AS HOLIDAY time approaches, Queensland’s peak motoring body the RACQ has warned drivers to brush up on their road rules before taking to the roads.
The RACQ’s Lauren Ritchie said there were probably a number of road rules that drivers don’t even know they are breaking and, unfortunately, ignorance isn’t a valid excuse if caught out.
“Some people may think a lack of knowledge of a particular road rule might be enough to get them out of a ticket, but it’s not,” Ms Ritchie said.
“It’s the driver’s responsibility to know the rules before getting behind the wheel.”
Ms Ritchie said the Queensland road rules were regularly updated making it important to stay up to date with the latest changes.
“Chances are the legislation has changed slightly since most people sat their driving exam, so staying across new laws is vital,” she said.
“While some drivers may not agree with all of the road rules, they’re in place for a reason and that’s to keep all road users safe.”
The five road rules most people don’t know they are breaking are:
– A car must be locked, key removed from ignition and handbrake on if the driver is more than three metres away from their car.
– It’s against the law for the number plate light to be out because registration plates need to be clearly visible at all times.
– A car should not be left unlocked and the window should not be left open any wider than five centimetres.
– It’s an offence to use the car horn unnecessarily, such as using it to say goodbye or getting frustrated at other motorists.
– Drivers only need to keep left unless overtaking when roads have a speed limit of more than 80km/h.
