Car Safety

Driver’s Licences

If you want to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle within Australia you must have a valid licence for that type of vehicle.

Interstate visitors staying less than three months in another state may drive with their current driver's licence. Overseas visitors can drive in Australia for up to 12 months if an International Driving Permit is carried.

Seat Belts

By law, all passengers must wear seatbelts at all times when travelling in a motor vehicle in Australia.
•   Children should be restrained using the right car seats for their size and weight.
•   Restraints need to be fitted correctly and used correctly.
•   For babies up to six months of age (9 to 12kg* or 700 to 850mm long) use a rearward-facing restraint.
•   For toddlers from approximately six months to four years (8 to 18kg) use a forward-facing child car seat that is attached using an adult seat belt and an upper tether strap.
•   For children who have outgrown their child car seat (or weigh between 14 and 26kg), use either an h-harness in combination with a booster seat; or a booster seat that raises the height of the child so that an adult seat belt fits properly. There are fines for not wearing a seatbelt or using an appropriate child restraint.

Mobile Phones

Do not use handheld mobile phones while driving. In Australia it is illegal to operate a mobile phone when driving without an earpiece or hands-free kit. There are heavy fines for doing so.

Look Out For Children

Always drive with caution, especially around schools and other places where children may be walking or cycling. Children are often unpredictable and can lack road sense so slow down around schools. Look out for children emerging from between parked cars and remember that they are shorter and more difficult to see. In some states the speed limit when approaching schools is reduced to 40kph. Watch out for school zones where the speed limit is 40kph.

Drink Driving

Driving after you have consumed alcohol is dangerous. Australia has strict laws and penalties on ‘drink driving’ and police actively enforce them through random breath testing programs.
•   If you have a full driver’s licence you must not drive if your blood alcohol level is 0.05 per cent or higher. At 0.05 per cent blood alcohol concentration, your risk of being involved in a crash doubles.
•   Drivers on ‘learner’ plates and ’provisional’ plates, drivers of heavy vehicles, taxis, chauffeured vehicles or buses must not drive after drinking alcohol.
•   Fully licensed drivers must ensure that their blood alcohol level stays below .05 or they may be charged with "driving under the influence".

Drugs and Driving

• Driving after taking drugs that affect your ability to drive is illegal in all states and territories; penalties are severe.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance in Australia is offered by:
QLD: RACQ
NSW: NRMA
VIC: RACV
SA: RAA
NT: AANT
ACT: NRMA
WA: RAC WA
TAS: RACT
For 24 hour roadside assistance anywhere in Australia, call 13 11 11
In most cases, reciprocal rights are offered to association members from other states and some overseas countries.

Hitch Hikers

Do not pick up hitch hikers under any conditions. Do not hitch hike. Both practices are incredibly dangerous.