Driving in Australia - Revision history

Mousy mouse: /* Routes */

2013-03-12T04:40:04Z

‎Routes

MaartenE: Reverted edits by 124.183.138.7 (Talk) to last version by 199.40.204.245

2013-01-07T11:51:36Z

Reverted edits by 124.183.138.7 (Talk) to last version by 199.40.204.245

124.183.138.7 at 11:42, 7 January 2013

2013-01-07T11:42:58Z

199.40.204.245: /* Rural driving */

2013-01-07T01:14:29Z

‎Rural driving

199.40.204.245: /* Rural driving */

2013-01-07T01:12:22Z

‎Rural driving

199.40.204.245: /* Traffic signals */

2013-01-07T00:58:37Z

‎Traffic signals

124.254.78.136: /* Enforcement */

2012-10-09T03:34:14Z

‎Enforcement

Eco84 at 13:33, 16 July 2012

2012-07-16T13:33:42Z

60.241.202.46: /* Parking */

2012-06-10T05:24:02Z

‎Parking

60.241.202.46 at 05:06, 10 June 2012

2012-06-10T05:06:12Z

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 * [[Waterfall Way]]
 {{related|Australia}}
 {{related|Buying_or_renting_a_car_in_Australia}}
 {{guidetopic}}

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 All measurements in Australia are metric.  Distances are in metres and kilometres, and speed in kilometres per hour.
-Australians drive on the left side of the road and the almost every vehicle has the steering wheel on their right side. Around 70% of Australian cars are automatic transmission. When hiring a car manual transmission (stick-shift) is generally only offered as an option for the cheapest small cars. The gear stick in a manual transmission is operated by the left hand.  The arrangement of the pedals is standard worldwide. In most cars, the indicator (turn-signal) stalk will be on the right side of the steering wheel and the windscreen wiper stalk on the left side of the steering wheel.
+Australians drive on the left side of the road and the majority of vehicles have the steering wheel on their right side. Around 70% of Australian cars are automatic transmission. When hiring a car manual transmission (stick-shift) is generally only offered as an option for the cheapest small cars. The gear stick in a manual transmission is operated by the left hand.  The arrangement of the pedals is standard worldwide. In most cars, the indicator (turn-signal) stalk will be on the right side of the steering wheel and the windscreen wiper stalk on the left side of the steering wheel.
 Driving conditions vary.  Most Australians live on or near the eastern and south-east coasts. Roads within and between the cities and towns in these areas are sealed (paved) and well maintained, as are the main highways that join the state and territory capital cities. There are usually plenty of well marked rest areas on major highways, though these are usually very basic and do not always have toilet facilities.

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 All measurements in Australia are metric.  Distances are in metres and kilometres, and speed in kilometres per hour.
-Australians drive on the left side of the road and the majority of vehicles have the steering wheel on their right side. Around 70% of Australian cars are automatic transmission. When hiring a car manual transmission (stick-shift) is generally only offered as an option for the cheapest small cars. The gear stick in a manual transmission is operated by the left hand.  The arrangement of the pedals is standard worldwide. In most cars, the indicator (turn-signal) stalk will be on the right side of the steering wheel and the windscreen wiper stalk on the left side of the steering wheel.
+Australians drive on the left side of the road and the almost every vehicle has the steering wheel on their right side. Around 70% of Australian cars are automatic transmission. When hiring a car manual transmission (stick-shift) is generally only offered as an option for the cheapest small cars. The gear stick in a manual transmission is operated by the left hand.  The arrangement of the pedals is standard worldwide. In most cars, the indicator (turn-signal) stalk will be on the right side of the steering wheel and the windscreen wiper stalk on the left side of the steering wheel.
 Driving conditions vary.  Most Australians live on or near the eastern and south-east coasts. Roads within and between the cities and towns in these areas are sealed (paved) and well maintained, as are the main highways that join the state and territory capital cities. There are usually plenty of well marked rest areas on major highways, though these are usually very basic and do not always have toilet facilities.

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 * Telstra Mobile coverage maps [http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/coverage/maps.cfm]
-Some mountain and tableland areas of NSW and Victoria are noted for having very frosty nights that may cause diesel to solidify in vehicles causing the engine to stop or run abnormally. Usually vehicles will run normally without intervention, when the morning warms, at about 9AM.
+Some mountain and tableland areas of New South Wales, Victoria and Southern Queensland are noted for having very frosty nights that may cause diesel to solidify in vehicles causing the engine to stop or run abnormally. Usually vehicles will run normally without intervention, when the morning warms, at about 9AM.
 === Fuel ===

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 Some less major rural roads and outback roads are unsealed gravel roads. These are harder to drive on at high speeds and you will have to contend with the odd stone being thrown up. Windscreen damage is not unusual. Typically, rental car companies '''do not allow''' their cars to be taken off sealed roads, even if the unsealed road is an official minor road.  Many gravel roads in the south are in good condition and experienced drivers tend to drive on them as fast as they would on the sealed roads.  When on gravel it is essential to slow down well before a corner or you risk skidding as you turn.  Loose or drifting gravel also poses a hazard as your tyres may lose traction as the gravel ''rolls''  or shifts under the tyres.  If you feel you are losing control on gravel, slow down and try to avoid braking or turning sharply.  Roads in the northern tropics are often sandy, rocky or corrugated.
-When you are driving on Australia's open roads you may see dead animals on the side of the road. The fact is, quickly swerving or braking heavily could cause a much more serious accident. Sundown and sunrise are times to be on the alert through the Australian bush, as well as regions where you will encounter water sources like rivers and reservoirs, or the plains surrounding mountain ranges.
+When you are driving on Australia's open roads you may see dead animals on the side of the road. The fact is, quickly swerving or braking heavily could cause a much more serious accident. Dusk and sunrise are times to be on the alert through the Australian bush, as well as regions where you will encounter water sources like rivers and reservoirs, or the plains surrounding mountain ranges.
 If you come across multiple tyre marks on the road, this could suggest that animals regularly use this part of the road as a crossing, so just be a little more aware, and also, using the high beam head lights at night, will make it harder for an animal to find an appropriate escape route, so practice flicking them off for animals as well as for on coming traffic.

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 ===Traffic signals===
-It is illegal to turn left on a red traffic signal. In some states, it is illegal to do a U-turn at a traffic signal, unless there is a sign explicitly permitting. In Victoria a U-turn is permitted at any intersection with signals, unless signage specifically prohibits this.
+It is illegal to turn left on a red traffic signal unless there is a sign explicitly permitting it. In some states, it is illegal to do a U-turn at a traffic signal, unless there is a sign explicitly permitting. In Victoria a U-turn is permitted at any intersection with signals, unless signage specifically prohibits this.
 ===Overtaking (passing)===

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 [[Image:Mobile speed camera.JPG|thumb|250px|A mobile speed camera in Victoria. The cars used are completely unmarked, and there is no sign the vehicle is a speed camera car coming from behind.]]
-Speed cameras are used in all states and territories of Australia, with some states using hidden cameras, others preferring highly visible ones. The strictest place for speed limit enforcement is [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], with mobile speed cameras hidden in unmarked cars, as well as hidden fixed cameras behind highway signage. The official tolerance in Victoria is just three kilometres per hour in excess of the speed limit.  Police speed traps, and mobile patrols also regularly pull over cars for exceeding the speed limit.  In other states, exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h or so will usually result in you being sent a fine notice of around $200 (and demerit points if driving on an Australian licence).  Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h can result in a court appearance and possible criminal conviction. Red light and combined red light/speed cameras also operate at many urban intersections and a similar fine will result.
+Speed cameras are used in all states and territories of Australia, with some states using hidden cameras, others preferring highly visible ones. The strictest place for speed limit enforcement is [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], with mobile speed cameras hidden in unmarked vehicles such as Holden Captivas, Mitsubishi Outlanders and Ford Territory SUV's.  These mobile cameras operate in all speed zones (suburban side streets to freeways/highways)and in some instances in both directions. Fixed overhead speed cameras are on some highways/freeways usually under overhead bridges or sign gantrys.  There are now point to point fixed speed cameras on the Hume Freeway north of Melbourne.  There is no official tolerance in Victoria when detected by a speed camera exceeding the speed limit.  Upon written application speed fines may be withdrawn and a warning issued if the speeding is a minor nature (generally no more than 10% above the limit) and the applicant has a good driving record for the previous 2 years. Police speed traps, and mobile patrols also regularly pull over cars for exceeding the speed limit.  In other states, exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h or so will usually result in you being sent a fine notice of around $200 (and demerit points if driving on an Australian licence).  Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h can result in a court appearance and possible criminal conviction. Red light and combined red light/speed cameras also operate at many urban intersections and a similar fine will result.
 Fine notices are invariably sent to overseas addresses.  Rental car companies often charge an administration fee if fines are incurred, and will pass your name on to the debt collection authorities.  Your fine won't generally be pursued outside Australia, but you should consider the consequences if you wish to drive in Australia in the future.

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 Parking in major cities can be difficult and expensive, especially in the CBD and around tourist areas, such as beaches. Even smaller towns may have parking hassles on popular market days and for events.
-'''Commercial parking''' lots charge are common in capital cities centres, and operate on an hourly basis on weekdays, and often charging a flat fee on weekends or evenings. These can be very expensive in the CBD area.
+'''Commercial parking''' lot charges are common in capital cities centres, and operate on an hourly basis on weekdays, and often charging a flat fee on weekends or evenings. These can be very expensive in the CBD area.
 Cities often have council operated '''on-street parking''' that involves a fee payable.  There is either a meter that corresponds to the spot in which you have parked, or a ticket machine to buy a ticket from.  These spots will have a sign indicating the maximum amount of time you can park there (paying the appropriate fee), and at what times the fee operates.  Feeding meters (staying longer than the posted time by returning to the meter or ticket machine, and inserting more money or buying another ticket) is illegal and will result in the same fine as not paying the fee.

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 [[Image:DrivingInAustralia.JPG|thumb|450px]]
-'''Driving in [[Australia]]''' is an experience to be savoured. It is a way to experience the wide-open spaces and magnificent natural scenery, and there are so many destinations that can only be experienced by car.  Before setting off you should may sure you are well prepared for the Australian driving experience.
+'''Driving in [[Australia]]''' is an experience to be savoured. It is a way to experience the wide-open spaces and magnificent natural scenery, and there are so many destinations that can only be experienced by car.  Before setting off you should make sure you are well prepared for the Australian driving experience.
 ==Understand==