The reason this electric car owner was fined $500

Here is a breakdown of some of Australia’s little known road rules. Get across the rules here. Australia is the land of some strange and wacky road rules – not all of them well-known – but just how strictly are they enforced? Drivers across the country have periodically been caught out for unusual requirements while behind the wheel of a car that result in fines worth hundreds of dollars each, with some infringements even costing millions within years.

Test your knowledge of the rules.  This electric car driver looks to be innocently charging their vehicle in a rural Western Australian area. However, this driver was actually committing an offence.

Do you know why this driver was fined hundreds of dollars? Well, turns out charging your electric vehicle from public electricity boxes like this one in the Mt Barker Shire is illegal and you can be prosecuted. WA Police said if you choose to steal electricity from a local council power box to charge your car, you will be fined. “If you want to recharge your e-vehicle, DON’T steal the electricity to do so,” police said.

“Police will prosecute in EVERY instance. This recharge cost the vehicle owner a $500 fine, for stealing from the Shire. “Be better.

” It’s the age-old motoring question that divides drivers across Australia. Car A (in yellow) and car B (in white) have just passed a “form one lane” sign on a multi-lane road. Car A must merge into another lane – but who has to give way? A) The yellow car B) The white car The answer is: B) the white car must give way.

According to road rules in Australian states and territories, if there are no lanes marked on the road, like when lines of traffic merge, motorists must give way to the vehicle that is in front of them. There is one exception – if motorists are merging between lanes that have clear markings, they must give way to all other traffic in the lane they are merging into. The ruling has ignited hot debate on Twitter, where motorists have argued about who is in the right.

 You can see a full clarification of the rules here .  Using a mobile phone while driving is strictly banned in Australia. However, there is one circumstance that it can be allowed in some states.

And that’s when you’re picking up a snack at the local drive-through. Well for some. In New South Wales you’re allowed to use your mobile for a transaction (or show a voucher or coupon) if the car is stationary or off the road, say in a driveway or drive-thru.

Queensland also allows it. But if you’re in Victoria there’s another thing you better make sure you do before you whip out your phone to pay for a cheeky cheeseburger. Drivers must turn their engines off before paying with their phones, Victoria Police said.

You risk a fine of $484 and four demerit points if you don’t. South Australians are in the same boat and risk a fine of $534 and three demerit points if their car isn’t parked when tapping a phone to pay. More electric car charging bays are continuing to pop up around Australia.

There are designated parking spots for those looking to recharge their cars. But what happens if you’re caught snagging one of the parks and aren’t using the facilities? The answer is a big fine. Drivers who block public electric vehicle chargers in New South Wales face a fine of up to $2200 under new laws introduced in November.

These signs will let you know the area is designated for charging. In Queensland drivers – in petrol or diesel cars – can be fined $55 for parking in an electric charging bay, In Victorian drivers face of between $99 and $330. The driver of this yellow car is approached from behind by an ambulance in Queensland.

What should they do? A) Come to a complete stop, allowing the ambulance to quickly pass B) Slow down, indicate and if safe to do so, move left into the bus lane C) Maintain their current position and speed, allowing the ambulance to pass them The answer is B – although many motorists online argued that a driver should maintain their speed. In this instance, the driver is able to pull into the left lane safely to let the ambulance pass, so they must pull over. If the driver of the yellow car was unable to pull into the left lane safely, it would have to stop and let the ambulance overtake them.

 It is also legal for the driver of the yellow car to pull into the right lane to let the ambulance pass, but only if its safe to do so. There was a loophole that could have helped Queensland motorists escape a fine if they were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel.  It’s something new high-tech mobile detection cameras would never have been able to prove.

But the Queensland government has now clarified the road rules about mobile phone usage that were amended in 2021.  More than 100,000 drivers were caught using their phone behind the wheel during the first year that hi-tech cameras were rolled out on the roads. But now the number could potentially grow after the government clarified the rules.

Now a device does not need to have a SIM card installed to be officially classified as a mobile phone. Transport Minister Mark Bailey said specifically “it is illegal to use a mobile phone even if the phone function is not capable of being used or if it is being used for a function other than as a phone”. The yellow car here is making a left-hand turn into a roundabout, while a cyclist is going straight through.

But who has right of way? In this case, the driver needs to give way to the bicycle rider who is already on the round about. Motorists need to give way to their right on a round about. It’s a perennial summer question in Australia – is it legal to drive a car in thongs (or flip-flops, for any American visitors to these shores)? It’s not illegal – but it’s not advisable.

There are no specific laws about driving footwear in Australia, but police can penalise a driver if they believe their footwear – or lack thereof – has interfered with them having proper control of their vehicle. Thongs being a less close-fitting form of footwear, they’re likely not the best choice for behind the wheel – from a safety perspective as much as a legal one.  So you’re ready to hit the road with your furry, four-legged friend in tow.

As most pet owners know, some animals will jump straight into the back seat while others prefer to be in the front – but is it legal for animals to travel on your lap? In all states across Australia, it is an offence to drive with your pet on your lap. If on a motorbike, a pet must not be between the handlebars and the rider.  Fines can exceed $400 and you can lose three demerit points if caught.

 It is important to keep your four-legged friend in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. The carriers should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. Don’t leave your pet unattended in the car as this can lead to heat stroke and potentially death.

Get your furry friend microchipped and make sure your contact details are up to date. It’s important the microchip is recognised nationally if travelling interstate. .