Massive fine for little-known road rule revealed

You might think this road habit makes you a safer driver – but it turns out there’s a huge fine for this little-known road rule.

We all know the harsh punishments for speeding – but many motorists might be surprised to learn they can also be slapped with a hefty fine for driving too slowly as well.

However, it seems there’s no clear definition of what “too slow” actually means, with no specific minimum speed publicly available.

But police tend to decide a motorist is driving too slowly if they are obstructing the movement of other road users or pedestrians, and they can then be dealt with under part 2 of Rule 125 of the Australian Road Rules, which is applied across all states and territories.

It falls under the category of “unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians”, with the rules stating that “a driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian”.

Again, no specific speed is listed, but an example is provided, of driving 20km/h in an 80km/h zone when there is no reason to do so.

You can be stung for driving too slowly. Picture: iStock

However, there are exceptions to the rule, in specific circumstances such as during heavy traffic, for trucks moving down steep slopes and when driving during extreme weather conditions.

The rule states that a slow driver will be exempt if “the driver is stopped in traffic” or if “the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles (unless the driver is driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances).”

While those found to have broken the rules won’t receive demerit points, they can be dealt large fines, with vary state by state.

In NSW, the fine stands at $272, compared with $364 in Victoria, $137 in Queensland, $219 in South Australia, $100 in WA, $130 in Tasmania, $193 in the ACT and $157 in the Northern Territory.

And it’s not an empty threat, either – in 2019, news.com.au reported that a WA man was fined for travelling 28km/h under the speed limit on the freeway.

Driving 28kmh under the speed limit on the freeway causes frustration which results in bad decisions which results in accidents. Can't do the limit stay off the freeway! #TEG3pic.twitter.com/JvWDudvWrP

— WA Police Traffic (@WAPoliceTraffic) January 14, 2019

At the time, WA Police tweeted an image of the fine, and explained that: “Driving 28kmh under the speed limit on the freeway causes frustration which results in bad decisions which results in accidents. Can’t do the limit stay off the freeway!”

Originally published as Massive fine for little-known road rule revealed