Little-known road rule could cost you up to $2600

Australian drivers have been warned of a little known road rule that could land motorists in hot water, even when they’re not behind the wheel.

Australian drivers have been warned of a little known road rule that could land motorists in hot water, even when they’re not behind the wheel.

In Victoria, NSW and Queensland, it is illegal for drivers to leave their vehicles unlocked or with the windows wound down.

According to government websites, the rule applies when you move more than 3m away from it.

A window is only considered “secure” if it is open by less than 2cm.

Victorians risk a $117 on-the-spot fine for the infringement, with NSW charging offenders $114.

However, penalties can skyrocket in Queensland, with motorists risking fines of up to $2669 for leaving their vehicle open and unattended.

“You must secure/lock your vehicle before leaving it parked on a road,” the Queensland Government website reads.

“Your vehicle is considered unattended when you are more than 3m away from it.”

In Western Australia, the fine for leaving your car unlocked is a little smaller at $50.

In Victoria, NSW and Queensland, it is illegal for drivers to leave their vehicles unlocked or with the windows wound down.

Another unfamiliar road rule recently set social media ablaze after Queensland’s Department of Transport, and Main Roads took it upon themselves to lay down the law.

“You can be fined $575 and three demerit points if you don’t have proper control of your vehicle,” the department explained on Facebook.

“So make sure you’re not one-handing the wheel or taking your eyes off the road to eat,” the department posted.

“Obviously, you’re allowed to take a hand off the wheel for a short time to operate your vehicle, but eating while you’re driving could be interpreted as not having proper control of your vehicle and driving distracted,” they clarified.

The penalty falls under the state’s driver distraction penalties.

Meanwhile, the NSW government has recently reversed its “unsustainable” and “increasingly frustrating” decision to remove mobile speed camera warning signs.

From January, warning signs will be placed in front of all mobile speed cameras for the first time in two years after they were removed in a controversial plan to tackle speeding.

When the signs were last in place in 2020, there were 38,743 fines issued.

In the first year after the signs were scrapped the number of fines issued increased to 361,896 – almost ten times the previous year.

Warning signs were temporarily returned this year mounted on top of mobile speed camera vehicles and the number of offences has dropped to under 200,000.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the decision to remove the signs had been ineffective as it had created numerous issues while failing to reduce the amount of speeding offences.

Originally published as Little-known road rule could cost you up to $2600