Mobile phones
Drivers of a vehicle must not use a hand-held mobile phone unless legally parked. You can be fined if the phone is in your hand including making or receiving phone calls, texting or using any other function of the phone. Drivers should avoid using a phone completely or use hands-free functions.
Seatbelts
Seatbelts must be worn by all occupants in a vehicle. Seatbelts reduce the risk of injury and death in a crash significantly. The driver of the vehicle is also responsible to ensure all passengers are wearing a seatbelt.
Helmets
Riders of motorcycles and bicycles must wear an approved helmet on their head.
Keep Left
You must drive on the left side of two-way roads. Ask passengers to remind you each tie you set off and when you are turning at an intersections - it could save your life.
Stop Sign
This sign means you must STOP and give way to all vehicles. Stop your vehicle just before the white stop line painted on the road. If there is no line, stop where you have a clear view of approaching traffic and give way to vehicles approaching from your left and right. Only proceed if the roadway is clear.
Give Way Sign
This sign means give way to all vehicles. You do not need to stop however should be able be have a clear, unobstructed view before proceeding.
Speed
The speed limit is the maximum driving speed allowed. You must not drive above this limit. Some roads and streets do not have a speed limit sign, but speed limits still apply. As a general rule, if there are houses or street lights next to the road, the speed limit is 50km/h. If you are an open road or highway, the speed limit is a maximum of 100km/h. If the weather is poor (raining, fog, dawn) or on a narrow country road, make sure you drive slower.
Road Markings
Where the centre line marking on the road is a single broken line, vehicles may cross the line to overtake when it is safe to do so. If the centre marking has two lines you must not overtake if the line closest to your vehicle is unbroken.
Alcohol and Drugs
Driving after you’ve consumed alcohol or drugs affects your driving ability and is dangerous. You may be required by police to provide a sample of breath or saliva. The blood alcohol level is 0.05 per cent.
Driving Tired
Avoid driving a vehicle when tired. Avoid driving after a long flight until you’ve adapted to sleeping normally at night. Share driving long distances with your friends. Take regular rest stops. Avoid driving too far in one day. Rest stops are located at regular intervals and should be used on long journeys. The only cure of being tired is having a sleep.
Rural Roads
Care should be taken when driving on country roads which can be narrow, unsealed, dusty and often in disrepair. Drive slowly and turn on your headlights even during the day. Do not drive through flooded roads. Watch out for animals such as kangaroos, emus and livestock. The most active time for many animals is sunrise and sunset. If an animal is on the road, reduce speed safely and do not swerve or you may lose control of the vehicle.
Please see the Queensland Police Road Safety brochure (PDF 987.3KB) for road safety tips.