You’re familiar with all the common road rules; don’t speed, don’t use a mobile phone and slow down in school zones. But did you know that tooting your horn and waving goodbye to someone out the window could attract a $596 fine if you're caught by police in NSW?
Unfortunately, not all offences are common knowledge, meaning some of your driving habits could end up costing you demerit points and a hefty fine.
We’ve compiled some driving offences you may not know about and what they could cost you below. Study up to keep yourself, and your driving record, safe on the road.
New South Wales
- Improper use of a warning device (ie honking a horn) - $298 fine
- Splashing a bus passenger with mud after driving through a puddle - $165
- Limb protruding from the car - 3 demerit points, $298 fine
- Moving from a marked lane to another across continuous line - 4 demerit points, $1299 fine
- Increasing speed while being overtaken - 3 demerit points, $325 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in NSW, visit the NSW Roads & Maritime website.
Queensland
- Driving a hire vehicle on Fraser Island with over 7 passengers - 3 demerit points, $365 fine
- Using lights on a vehicle that dazzle other road users - $48 fine
- Failing to give way to a bus leaving a bus stop - 3 demerit points, $219 fine
- Illegal use of a warning device (ie honking a horn) - $66 fine
- Leaving a window gap of more than 5cm when your car is parked - $40 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in Queensland, visit the Queensland government website.
Victoria
- Holding up traffic in the fast lane - 2 demerit points, $282 fine
- Bicyclist fail to leave intersection asap - 3 demerit points, $389 fine
- Person on rollerblades/roller skates failing to keep out of the path of bicycle on bicycle path or separated footpath - $78 fine
- Having a bike rack fitted to your vehicle when it is not carrying bicycles - $152 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in Victoria, visit the Vic Roads website.
South Australia
- Causing hazard to a person or vehicle by opening a vehicle door, leaving a vehicle door open or getting in or out of a vehicle - $225 fine
- Entering a blocked intersection - 3 demerit points
- Failing to give stop signal before stopping or suddenly slowing - 2 demerit points
- Failing to give left change of direction signal when leaving roundabout - 2 demerit points
- Tailgating/failure to keep a safe distance behind other vehicles - $320 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in South Australia, visit the South Australia government website.
Western Australia
- Entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned yellow - 2 demerit points
- Inappropriate use of headlights/fog lights - 1 demerit point, $100 fine
- Producing smoke/burnout - 3 demerit points, $100 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in WA, visit the WA government website.
Tasmania
- Driver or passenger failing to wear properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt (including tucking it under the arm or under the chest) - 3 demerit points, $300 fine
- Driving without due consideration for other road users - 3 demerit points, $140 fine
- Driver stopping at side of the road with continuous yellow edge line - $100 fine
- Driver stopping in a taxi zone- $70 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in Tasmania, visit the Tasmania government transport website.
Australian Capital Territory
- Not removing the ignition key - $176 fine
- Driving motor vehicle with passenger body part outside vehicle window/door - $176 fine
- Reversing vehicle further than necessary - $176 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in ACT, download the ACT Road Transport (Offences) PDF.
Northern Territory
- Driving with expired license within two months of expiry - $200 fine
- Failure to produce license on request - $100 fine
- Failure to obey yellow traffic light - $100 fine
For a complete list of traffic offences and fines in the Northern Territory, visit the Northern Territory government website.
Remember, the cleaner your driving record, the less of a risk you are and the more likely you’ll save on your car insurance premium.
