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New Road Laws And Rules
Road
laws are changing all the time. The news papers and TV don't always give the
whole story. We have tried to include here items that will matter to you make
sense of it all. Do you know when to signal before you leave a round-a-bout? Do
you know how to Zip Merge? These rule are only around 10 years old. Do you know
them? Look for the answers further down the page.
New
Laws for South Australian Learner Drivers
From 4th September 2010, all new Learner Drivers in South Australia will
need to complete 75 hours of driving experience and have their Learners
Permit for a minimum or 12 months before they are eligible to get their Provisional Licence (P Plates). The 75
hours driving experience must include a minimum of 15 hours at night.
To the
best of our understanding, all Learner Drivers who have their Permit before
September 4th will remain on the "old" 50 hours driving and 6 months system.
Make
The Most of New Learner Laws
Make the most or the 75 hours and
12 months on Learners Permit. Start driving school lessons early. Space them out
over the whole 12 months. Get lots of practice in between. Don't wait until
there are 6 or 9 months of bad driving habits, start on the good habits straight
away and spend 12 months practicing them. It is the best way to make sure a
Learner driver becomes a safe P Plate driver.
Call or Email Us
Drive Smart Driving School
is here to help people learn to drive safely and think smart on the
road.
Call and talk to Mark or
Jenny on 08 8285 4059
or
send us an email if that is easier for you.
Need help in the Southern Suburbs?
Call and talk to Terry or Kerensa
on 08 8384
7729
about your driving needs in the South.
New
Mobile Phone Laws for L and P1 drivers
All South Australian Learner and P1 Drivers are banned from
using mobile phones in any way while driving!
(Extract from letter to all L and P1 drivers 3rd August 2009)
From 31st August 2009, all Learner's Permit and P1 Licence holders will
be banned from using any type of mobile phone function while driving. The mobile
phone ban includes:
using hands-free mode including Bluetooth technology
loud speaker operation
text messaging
You
can still use your mobile phone in your car but you must pull over and park
safely before doing so.
The
penalty for using a mobile phone while driving will be $218 and three demerit
points!
Martin Small
REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES
This
is the first of several new Learner and P Plate laws to be brought in over the
next 12 months. Others include 12 months minimum and 75 logged hours for all
Learner's. We know it's coming, we just don't know exactly when.
Once
you are on your P2's or full licence you will be permitted to use the hands free
functions of your mobile phone as long the phone is correctly mounted in your
car and the function you use does not require you to touch the phone at all.
Mobile Phones are more distracting than anything else! Don't dial! Never text
while driving, don't write text messages, don't read them either!
It
is said that we take our eyes away from the road 4 times longer to use a mobile
phone than to do any other in-car function! Text messaging is the worst!
Wait until you are safely and legally parked to use the phone.
Your friends and family would rather wait for your reply that never see you again!
NOTHING is so important that it can't wait a few minutes!
Texting While Driving Advert
- WARNING!
This video IS
graphic!
Disclaimer
Please note: The descriptions and
explanations of Road Laws and Road Rules are our interpretation only and are not
to considered as binding
legal advice. For full legal wording and details,
look for the links to road law sites: Australian Road Rules and
South
Australian Road Traffic Regulations.
Common Road Law Myths, Mistakes And
Misunderstandings
These are things we
have noticed that people get wrong, don't know or that the rule makers
have simply not told us or made clear. Hope it makes sense. If not, please
email us with
your road rule comments or questions.
Slow Down Near
Pedestrians! This is not a law as such, just common sense! As a driver, you
have a duty of care not to hit a pedestrian. (Also see
Driving To The Conditions below). Your
vehicle will do huge damage to any pedestrian.
Even if the
pedestrian was doing the wrong thing it would be horrible to hit them. Look for
and slow down when you see people around. EXPECT that they WILL suddenly step or
run in front of you.
Give Way To
Pedestrians Crossing The Road You Are Turning Into!
Whether you are turning left or right into a small side street or onto a main
road, look for and give way to any Pedestrian crossing or about to cross that
road at or near the intersection.
This means that you have to slow and be ready
to stop for Pedestrians every time you turn. This especially applies when
turning left from a main road.
The New "Fire Hydrant" or
"Fire Plug" Markings
We are getting a few photo's to help illustrate this one but here
goes with a few words.
Fire Hydrants or as
we usually have here in SA, Fire Plugs in the road, were marked by a white post
with a red cap. The Law was, don't park in front of the post.
Things are
changing. Many Fire Plugs are now marked with a blue reflector near the middle
of the road and yellow paint on the metal "plug" or plate in the road. There is
often also a short length of solid yellow line painted beside the fire plug at
the edge of the road.
Either way, it's
simple once you know. Don't park your vehicle where it will stop the Fire
Brigade from easily attaching their hoses to the fire plug or hydrant.
Merging Rules Merging rules and laws seem to still be confusing
for SA drivers. Who gives way? Who signals where and when?
A good guide is to look for lines marked on the road. If you are
crossing a line of any sort (See diagram 1 & 2) you must give way.
If there are no lines to
cross (See diagram 3) it’s a Zip merge. Then give way to anyone on your left or right if any
part of their vehicle is ahead of your vehicle.
Diagram 1
Lane change.
Really simple, we all should know this one. Car B - the vehicle changing lanes - should always give way
to traffic in the lane it is changing into.
Diagram 2
Most people understand Lane End. We've had them in SA for ever
and every one knows what to do.
Car B is crossing a "lane
end" or "give way" line so must give way. Just make sure you don't confuse them
with the Zip Merge (Diagram 3) which is totally different.
Diagram 3
This is a Zip Merge. The
"new" one, introduced during the year 2000.
If any part of the other
vehicle on your left or right is ahead of you, then
you
must give way. Zip Merges happen at any place two lines of traffic
are forced into one line or lane and there are no lines to cross.
The cars in this diagram may have just left two marked lanes or
may have been in two lines of traffic on a wide un-laned road, either way, the
car in front gets to go first.
Who signals? If you will be moving across into another lane or
line of traffic you must signal. It's the law. It also means you have much more
chance of being "let" in.
Speed Limits The general speed limits on South Australian roads aren’t what they used to
be and a surprising number of people still have no idea they have changed.
The Open Road Limit outside the metro area is 100kph. 110kph only applies
on specifically signposted roads! Many of our hills roads now have an 80kph
limit. Other 80 roads have now been made 70. Don’t get caught out! It's
been like this for years but lots of people are still confused.
The Metro and other built up area speed limit is 50kph.
It's been that way since 2003. All roads are 50 unless there are signs that say
different. It's nothing to do with back streets and main roads. The default
speed is now 50! Many main roads are "marked up" to higher speeds but be careful
there are several that are 50.
Getting it right is simple. Do 50kph or less until you see a sign
that tells you differently.
Also, watch your speed limit changes. If you are in a 60 zone for
example, and approaching an 80 zone, you must wait until you pass the
80 Sign before you raise your driving speed. Likewise, if
you are in the 80 zone and approaching a 60 zone, you must slow your
speed before reaching the sign, so that you are already doing 60
before you pass the Sign.
Remember the speed limit is the maximum speed you are
permitted to drive. Driving slower than the limit is fine and safer. Don't feel
pushed to "do the limit" if conditions mean that it is not safe.
Driving To The Conditions Remember, the Speed Limit is often still too fast for the
conditions at the time. Legally, even if you are within the speed limit but due
to the situation or conditions, your choice of speed contributes to the cause of
a crash, you will be charged with driving with undue care or something similar.
We often see drivers making poor speed choices. Driving too fast
in congested situations. Too fast and too close in wet conditions. Too fast in
fog and other poor visibility situations. Too fast near pedestrians, road
workers, children. Slow down for these and other danger places. It makes almost
no difference to your over-all travel time and could well save a life. It's your
choice!
Information
contained within this website is intended as a guide only and is
not considered to be precise legal interpretations of the road
traffic laws.
For more
detailed information regarding the law, please go to the
Australian Road
Rules
link, or to
Also, the Police
Traffic Information Office is available on (08) 8207 6586 for
further information on traffic laws.
It should be noted
that references and claims relating to the "best driver you can
be" all refer to the best driver we can help you become given
the available time and
opportunities for
training. Once on their P's, a new driver is totally responsible
for their own actions and choices.