The new road rules and penalties now in effect on Australian roads

The new road rules and penalties now in effect on Australian roads

Australian motorists are facing a sweeping overhaul of road laws and penalties starting July 1, 2025. The changes, which include tightened safety requirements, adjusted speed limits, and increased fines, follow the recording of the worst road toll figures in 15 years.

Many of the adjustments are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), leading to automatic increases in the cost of infringements across several states.

New South Wales: Safety Gear and Surveillance

In New South Wales, the focus for July 1 has turned to motorcyclist safety. Under changes to the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme, Learner, P1, and P2 riders must now wear approved protective gloves at all times. Additionally, learner riders are required to wear an approved high-vis jacket or vest.

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray stated that high-vis gear makes riders easier to see and gloves can almost halve the risk of hand and wrist injuries.

Other NSW updates include:

• Average Speed Cameras: Enforcement for light cars and motorcycles began July 1 on a 15km stretch of the Pacific Highway on the Mid North Coast and a section of the Hume Highway in the south.
• Parking Fines: The state has ended ticketless parking fines. Councils must now leave a physical infringement on the vehicle or issue on-the-spot fines, supported by photos of the offence.
• Financial Adjustments: All penalties, fees, and charges increased by 3.2 per cent. For example, the fine for illegal mobile phone use rose from $410 to $423. Tolls also increased on several motorways, including the M2, M5 South West, M7, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Further changes are expected in NSW. On July 6, the weekly road toll fee cap will drop from $60 to $50 for 12 months. Motorists will also receive a one-off registration discount between September 1 and August 31, 2027, with $100 off car registrations and $80 off motorbike registrations.

Queensland: E-Vehicle Crackdown

Queensland has introduced significant new restrictions for e-bikes and e-scooters as of July 1. Police now have the authority to seize and destroy illegal e-vehicles and conduct random breath tests on riders, who are subject to a 0.05 blood alcohol limit.

Speed restrictions for e-vehicles are now set at 25km/h on roads and 12km/h on footpaths or shared roads. E-scooters, e-unicycles, and e-skateboards are prohibited from roads with speed limits higher than 60km/h, unless using bike lanes.

The state has also reduced speed limits from 50km/h to 40km/h in busy residential and tourist areas, such as the Hervey Bay Esplanade. Fines and car registrations increased by 3.4 per cent; the penalty for illegal mobile phone use has risen to $1250 from $1209.

Additional rules for e-bike riders are pending. From August 31, riders must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver's licence or learner's permit. Parents of offending youths will face fines, though exemptions exist for disabilities and medical conditions, and 12-17 year olds may ride under parental supervision.

Victoria and South Australia: Roadside Safety

Both states have introduced rules to protect stationary roadside assistance and emergency vehicles. In Victoria, drivers must slow to 40km/h when passing tow trucks or incident response vehicles with flashing lights, facing fines up to $961.

South Australia's requirements are more stringent. Motorists passing stationary breakdown service vehicles with flashing amber lights must slow to 25km/h. Failure to comply can result in a penalty of up to $1895 and nine demerit points. This specific rule took effect on May 19.

South Australia has increased speeding and drink driving penalties via CPI indexation. Those returning a blood alcohol concentration below 0.08 now face a $904 fine, up from $875. Victoria has also overhauled its infringement system, increasing costs for those who fail to pay notices by the initial due date.

Western Australia and Northern Territory

Western Australia has reduced speed limits to 40km/h on hundreds of high-pedestrian roads. The state is also increasing fines for illegal phone use to $700 and extreme speeding to $1600. While no changes were noted for July 1, the government is considering reforms for L-plate and P-plate drivers that would double the learner period to 12 months and increase supervised driving hours from 50 to 80.

In the Northern Territory, speed limits have been adjusted on the Stuart Highway. The section passing the Emerald Springs Roadhouse increased from 80km/h to 100km/h, while a new 80km/h limit applies between Chung Wah Terrace and Wickham Point Road. The stretch between Wickham Point Road and Channel Island Bridge is now 90km/h.

No changes to road rules or fines were reported for Tasmania or the ACT.