Guide
for driving in Australia
some of this information supplied from companies we work
with -
jmlvillas.com, insurance4carhire.com,
Holiday
Autos,
Essential
Travel
and Economy
Car Hire and other
acknowledged sources. 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
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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, overtake
on the right. If
you’ve got more than one lane to choose from the remain in the lane on the left
nearest the curb unless you’re overtaking.
Australia
is a huge country (continent) and distances between most cities are very long.
As in the USA
for example
it is often a lot more convenient to take a plane or even a train than drive.
Drink
and Driving:
Random breath testing is common and penalties for driving over the limit are heavy,
so it is better to avoid alcohol completely if you’re driving.
Limit is 0.02 - 0.05 More
information Here
Speed Limits: All
speeds and distance are in km/h.
Be
aware of changing speed limits. Many urban areas in Australia now impose limits
of 50km/h
(30mph) per hour in residential areas, with lower limits of 25km/h
to 40km/h
per hour around schools and other areas at certain times of day. Signage should
tell you what the limits are and when they apply. To view varios speed limits
summary Click
Here There are differences between the states and links to individual websites
can be found Here
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.
Mobile
phones: These must not be used while you are driving unless it is a hands
free model fitted to the dashboard or similar area of the vehicle. Don't risk
using one as you can receive a heavy fine in most countries and more
important cause a serious accident.
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, then 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.
Make sure you park on the left, so that you’re not facing traffic. 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.
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) - Click on the image above to enter
site
Main
Source: Insurance4carhire.com
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Information from holiday autos about Australia
The
land Down Under. Home to Vegemite, surfing and kangaroos. Alright, there’s much
more to Australia than that. It’s awesome mate. Book cheap car hire in Australia
and find out for yourself. Australia car hire couldn't be easier; wherever you
fly in to, there’ll be a car waiting for you.
car
hire in Adelaide It’s hot. Really
hot. The best idea is to book car hire and head straight for the coast. Escape
the heat and head to Coober Pedy. It’s a whole town underground. It’s also famous
for it’s Opals. If you’re feeling adventurous head to the Flinders Ranges. Try
your hand at rock climbing, a four-wheel drive or just snap away at the jaw-dropping
structures.
car
hire in Melbourne Four seasons
in one day. It may be crowded in the city but that’s no reason to stay in. Book
cheap car hire and see the sights instead. There’s no better scenic drive than
the Great Ocean Road. It’s a pretty long stretch but just think of all the photo
opportunities. Had enough of pretty pictures? Drive down to St Kilda for some
fun at the fairground.
car
hire in Sydney Tops the charts
as number one Aussie destination for us Brits. We love it. Australia car hire
is the best way to see it for yourself. Surfing is a must for any visit to Sydney.
Book cheap car hire and hit the waves with the locals at the famous Bondi Beach.
Scared of big waves? Try climbing the Harbour Bridge instead. They’ll look smaller
from up there. Also, you get to wear a pretty smooth jumpsuit.
car
hire in Brisbane Brisbane – home
to a place called Funny Dunny. Pop on your sunnies, book cheap car hire and explore
at your leisure. Take the hire car down to Moreton Bay. Watch whales migrate,
go for a kayak or tackle the world’s tallest sand dune (not in your hire car).
After all that action, with Australia car hire you can sit back and relax in Byron
Bay. Head to the lighthouse, it’s Australia’s most easterly point. Fair dinkum.
car
hire in Cairns Australia’s tropical
playground. Jet-skiing around shark-infested Magnetic Island is a must but hire
a car and explore further a field. Head to Airlie Beach and catch a sail boat
out to the Whitsunday Islands. Swap your driving specs for a snorkel on the Great
Barrier Reef. Book Australia car hire and drive south for a spot of turtle watching.
It’s more impressive than it sounds. There’s also a rum distillery if it helps?
car
hire in Perth After a bit of
space? Western Australia has over one million square miles of it. Perth is the
perfect base to find cheap car hire Australia and go exploring. Swap you’re hire
car for a kite surf down at Cottesloe or Scarborough. Just make sure you have
a lesson first. If the wallet’s feeling a bit light, book car rental and drive
to Kalgoorlie for a spot of gold panning.
top
driving tips -
Unlike most Australian states, you can’t do a u-turn at traffic lights in Adelaide.
Watch
out for people getting of the trams in Melbourne city centre.
If
you’re driving into Sydney city get in the right lane at the toll booths. You
don’t want to end up going through a tunnel and not over one of the most famous
bridges in the world. Disaster
Australia’s
roads are very straight. Take a rest every couple of hours.
Cairns’s
kangaroo suicide rate is high. Watch out for any about to jump in front of you.
Book
car hire in Australia
- here
Capital:
Canberra
Telephone
Country Code: + 61
More
Information
Rules & regulations - New South wales Government
Northern Territory Road Users' Handbook
Licensing -Department of Transport & Main Roads - Queensland
Driving
in South Australia
Tasmanian
Road Rules
Government of Western
Australia - Motoring
Victoria
Road Rules
Rules
and regulations can change by state. See
more links below for specific information.
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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
"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
See
the guide below for further information
Back
to top
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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