had people elect to go to court to challenge the fines," Singh said. "The most common argument we see drivers making if they have been fined for leaving their windows or doors unlocked, is that the law is illogical and oppressive." In New South Wales, drivers must lock their vehicle and secure the windows if they will be more than three metres away from an unoccupied car. The fine is $114, but if the case goes to court, penalties can reach up to $2,200. Queensland law makes it illegal to leave your car unlocked if you are more than three metres away. The maximum penalty is $3,096, with a $2,669 fine if the car is unlocked with the keys inside. Victoria requires drivers to lock their vehicle and secure the windows when leaving it and moving more than three metres away. The on-the-spot fine is $117, with court penalties approaching $600. 🚘 New camera trial to target drivers breaching road rule in 'real-time' 🔋 Big shift on Aussie roads as electric car market hits 'major milestone' 🚦 Little-known traffic light hack to hit coveted 'green wave' In Western Australia, it's an offence to leave a vehicle unlocked unless someone aged 16 or over remains inside. The maximum penalty is $50. Tasmania requires drivers to lock their car and secure windows when leaving it and moving more than three metres away, with a maximum penalty of just under $200. In the Australian Capital Territory, drivers must lock and secure their vehicle if they will be more than three metres away, unless a person aged 16 or older remains inside. South Australia explicitly exempts drivers from the requirement to lock their doors when leaving the vehicle. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Mini car or mobility device? Enclosed scooters raise questions in northern Ontario
Test driving an enclosed mobility scooter 19 minutes ago Duration 3:08 Social Sharing Enclosed mobility scooters are becoming more popular in northern Ontario, but that's also led to questions about which rules of the road they should follow. They look like tiny cars and can reach speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour. Some models even include features like air conditioning and power windows. But they can't legally be driven on roads. "It's still considered a pedestrian unless it's been somehow modified to change horsepower and speed capacity and that sort of thing," said Howard Lightle, an associate lawyer with Orendorff and Associates in Sudbury. "So it would not be much different really than running into someone driving a bicycle. You're still considered a pedestrian. It is not insured under an automobile policy typically." Lightle said most homeowners or tenant insurance policies would cover enclosed mobility scooters in case of a crash. North Bay Police Const. Douglas MacIntosh said it's worrying to see them on busy city streets, including the Transcanada Highway. "Unfortunately they have minimal impact protection. They don't go through standard car crash regulations," he said. MacIntosh said North Bay Police officers have stopped some enclosed mobility scooter drivers who were treating them like cars. But because they're still new, he said they've given the drivers a grace period with a warning and education about how they should be driven. "We're not trying to give them fines in the range of $50 to $65," he said. "We're trying to prevent collisions because, frankly, they're not going to win in a collision against a 5,000-pound motor vehicle." By law, the scooters should be driven on the sidewalk or on the left shoulder of the road, facing traffic. Ontario Provincial Police Const. Rob Lewis said those rules lead to more public confusion since there are some "low-speed" electric vehicles that are considered road-legal. "These vehicles are ahead of the laws," he said, referring to enclosed mobility scooters. "Basically, the MTO [Ministry of Transportation] has not caught up to how to regulate these vehicles." This just allows them to continue on with their independence for a longer period. - Gilbert Foucault, owner, Sudbury E-Bike Gilbert Foucault, the owner of Sudbury E-Bike, sells a popular brand called the Daymak Boomerbuggy. Foucault said he educates all of his customers about the rules of the road when they purchase an enclosed mobility scooter. "If you're coming to a store like this where we service them, we're going to explain that to you before you leave the store or even before you purchase the unit," he said. "We don't want you thinking that it's the car." But people who buy their enclosed mobility scooters online, or secondhand, may not get that benefit and would have to do their own research on the relevant laws. Despite that confusion surrounding enclosed mobility scooters, Foucault said he expects them to only get more popular. "It's independence," he said.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
GIVE WAY! The musical about road rules
Photo: Roc Torio In 2012, a change to New Zealand's road rules caused a frenzy among some drivers who worried our roads would turn to chaos. As it turned out, the intersection turning rule reversal went down relatively smoothly. Thirteen years later, it has become the topic of an eccentric musical which is currently showing at Wellington's Circa Theatre. GIVE WAY! stars an idealistic young Ministry of Transport worker who leads the charge for the new rule and is met with a flurry of anti-change protestors. Producer Dave Armstrong and lead actor Jackson Burling speak to Kathryn.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
P-platers outraged over raft of strict driving changes - but there's a catch
Young Aussies are furious after learning the newly elected Albanese government was set to introduce a raft of stricter regulations for provisional drivers. P-plater drivers took to TikTok this week to share their thoughts on the new rules rumoured to come into effect this August. The rules include no driving after 11pm, a blanket ban on hands-free phone usage, an increase in fines and demerit points, and more roadside patrol stops for P-Platers. Provisional drivers would be limited to one passenger and learner drivers would need to complete 150 hours of instructed driving instead of the original 120. The backlash was swift on social media with one driver saying they 'shouldn't have voted for Albo'. 'Yeah let's target the kids who can barely afford to make a living and charge them double the price of a fully licensed driver,' another said. 'Albo screwed us,' one newspaper columnist recounted her son telling her. The only problem was, there's no such rule changes on the way. The original article that prompted the social media outrage was fake news, that appeared to have come from an obscure foreign website. While some said the stricter road rules for P-Platers were common sense, given the disproportionate rate of accidents, other commenters were wary from the outset. 'I'm not trusting any of this until an official government website comes out with this info,' one savvy viewer said. 'The federal government doesn't even control driving laws,' another pointed out. Road rules in Australia are determined by state and territory laws. The National Transport Commission's Australian Road Rules model law, is a suggested approach, but the laws do differ between states. It provides no guidelines for learner or provisional drivers. There are some changes for P1 and P2 license holders being considered in 2025 but they actually loosen the rules. Victoria could lower the age for provisional license holder from 18 to 17 so it is in line with other states. And in NSW P-Platers aged over 25 are set to be allowed to use phones places in a cradle as a navigational tool.
