Mongy
14-01-2005, 11:00 AM
I noticed a story on ACA last night about new road laws in QLD and received this on email from the QTA this morning so I thought I’d pass on the relevant sections that effect car drivers. The story last night revolved around a guy getting fined $30 for leaving his windows down when he parked his car and walked away.
New QLD Road rules effective January 1 2005.
Pedestrian Crossings
A driver must not enter a children's crossing, pedestrian crossing or a crossing for pedestrians at traffic lights if the driver can not drive completely through the crossing because the crossing, or the road beyond the crossing, is blocked. For example, the crossing, or the road beyond the crossing, may be blocked by congested traffic.
Trucks and Roundabouts
Vehicles over 7.5m in length (including any load or projection) that display a 'Do not overtake turning vehicle' sign can take up adjacent lane space when approaching and entering a roundabout, provided it is safe to do so. This amendment now allows long vehicles to take up extra lane space when negotiating a turn at a roundabout, providing it is safe to do so.
Overtaking Stationary vehicles on the left
A driver may now overtake to the left of a vehicle if the vehicle is stationary and can be safely overtaken to the left. For example, a driver wanting to turn left at a set of traffic lights may overtake to the left a line of traffic waiting to proceed straight through the intersection, provided it is safe to do so.
Securing a vehicle
When leaving a vehicle a driver must properly secure the vehicle by:
• turning off the engine
• applying the handbrake
• removing the ignition key if no-one 16 years of age or over is remaining in the vehicle and
• locking the doors and close all windows if no-one is remaining in the vehicle.
A driver has 'left' a vehicle when he or she is more than three metres away from it.
Trialled reintroduction of L plates
Queensland Transport will reintroduce L plates to Queensland on a trial basis starting 31 January 2005. The trial will require all learner licence holders to display an L plate if learning to ride a motorbike or learning to drive a car, truck or bus. The trial will operate for three years, ending 30 January 2008. The trial is in response to recommendations made by the Parliamentary TravelSafe Committee in 2003. The committee outlined a number of recommendations to improve the safety of young people on our roads and the government has responded with a number of initiatives including the trial of L plates. The trial will apply to approximately 200,000 learner drivers and riders in Queensland and will mean:
• All learner car, bus, truck drivers must fit L-plates to the front and rear of the vehicle.
If these requirements are not fulfilled, the learner and the accompanying driver will be fined $A120. No demerit points will be incurred with these offences.
An evaluation of the trial will take place when the trial is completed. The evaluation will look at impacts on crash patterns, drivers' attitudes, infringement patterns, and enforcement activity. There will be no amnesty period when the trial first starts. The police will start enforcing the requirements from 31 January 2005.
There are a number of other new laws but they mainly pertain to heavy vehicles.
New QLD Road rules effective January 1 2005.
Pedestrian Crossings
A driver must not enter a children's crossing, pedestrian crossing or a crossing for pedestrians at traffic lights if the driver can not drive completely through the crossing because the crossing, or the road beyond the crossing, is blocked. For example, the crossing, or the road beyond the crossing, may be blocked by congested traffic.
Trucks and Roundabouts
Vehicles over 7.5m in length (including any load or projection) that display a 'Do not overtake turning vehicle' sign can take up adjacent lane space when approaching and entering a roundabout, provided it is safe to do so. This amendment now allows long vehicles to take up extra lane space when negotiating a turn at a roundabout, providing it is safe to do so.
Overtaking Stationary vehicles on the left
A driver may now overtake to the left of a vehicle if the vehicle is stationary and can be safely overtaken to the left. For example, a driver wanting to turn left at a set of traffic lights may overtake to the left a line of traffic waiting to proceed straight through the intersection, provided it is safe to do so.
Securing a vehicle
When leaving a vehicle a driver must properly secure the vehicle by:
• turning off the engine
• applying the handbrake
• removing the ignition key if no-one 16 years of age or over is remaining in the vehicle and
• locking the doors and close all windows if no-one is remaining in the vehicle.
A driver has 'left' a vehicle when he or she is more than three metres away from it.
Trialled reintroduction of L plates
Queensland Transport will reintroduce L plates to Queensland on a trial basis starting 31 January 2005. The trial will require all learner licence holders to display an L plate if learning to ride a motorbike or learning to drive a car, truck or bus. The trial will operate for three years, ending 30 January 2008. The trial is in response to recommendations made by the Parliamentary TravelSafe Committee in 2003. The committee outlined a number of recommendations to improve the safety of young people on our roads and the government has responded with a number of initiatives including the trial of L plates. The trial will apply to approximately 200,000 learner drivers and riders in Queensland and will mean:
• All learner car, bus, truck drivers must fit L-plates to the front and rear of the vehicle.
If these requirements are not fulfilled, the learner and the accompanying driver will be fined $A120. No demerit points will be incurred with these offences.
An evaluation of the trial will take place when the trial is completed. The evaluation will look at impacts on crash patterns, drivers' attitudes, infringement patterns, and enforcement activity. There will be no amnesty period when the trial first starts. The police will start enforcing the requirements from 31 January 2005.
There are a number of other new laws but they mainly pertain to heavy vehicles.