Driving holiday safety in QLD Australia

If you wish to drive in Australia you must know the rules of the road. Some of these include:

All vehicles travel on the left side of the road.

Do not travel faster than the signed maximum speed limit.

When planning each day of travel spend some time to calculate how long it will take to drive between destinations. Be realistic about how far you can drive in a day. Share the driving with your companions and stop for a rest at least every two hours.

In country areas road conditions can vary from bitumen surfaces to gravel and dirt. Be careful of potholes, soft road edges, narrow bridges and dusty roads. Be careful of crossing over a road covered in water, cross slowly only if the road surface is firm and stay in the middle of the road. If travelling to remote areas away from major highways take extra food, water, fuel, digging tools, tyres and a distress beacon (EPIRB). Also advise local police of your intended route.

If you do experience a breakdown in a remote area, remain with the vehicle at all times. Do not attempt to walk to safety. Stay in the shade and keep hydrated.

Australian wildlife and livestock often graze on the roadside and can stray onto the road. Be very careful when driving at sunrise, sunset and at night, when kangaroos and other animals are most active. If an animal crosses in front of you reduce speed safely - do not swerve wildly to avoid it.

Avoid drinking alcohol before driving. Australia has strict laws on drinking & driving and police actively enforce them. You must not drive if your blood alcohol level is 0.05% or higher.

Hold a current, valid driving license issued in the country in which you live, in addition to an International Driving permit. Overseas visitors can drive in Australia for up to 12 months with this permit. Carry your license and permit with you at all times when driving.

By law, all occupants of a vehicle must wear seatbelts at all times.
Do not use a hand-held mobile telephone when driving, there are heavy fines for doing so. Always use a hands free kit, as it is against the law to hold a mobile phone when driving.

If you are riding on a motorcycle, moped, motor scooter or bicycle, it is the law that you wear a crash helmet.

Always carry a current road map.

When you leave your vehicle unattended, make sure it is locked and parked safely. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. If you must leave property in the vehicle, keep it out of sight.

When crossing the road look in both directions - look right first, then left, then right again. Where available, use designated pedestrian crossings. Always drive with caution near schools and other places where children may be walking or cycling.

For further information, download the Visitor Safety Handbook.