Aussies shocked over new ‘fake, AI’ road rule
A new road ‘rule’ has sparked nationwide confusion among Aussie drivers with experts rushing to explain what it all means.
A lawyer has quickly moved to shut down a new and bizarre fake road rule claiming Aussie drivers could be fined hundreds for having their headlights on while driving during the day.
The bogus “law”, which claims to have come into effect on November 1, has been doing the rounds online sparking anger, confusion and furious debate across TikTok and Facebook.
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However, Principal Criminal Lawyer at Astor Legal, Avinash Singh, says the viral claim is completely made up.
“In respect of the article claiming new Road Rules came into effect in November, requiring all drivers to have their headlights on at all times, this is a blatant fabrication,” Mr Singh said.
The article appears to have completely made this up.”
Mr Singh also warned that fake nationwide road rules, usually found in Google Discover feeds and on social media platforms, are becoming increasingly common and causing real-world confusion.
“As criminal defence lawyers, we have seen a significant increase in the spread of misinformation through AI in the last 12 months. There have been a number of recent cases where self-represented litigants have referred to entirely fictitious cases due to their reliance on AI,” Singh said.
“Given how easy it is for misinformation to be propagated in today’s climate, there is a greater need to be vigilant about what sources people are relying on for legal matters.
“If people are unsure of any Road Rules, they can look at the legislation to see whether a law actually exists.”
According to the NSW Road Rules (2014), there is no requirement for drivers to keep their headlights on during the day. However, under Rule 218, drivers can be penalised for misusing their high-beams, which have been known to dazzle other drivers.
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The NSW rule book states drivers can use high-beams on any road or street, but will need to toggle back to their low-beam when driving less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction or less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.
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This isn’t the first time dodgy AI content has gone viral. Just last month, articles claimed that Aussie drivers could now be fined up to $1500 for eating or drinking while driving.
The NSW government were quick to squash the rumours.
“While there is no specific rule against eating or smoking whilst driving, drivers must have proper control of the vehicle. A $562 fine and 3 demerit points apply,” Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said.
“The rise of Artificial Intelligence can generate misinformation, and we’ve seen that recently with claims curfews were to be introduced for drivers over 60 in NSW and large fine increases for anyone caught breaking our road rules – neither true nor remotely accurate.
“Accurate information about road rules and road safety is critically important, staying safe on our roads is a shared responsibility.
“We recommend relying on a trusted source, like the NSW Government website, to get the right advice.”
Authorities were also quick to debunk reports claiming that drivers over 60 would be subject to a strict night-time driving ban.
AI-generated articles were claiming that “motorists aged 60 and above will face night driving restrictions” between 10pm and 5am.
Transport Victoria responded online to clarify the rumour.
“We’re aware of a myth that drivers over 60 face an overnight driving curfew – there is no such restriction,” Transport Victoria posted online.
Transport for NSW also confirmed there have been no changes to driving restrictions/requirements for older drivers.
“For accurate information, always check a trusted source like the NSW Government website. It’s the best place for up-to-date rules and safety info,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
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Originally published as Aussies shocked over new ‘fake, AI’ road rule
