3 Commonly Broken Road Rules in Queensland

Are you a driver following road rules in Queensland?

If so, there are several laws that you are required to follow at all times while driving to protect the safety of yourself and other road users.

These rules can sometimes get a little too much to remember and they may be disobeyed by road users.

This is why it is important to keep yourself updated and refreshed on road rules to prevent bringing harm to yourself, and others, or finding yourself in legal trouble.

That being said, some laws, rather than due to a lack of knowledge of the laws or simple disobedience, some laws are more commonly broken than others.

Whatever the reason, violating road rules is never okay and will likely cause you some sort of damage.

This article will discuss 3 of the most commonly broken road rules and how breaking them can affect you.

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Road Rules in Queensland – Keeping Left

A common road rule violated by drivers in Queensland is keeping to the left of the road when required.

When you are driving on a road with only one lane, you must stay as close to the left side of the road as you can safely.

Obviously, you must also avoid cars parked on the side of the road, people or animals walking there, or any other obstructions but as a general rule, you should try to keep to the left on single-lane roads.

On roads with two or more lanes, the rules are quite different.

If the road has a speed limit of 90 km/h or the road has a sign stating “stay left unless overtaking” there are only specific circumstances that allow you to drive on the right lane of the road.

These circumstances are:

You are overtaking another vehicle/road user;
You are making a right turn;
You are making a U-Turn;
You are avoiding an obstruction on the road, such as a person, animal, tree branch, or other object;
You are driving in congested traffic;
You are using a special-purpose lane, such as a bus lane, that you are allowed to use.

Road Rules in Queensland – Mobile Phone Use

Another rule commonly violated on Queensland roads is the inability to use a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.

It is illegal for drivers to use their phones at any point while driving. You may not hold it in your hand or have it on your lap, shoulder, or another body part, even if it is not on or in use at the time. This means that your phone does not have to be on to violate the rules of the road.

Further regulations also apply for those who are learning to drive or are on their P1 license (red P plates) under the age of 25.

The aforementioned drivers are also prohibited from using a hands-free, wireless, or Bluetooth system in their vehicle to talk on the phone or listen to music. If your phone is on your person in a pocket or bag one may be wearing, they also must not operate it in any way.

This includes looking at it, touching it, or using a hands-free system to voice-operate it.

If you are a passenger in a learner or P1 driver’s vehicle, you also must not use a hands-free, wireless, or Bluetooth system.

There are ways that one can safely and legally use their phone while inside a vehicle, however. As stated, you cannot hold your phone while driving, but you can hold your phone while stopped for one of the following reasons.

To pay for a product or service
To gain access to a road-related area, such as a paid carpark
To provide a digital license or another document to a police officer if told to do so
To obtain a card or cash from a wallet or storage compartment in a phone case for one of the above reasons.

You can freely use your mobile phone when parked in a safe place, meaning you’ve made the vehicle safe and intend to stay in that place for some time.

Road Rules in Queensland – Roundabouts

Another commonly broken rule of the road are the various rules you are required to obey when using a roundabout.

Roundabouts are complicated and have several different rules depending on what it is you intend to do on it and where you are positioned in comparison to other vehicles.

An example of this is the give-way rules. If you are yet to enter the roundabout and others intend to enter it, you must give way to the vehicles to your right.

You must also give way to all vehicles that are already using the roundabout.

The indicating rules are another set that can confuse some and cause road incidents or other inconveniences or dangers.

If you intend to turn left at the roundabout, you must indicate left when approaching and continue to do so as you pass through the roundabout. If it is a multilane road or roundabout, you must also approach it in the left lane of traffic and continue to use this lane as you drive through.
If you intend to drive straight through the roundabout, you may approach the roundabout without indicating. You should, however, indicate left as you exit it if it is practical to do so.
If you intend to turn right off the roundabout, you should approach in the right lane and indicate right. You should stay to the right of the roundabout, continue to indicate right most of the way through, and then indicate left generally once you have passed the last exit before yours.

Not having an understanding of the road rules can result in accidents, misunderstandings and even serious injury or death, so it is important that you stay conscious of the road rules when utilising a roundabout.

Key Takeaways

Driving can be difficult. Between all of the rules, other drivers, obstructions, and pedestrians to worry about, you can become a little overwhelmed.

It is, however, vital to your safety and the safety of others that you are remaining aware of road rules when driving.

This list discusses 3 of the most either easy to forget or often disregarded rules when driving but remember that road rules are in place for a reason so you should keep them in mind!