Are you making these mistakes when driving in QLD?

Okay Queenslanders, this one is for you. Think you know your road rules? We did too, but turns out there were a few things we didn’t know about. Let’s take a look at some common mistakes when it comes to road rules in QLD.

Eating while driving

Eating while driving is not technically illegal in QLD, but not having proper control of your vehicle is. So unless you can down your coffee and donut without actually taking a hand off the steering wheel or your eyes off the road, there is every chance of copping a $575 fine and three demerit points for driving without due care and attention.

Maybe pull over next time to chow down on that foot-long sub.

Securing your vehicle

Do you sometimes just duck into the shops quickly and leave your windows half down? You know, so the car doesn’t get too hot. Or not lock it up properly cause you’re just ducking into the bottle-o?

Well, turns out that if you’re moving more than three metres away from your vehicle, you must secure it properly. This means locking the doors and ensuring the windows are cracked no more than five centimetres. Not following this QLD road rule could result in a loss of 20 penalty units. 

Sharing with cyclists

Although it’s frustrating for both parties, both cyclists and vehicles do indeed share the same road and QLD road rules state you need to maintain a safe driving distance. Of course, you should be doing this anyway!

When travelling in the same direction as a cyclist, you need to ensure your vehicle is at least one metre away in a 60-kilometre or less zone. If the speed limit is over 60 kilometres per hour, this increases to 1.5 metres. 

You can only pass a cyclist if it’s safe to do so but you are allowed to drive over a painted island, drive over centred lines (even double unbroken ones) or straddle a lane line on a multi-lane road to do this. But only if it’s safe to do so of course!

Also if a cyclist moves to avoid an obstacle (such as a pothole), you must also move your vehicle to maintain these safe distances. 

Driving barefoot

We all love a day at the beach but no one likes putting a sandy foot back into their shoe, right? So is the need to drive with proper shoes an actual QLD road rule?

Turns out it’s not. You can legally drive barefoot or with flip-flops in QLD. However, it’s recommended that you wear tight-fitting shoes in order to have the best control of your vehicle.

Merging lanes

Contrary to popular belief, vehicles don’t always have to ‘let you in’ if you are merging into their lane. It depends on the lane markings.

So if when two lanes merge together without a dashed line, the driver at the rear must give way to the vehicle in front. However, if there are lane markings and your lane comes to an end, you must give way to the vehicles already in the lane you are entering.

If any QLD road rules lead to road rage honking it’s this one! Which leads us into …

Honking your horn

Did you know you can cop a fine of up to $2,611 for honking your horn for the wrong reason? Spoiler alert, according to the road rules in QLD, road rage is the wrong reason.

So what are you allowed to use your horn for? Well, apparently it’s to get animals off the road, warn other road users that your vehicle is approaching or as part of an anti-theft or alcohol device.

Sadly, you’re not supposed to honk at your friends to let them know you’ve spotted them.

Running the yellow light

What do you reckon? Are you allowed to drive through a yellow traffic light? Technically, you’re not supposed to. Yellow lights should be thought of not as the end of a green light, but as the beginning of a red light. 

With this in mind, if you can’t safely stop before the line when the yellow light comes on, you are legally allowed to continue through the intersection. But if you can stop safely, QLD road rules state you must.

So if you’re one of those people who speed up to ‘make it through’ the yellow light, you’ll sooner or later cop a fine. 

Using maps on your phone

You already know you’re not allowed to text and drive but did you know that QLD road rules say you can’t hold it to use your maps either?

Regardless of whether your phone is turned off or on, it’s illegal to hold it or have it resting on any body part when driving. The same rule applies even if you’ve stopped at a red light or are stuck in traffic.

If it’s in your pocket, you’re still not allowed to use it, including operating it with voice control. 

Um … so when can I use my phone?

Open and P2 licence holders have a bit more leeway in the QLD road rules. They can touch their phone to use navigation apps or answer a call hands-free provided it’s in a cradle attached to the vehicle. 

You can also hold and use your phone when you’ve safely stopped or need to pay for something, like at the Maccas drive-through, to access a carpark or to show a police officer a digital driver’s licence.

Learners and P1 drivers under 25 have a whole lot more restrictions when it comes to phones. They are not allowed to use wireless headsets, handsfree or a mobile’s loudspeaker function. A passenger of a learner or P1 provisional driver isn’t allowed to use a mobile’s loudspeaker function either, including parents teaching their children to drive. 

Unsigned speed limits

Just because there are no speed signs doesn’t means it’s a free for all. If there are no speed limit signs the default speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour in built-up areas and 100 kilometres in rural areas. 

Sleeping and drinking alcohol in your car

Technically, you’re not supposed to sleep in your car unless it’s on a designated camping ground or roadside rest area.

When it comes to alcohol, you probably already know that you’re not supposed to drink and drive even if you are under the limit. However, did you know that your passengers can’t drink alcohol either? Yep, that’s right. No open alcohol is allowed in the vehicle.

There is no such thing as a 10% over-the-speed-limit leeway

You may have heard friends say that you don’t get fined if you stick within 10% of the speed limit. Well, turns out this is a myth. Under QLD road rules, you can still get fined for going just a few kilometres over the speed limit. 

How did you go?

So, did you know all of these road rules? We were certainly caught out by a couple of them. Remember, each state has different variations of rules so make sure you’re in the know before you go!