Guides
on driving abroad information
supplied from insurance4carhire.com
May 2009 it is presented on this site without responsibilty of jml Property Services
/ insurance4carrental.com and should not be relied on for accuracy
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Driving
in Australia
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in Canada | Driving
in New Zealand
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in the USA |Driving
in Europe (with
detailed country guides)| Driving
in South Africa
Driving
in Australia 
If
you’re used to driving in the UK – or any country that drives on the left – chances
are you won’t have many problems driving in Australia. But like anywhere, it pays
to know about the local rules and road signs before you get behind the wheel.
Key rules, regulations and things to know
Drive
on the left. And if you’ve got more than one lane to choose from, stick to the
leftmost lane unless you’re overtaking. Make sure you park to the left, too, so
that you’re not facing traffic.
Don’t
drink and drive. Random breath testing is common and penalties for driving over
the limit are harsh, so it’s best to avoid alcohol completely if you’re driving.
Limit is 50 mgs More
information Here
Be
aware of changing speed limits. Many urban areas in Australia now impose limits
of 50km (30 miles) per hour in residential areas, with lower limits of 25 to 40km
per hour around schools and other areas at certain times of day. Signage should
tell you what the limits are and when they apply.
Give
way to the right at roundabouts and intersections. Exceptions apply if road signs
or traffic lights tell you otherwise, or other drivers have been pulled up by
a STOP or GIVE WAY sign when you haven’t.
Don’t
beep your horn unless you’re warning other drivers of imminent danger.
Seat
belts must be worn by the driver and all passengers at all times. And if you’re
travelling with a baby or young child, make sure they’re travelling in an approved
car or booster seat.
Speeds
and distances on road signs appear in kilometres. Not miles.
Pedestrians
at marked crossings have right of way. Driving over a pedestrian crossing if people
are already on it or waiting to cross is illegal.
Check
payment methods for toll roads in advance. Some Australian toll roads no longer
accept cash payments. Instead, you’ll need an e-Tag (an encoded magnetic card)
or a temporary e-Pass registration to pay. Ask your rental company for advice
when you pick up your car, or check
the links below to see how tolls apply
to your planned routes.
If
the centre line on your side of the road is yellow and unbroken, you can’t overtake.
It’s illegal (and usually dangerous) to do so.
You
must come to a complete stop at a STOP sign. If cars are coming, you must give
way to them.
You
don’t have to come to a complete stop at a GIVE WAY sign if the coast is clear.
But you do have to slow down and check for oncoming traffic before you proceed.
A NO STANDING sign means exactly that. If you see this sign, you can stop briefly
to let passengers in and out of your car, but that’s it.
NO
STOPPING signs also mean exactly that. Exceptions apply only if you’re dealing
with a medical emergency.
You
can’t park where signs say LOADING ZONE, unless you’re collecting or picking up
some kind of cargo. Large vehicles are generally free to do this without question,
but you may be asked to explain yourself if you’re in a normal passenger car.
Watch
out for wildlife. Wombats, koalas and kangaroos are just a few of the native and
farm animals that are known to cross roadways throughout the country. Signage
will generally indicate what you need to look out for where.
Rules
and regulations can change by state. See
the links below for specific information.
Drink Drive Laws - Examples of what can be drunk at present
It
is not a lot and in some countries even to drink the glass on the right would
be breaking the law if you drove afterwards in others a sip would be too much
see
"Wine"
below
90
mgs South Cyprus: Three shots of ouzo
80
mgs UK, Malta and Ireland till September 2011 then
50 mgs : One-and-a-half pints of ordinary bitter US
Canada and New Zealand: Two bottles of Budweiser
50
mgs
Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Spain,
Latvia, Australia, Portugal, Slovenia and South Africa: One glass
of wine
20
mgs Poland,Norway, Estonia and Sweden: Half a shot
of vodka
O mgs Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic:
No alcholol
Information
correct at June 2010
"Wine
- even a sip will send you over the limit and invalidate
your insurance in Parkistan, Cuba, Indonesia, Romania, Jordan and Nigeria, according
to Rhinocarhire.com which produces a comprehensive guide." The
A to Z of car hire - The Independent - August 2010
Further
Information:
The
following websites are provided by the various Australian state governments, and
feature comprehensive information about road rules, tolls and traffic conditions.
Some are aimed more at learner drivers, while others (such as the NSW, Victorian
and Queensland sites) have specific sections designed for tourists.
Roads
and Traffic Authority, NSW
VicRoads
(Victoria)
Queensland
Transport: Driving with a foreign licence
Road
Safety (South Australia)
Northern
Territory Road Users’ Handbook
Major
road rules, Western Australia (PDF)
ACT
Road Rules Handbook
Tasmanian
Road Rules
Finally,
Don’t forget your car hire excess insurance and buy it before you set off
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