Major changes coming to road rules from July 1 across Australia

Drivers across the country will be hit with sweeping new changes on the roads from July 1, including tougher fines and stricter speed limits.

Major changes are coming to road rules across Australia next month.

Nationally, mobile detection will be enhanced further with the assistance of AI-powered surveillance cameras being rolled out across the country.

These cameras will be able to detect and identify drivers who are using, holding or touching their mobile phones behind the wheel.

Those who are caught driving while using their phone – even while stopped at the traffic lights – can be fined up to $1209 and lose up to five demerit points.

Sweeping new speed limit changes will also be implemented across many states from July 1 following an increase in road deaths.

NSW drivers will pay a price for using their phones while behind the wheel. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW

Drivers who fail to wear a seatbelt will face higher penalties as the state introduces further surveillance from July 1.

Existing mobile phone detection cameras will also start to detect those not wearing seatbelts.

On average, 15 per cent of road fatalities in NSW involve a lack of seatbelts. According to the NSW government, 150 people died between 2019 and 2023 while not wearing a seatbelt.

NSW will also scrap ticketless parking fines – which were introduced during the pandemic – after drivers complained they were being hit with infringements without physical notices.

Mobile detection cameras will be implemented across the state to catch those not wearing seatbelts. Picture: NewsWire handout

Victoria

From July 1, changes to road rule 79A will require drivers in Victoria to slow down to 40km/h when approaching and passing by any slow-moving (10km/h or lower) or stationary police, emergency or escort vehicles.
The new rule now includes any tow trucks or incident response vehicles that are flashing red, yellow, blue or magenta lights or sounding an alarm.
Previous rules only applied to emergency and law enforcement vehicles.
The expansion of the road rule 79A applies to all road types, including freeways.

Failure to comply may result in a noncompliance fine of $346 and a maximum fine of $961, though there is no loss of demerit points.

Drivers will now be forced to slow down when emergency vehicles, incident response vehicles and tow trucks drive by with sirens and flashing lights. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Queensland

There will be a 3.4 per cent increase in car registration and fines for Queenslanders from July 1.

The former Labor government’s freeze on registrations and fines, which was set to be in place until September 2025, will be scrapped from July.

Fines are set to increase for speeding, mobile phone and seatbelt violations.

Speed limits will also reduce from 50km/h to 40km/h in tourist-driven areas across the state, including sections of the Hervey Bay Esplanade and its surrounding areas.

Speed limits will be reduced across much of the country from July 1. Picture: NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

South Australia

South Australian drivers will be forced to slow down to 25km/h when passing by a roadside or breakdown recovery vehicle flashing amber lights.

This new rule only applies to vehicles on multi-lane roads and will not apply for vehicles travelling on the other side of the road.

Failure to slow down may result in a fine of up to $1648 and the loss of up to seven demerit points.

Fines will also be increased across parts of the country. Picture: NewsWire handout

Western Australia

Speed limits on roads in certain parts of WA will also be significantly reduced in response to the state’s road toll.

On sealed roads west of the Bussell Highway, speed limits will be reduced from between 80km/h and 100km/h to 70km/h.

Speed limits on major urban roads will also be reduced from 70km/h to 60km/h in built-up areas, including Bayview Drive entering Gracetown.

In the area between the Margaret River and Prevelly, speed limits of between 70km/h to 110km/h are set to be reduced to 60km/h.

Drivers in the Augusta town centre and surrounding streets will have to obey a 40km/h speed limit due to high pedestrian activity.

Originally published as Major changes coming to road rules from July 1 across Australia