Most Australians consider themselves decent drivers, regardless of whether they received their licence six months ago or 60 years ago, and regardless of how many penalties or violations they’ve had along the way. And most top tow truck companies may differ in their opinion. Even the best drivers, however, are oblivious to some of the rules of the road.
Here is the list of some of the most common road rules which are broken by Australians according to tow truck companies:
- Putting on Make-up, Eating, Drinking, and Patting Your Dog While Driving
It’s something we’ve all seen. You’re driving down the road when you notice a young woman steering the car with one hand on the wheel and the other doing her eyes in the rearview mirror with her mascara brush. Do you believe she’s driving safely? There’s no way. And most tow truck companies may agree with this too.
What about the dog lover who is getting a lot of dog kisses when their poodle is sitting in their lap? Do you believe they’re bad drivers? Your point is valid, this does not necessarily make them a bad driver; however, this is reckless driving and it does put them and others at risk.
According to insurance company studies, 80% of drivers (eight out of ten) drink coffee, tea, or coca-cola while driving, and 70% consume fast food, breakfast food, or munch on chips and pretzels while driving.
What does the law say?
The legislation in Australia is clear in all territories: you must have your hands in the 9 and 3 positions at all times when driving, and if you don’t, you’re breaking the law. And according to the tow truck companies, it is one of the most common laws that Australians are breaking.
There’s also no grasping the wheel with two fingers or dangling the chip bag open by wrapping your fingers around the steering wheel backwards.
Why should you follow this?
The only method to maintain a secure grasp on your car’s steering wheel is to place both hands on the wheel. The 9 and 3 positions provide the most control.
How much would you get penalized for this?
Fines of up to $425 and 4 demerit points are possible. The outcome of a car accident could have been prevented.
- Tailgating
You must keep a safe space of roughly 3 seconds between you and another vehicle. That means you’ll need an extra second to realize you need to apply the brakes, and another 180 feet to come to a complete stop.
How many Australians do you think tailgate?
According to the research conducted by top tow truck companies, quite a bit! One out of every four car collisions occurred between 2014 and 2018, with the tailing car failing to stop in time.
People don’t take speed limits nearly as seriously as they should, and they often are creeping up behind the car in front of them, forcing them to change lanes, or blowing their horns and flashing their lights at them.
What Are the Legal Consequences?
The law specifies that the car in front of you is accountable for being able to stop in time to avoid collisions, regardless of the speed limit. Even if the automobile in front of you is travelling at 90 km/h, you should pass and go around them rather than crawling your bumper up their tail.
Why should you follow this?
First and foremost, because the law holds you, the tailing vehicle, responsible for being able to stop in time to avoid an accident, you are to blame if one occurs. Not only will you receive a ticket, but your auto insurance will also soar.
Second, you obviously want to avoid damage in your own vehicle.
How much would you get penalized for this?
A fine of up to $425, three demerit points, and higher insurance premiums are all possible consequences. Your insurance provider may refuse to cover your expenditures if you are at fault.
- Making Use of Your Mobile Phone
Tow truck companies highly recommend to everyone that you can use your mobile phone if it has Bluetooth and supports voice commands.
However, you are breaking the law if you have to take your hands off the wheel to turn it on, turn it off, or touch it in any manner. At a stoplight, you can’t even pick up your phone to check your messages.
In fact, even if your car is stopped at a gas station or parking lot, you are breaking the law if you are in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and using your phone.
People continue to use mobile phones every day, hoping that the cops will not notice them and that they will not miss those all-important communications.
What Does the Law Say About It?
The law is extremely stringent. There is absolutely no justification for using your phone while your keys are in the ignition. Don’t even turn it on if you just want to obtain instructions to the highway.
Implications
Many people have died as a result of texting or making phone calls on their cell phone. When using your telephone, the chances of an accident are so much higher than many people question if Bluetooth and voice commands are safe.
Fines that could be incurred
Fines ranging from $319 to $425, as well as up to four demerit points, are typical. In some cases, jurisdictions award double merit points.
- Speeding
On the highway, it is surveyed by tow truck companies that 90% of Australian drivers enjoy speeding, and while police and highway enforcement officials will occasionally let a little go, when they want to pinch you, all you can do is to open your wallet wide and kiss your holiday trip plans goodbye.
What does the law say?
Unless otherwise marked, the default speed restriction is 50 kilometres per hour. In most regions where there is a school zone during specified hours, this is decreased to 40. For some routes and roads they are marked as such, the maximum speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour.
A speeding ticket can be issued for exceeding the stated limit by 1 kilometre per hour, however, most citations are issued for exceeding the limit by 5 kilometres per hour or more.
According to the tow truck companies, the quicker you drive, the less time you have to respond. If you break at 50 kilometres per hour, for example, you have far greater control over your car than if you break at 80 kilometres per hour.
And if you’re even somewhat impaired by alcohol or prescription medicines but are still well under the legal limit, your reaction time is considerably more limited.
Possible fines
Speeding is frowned upon in Australia’s numerous states and territories. While each jurisdiction is free to establish its own fee structure, given the large fines, it’s remarkable how many drivers continue to speed.
In New South Wales, for example, if you are found speeding by 10 kilometres over the limit, you will be fined $265. If you’re in a rush and go 20 kilometres over the speed limit, the total will be $455. And think about it: is it worth it to go 30 kilometres over the speed limit for an $872 fine? But it’s probably better than the speed demons who went over 45 km/h over the speed limit and received half their penalty points plus a $2350 fine.
Fines for driving fewer than 9 kilometres begin at $100 and quickly rise in other territories, with fines as high as $100 for going less than 9 kilometres.
- No seatbelts
Everyday, police and highway patrol officers pull over drivers and issue citations because the driver or passengers are not wearing seatbelts. According to tow truck companies, this is also one of the most common rules that Australians are breaking regularly.
What Is the Law About?
Every individual in a vehicle, including drivers and passengers, is required by law to wear a seatbelt. There are no exceptions to this rule. The law also applies to taxi cab passengers as well.
What is the significance of this?
According to a survey by tow truck companies in Brisbane, more than half of the 66 children aged 0 to 12 years old who died in car accidents between 2007 and 2016 were not properly strapped in the vehicle.
Only a small fraction of people in Brisbane do not use seat belts, but that small percentage is responsible for an alarming number of deaths. All of the tow truck companies urge that you must follow this rule and wear seatbelts, your safety is very important for us.
What Will It Cost You Financially?
For not wearing a seatbelt, you’ll usually be fined $550, though if there are multiple passengers not wearing a seatbelt, the fine might escalate to $900. Your licence will also receive four demerit points.
These are some of the laws commonly broken by Australians. We urge everyone to follow all the traffic rules for your and the safety of your loved ones. If a single person is not following rules then not only that person but others are at risk as well.