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We strongly advise new international students not to attempt to drive until
you are familiar with Queensland road rules. First thing to know is that we
drive on the left-side of the road, if you are coming from a country where you
drive on the right, it does take a little getting used to.
Drink Driving
Many of us like a drink when we go out but it’s best to leave the car
behind and get a ride or catch a cab. Drink drinking or "driving while
under the influence" is inexcusable. It affects your judgement, vision,
coordination and reflexes. Tragically, alcohol is a contributing factor in more
than a third of all fatal crashes.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
BAC is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your body. Queensland has
two blood alcohol limits: zero and 0.05.
| If you are under 25 years of age, and a holder of a Learner's, Probationary
or Provisional licence or not the holder of a driver's licence and driving,
or in charge of any motor vehicle. |
0.00%
(zero) BAC |
| If you are driving, or in charge of a truck, bus, articulated motor vehicle,
B-double, road train, vehicle carrying a placard load of dangerous goods,
taxi, limousine, tow truck, pilot or escort vehicle escorting an oversize
vehicle, or a vehicle being used by you as a driver trainer to give driver
training. |
0.00%
(zero) BAC |
| If you are driving, or in charge of, any other motor vehicle. |
Below
0.05% BAC |
Penalties and Consequences
If you drive when over your alcohol limit, it may cause:
- Your driver licence to be cancelled
- You will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a further driver licence
for a stated period
- You will be fined and may be jailed
How to Avoid Drink Driving
- Try low alcohol alternatives – light beers or non-alcoholic cocktails
- Have one drink at a time (don’t “top up” your drinks)
- If you’re planning to drink, plan alternative travel – get
a ride with a non-drinking driver or catch a taxi or public transport.
- Nominate one person in your group as the non-drinking driver
- Eat before and while you are drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol
into the bloodstream.
- Keep your BAC below 0.05%
Use the standard drinks rule as a guide to stay under the limit.
- For men: No more than one standard drink in the first hour and one standard
drink every subsequent hour.
- For women: No more than one standard drink each hour.
P.S. this is a guide only and some people can drink less and still be over
the limit.
Drugs Driving
Like alcohol, drugs reduce your ability to operate any vehicle safely, particularly
if more than one drug is used, or if drugs are mixed with alcohol.
Both prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving ability.
This incudes medicines used to treat common conditions like allergies, arthritis,
diabetes, blood pressure, stress, flu and strong pain killers.
Get the Right Advice
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the drugs you are taking and how they
can affect your driving.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for safer alternatives, if there are none, use
public transport or arrange a lift.
Remember:
Look out for warning messages printed on your medicines.
DO NOT stop taking your medications just to drive.
Speeding
It is important to understand that travelling at an inappropriate speed can
put you and other road users at risk.
Inappropriate speed is defined as:
- Travelling at excess speed, i.e. faster than the speed limit posted on
a particular stretch of road; or
- Travelling at a speed that is wrong for the road and traffic conditions
(e.g. bad weather or heavy traffic) even though it may be within the speed
limit.
Remember: Every K over is a killer
Penalties and Consequences
- If you are caught speeding you will be fined and accumulate demerit points.
- Accumulate 12 points or more in any three year period on your Open licence,
you may lose your licence.
- If you have a Provisional or Learner’s licence, you can only afford
to lose 4 points before you lose your licence
- Speeding can lead you to end up in jail if there is someone hurt or killed.
How You Can Help Yourself
- Always stay within the speed limit posted on a particular stretch of road
- Watch out for changes in the Speed Limit
- If you are slowing down from a high speed, look at your speedometer to
make sure you’ve slowed down enough.
- If the weather is poor or traffic conditions are difficult, you may need
to travel at a speed lower than the posted speed limit
- Have your car fitted with an over-speed warning device
- When you are travelling at higher speeds, increase the distance between
your car and the vehicle ahead
- Don’t cut in front of trucks that need longer stopping distances
Driver Fatigue
Fatigue is a major killer on the road. Knowing your body’s warning signs
and planning your trip are the keys to your safety and survival.
Causes of Driver Fatigue
- Long hours of driving without a break or rest
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Poor driving conditions, e.g. hot weather, heavy rain or poor cabin ventilation
and noise insulation
- Poor driver health and fitness
- Night driving, particularly between midnight and 6am
Warning Signs of Fatigue
You should stop driving if you’re experiencing:
- Minor aches and pains, light headache, tired eyes
- Light boredom or fidgeting
- Drifting of attention, tenseness, nervousness
- Occasional yawning, drowsiness, nodding off
- Difficulty concentrating, missing traffic signs
- Day dreaming
- Delayed reaction times
- Unintentional increases or decreases in speed
- Fumbling for gear changes
- Car wanders across the road
How Can You Prevent Fatigue
- Take regular breaks from the wheel – at least 15 minutes every two
hours is recommended
- Pull into rest areas, tourist spots and Driver Reviver stops frequently.
- Avoid alcohol before and during the trip
- Check medications with your doctor (in case they make you drowsy)
- Eat properly – not too little, not too much
- Sleep – get plenty before your trip
- Don’t drive for more than ten hours in a day
- Fresh air- leave your window open or turn on the air conditioning occasionally
- Share the driving
- Plan ahead – arrange stops and rest overnight
- As soon as you feel tired, stop and rest to prevent driving tired
Seat Belt
Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways of protecting
yourself as the driver or passenger in a car. Under Queensland law, everyone
in a vehicle must wear a fastened seat belt at all times.
Make Sure the Kids are Safe Too
Children must be restrained in a restraint suited to their size and weight
and approved by Standards Australia. It is important to make sure the restraint
is correctly fitted to the car.
Penalty
Because wearing a seat belt is so important for preventing death and injury,
if you break this law, you will be fined $105 and 3 demerit points.
Mobile Phone & Driving
When using a mobile phone while driving, safety is the most important call
you will make. In Australia it is illegal to use a mobile phone while you are
driving. The following tips will help make your drive safer if you absolutely need to use your mobile phone.
Use a hands free in-car-kit or portable hands free device. When using a portable
hands free device, ensure it is set up and working before you start to drive.
Plan your trip and try to make calls when stationary or during rest breaks in
long trips.
Don’t accept or make calls if traffic and weather conditions would make
it unsafe to do so.
Don’t engage in complex or emotional conversations, shorten the time of
call if possible.
If you choose to stop to answer or make a call, pull over safely and avoid any
hazard.
Useful information
Queensland Transport
General Enquiries 38342011
Drivers Licensing 13 2380
City Customer Service
229 Elizabeth Street, City
447 Boundary Street, Spring Hill
Suburban Centres
Greenslopes, Longan Road
MacGregor, 567 Kessels Road
Rosalie, Beck Street
Zillmere Pineapple Street.
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au
Also see Transport
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