Could you be risking huge fines while driving in Australia?

Getting from point A to point B is a daily task we all must undertake, whether running errands, attending appointments, or heading to a wonderful holiday destination.

Unfortunately, with added responsibilities and risks, there's also an increased likelihood of breaking the rules.


It’s safe to assume that Aussie drivers are likely familiar with more popular ones such as the no-mobile phone policy, but the country’s road rules extend beyond this.

For starters, footwear rules are less known, as are restrictions on eating, drinking, applying makeup, or vaping while driving.

While driving barefoot or in flip-flops is common in summer, it's crucial to understand the nuances of wearing thongs, slides, high heels or going barefoot.

Surprisingly, driving without shoes is not against the law anywhere in the country.


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Driving barefoot is legal, but fines may apply if control is deemed insufficient. Image source: Pixabay


However, if the police believe your footwear, or lack thereof, compromises your control of the vehicle, you could find yourself facing a substantial fine.

This is particularly relevant if the driver was part of a collision.

Examples of unsuitable footwear that might get caught on the pedals include thongs, extremely high heels, or removing shoes and leaving them where they could disrupt the pedals.

According to Road Rule 297(1) applicable in all states and territories, drivers must ‘maintain proper control of their vehicle while driving’.

Failure to do so due to inappropriate footwear or bare feet can result in a significant fine.

In New South Wales (NSW), the fine is $481 with three demerit points, increasing to $603 with four demerit points in school zones.

While in Victoria, the penalty is a $387 fine with three demerit points for the same offence.


Meanwhile, in Queensland, the Transport and Main Roads department stresses that eating or drinking while driving can be a 'serious' distraction, potentially leading to fines.

As per the department’s social media post: ‘You can be fined $575 and three demerit points if you don't have proper control of your vehicle–or if you're driving without care or attention.’

The department further clarified that switching between a distracting activity, such as ‘a sandwich in your face,' and watching the road ahead forces you to ‘change your frame of reference—which takes valuable time you might need in an emergency’.

While drivers are ‘permitted to briefly take a hand off the wheel to operate’, the act of ‘one-handing the wheel’ or diverting attention from the road to enjoy a meal may be perceived as a lack of proper control over the vehicle.

‘It's best to pull over in a safe spot to savour that sandwich,’ they advised.


In Western Australia, the penalty for the same offence is higher, amounting to $600, constituting a substantial violation.

This rule also extends to motorbikes and scooters, which legally mandate only a helmet, but for safety reasons, suitable footwear is advised.

Similar rules are also in place for drivers snacking while driving.

While it's not specifically illegal, police can issue a fine if they believe it has affected a driver's control over their vehicle.

An instance from 2018 involved a hungry teenage P-plater fined $300 for eating a bowl of cereal while driving on a Perth road.

A photo taken by a 6PR radio listener appeared to show a young woman steering her car with her knees while eating cereal. The 'cereal offender' received three demerit points for this behaviour.

‘You can't be driving a car and eating your brekkie at the same time. That is just ridiculously dangerous,' former WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told local radio station 6PR at the time.

When it comes to consuming alcohol while driving, drink-driving laws apply.


Video source: YouTube/9 News Perth

In the case of distractions such as applying makeup or vaping, a driver not paying attention to the road may face a hefty fine if spotted by the police.

Applying lipstick or vaping discreetly likely won't attract attention, as long as the driver keeps their eyes on the road.

However, carefully applying eyeliner or unboxing a vape, even temporarily stopped in a traffic jam or at lights, could lead to trouble.

In summary, while there are no specific laws against these activities, it's left to the discretion of the police officer to determine if a driver is in proper control of their vehicle.
Key Takeaways

  • Driving barefoot, in thongs, slides, or high heels is not illegal in Australia, but police can fine a driver if they determine they are not in control of their vehicle.
  • Eating, drinking, applying makeup or vaping while driving can also lead to fines if it hampers one's control over their vehicle.
  • Inappropriate footwear that could interfere with the pedals, such as thongs or excessively large heels could result in fines under Road Rule 297 (1).
  • Fines for not maintaining proper control of a vehicle while driving vary by state, and can be as steep as $600 in Western Australia.
Members, have you or someone you know received a fine for violating less common road rules? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
 
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But EVERYBODY can Smoke and light up ciggys and suck away, and use two fingers off the wheel to do it . But they pay tax and will expire soon anyway. Nanny State for prisoner stock.
 
Yet they install sinage that is not easily readable. Have a look at the variable spped signs used on motorways when the sun is being refelected from them. Advise the Motor Transport Department and all you get it is too costly to rectify. So much for being distracted.
 
Why not be upfront about this being a repeat of an article from last November? Seriously, I don't want to bother re-reading it, and this seems to be happening more often lately.
 
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Why not be upfront about this being a repeat of an article from last November? Seriously, I don't want to bother re-reading it, and this seems to be happening more often lately.
Hello @Sloopy! Rest assured we've never intended passing off any articles as is suggested. It's just that we can only feature so many stories in a newsletter that some inevitably end up being featured quite some time after posting, which is what happened in this case. We apologise if we've caused any offence. 🙏
 
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Hello @Sloopy! Rest assured we've never intended passing off any articles as is suggested. It's just that we can only feature so many stories in a newsletter that some inevitably end up being featured quite some time after posting, which is what happened in this case. We apologise if we've caused any offence. 🙏
It isn't a matter of offence. At least 4 of the articles in this afternoon's newsletter are old, so not 'news', which is the point of a newsletter! This is becoming more frequent, and doesn't make me feel like opening articles.
 
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There are a lot of them out there.
I still ho hum at intersections with stop signs on all four. Since they came in I have been involved in two Mexican stand offs. Stupid idea.
give way to the right applies as it always has.
 
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Don't forget there are new members that may not have read these articles and if you've read it before just don't read it again. Sometimes there is some new information in the article. If I don't want to read an article I just scroll on to the next item of interest and sometimes I just read the sometimes crazy comments. We are all different in our interests and nobody is making you read what you don't like. Enjoy what you like and pass on the rest. SDC does a great job in the variety of topics they cover. Thanks SDC.
 
Splitting hairs much?

Some articles deserve revisiting as we may change our views or gain new information.
No objection to this if they indicate in the newsletter that it is an old/repeated article. Shouldn't be too hard to put the date in with the headline...
 
I didn’t realise you can contact admin. Please oh please get rid of the ad with the corset woman.
 
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