Road authorities slam driver with 22 demerit points in one go! What did the driver do?
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The wide and open road is a welcome opportunity for Aussies to explore the country through their vehicles.
However, a free road is not an invitation to break any road rules Down Under.
If you thought a quick drive down the highway couldn’t possibly land you in hot water, think again.
It was a typical Sunday on the Hume Highway near Penrose, New South Wales.
The driver in question was a learner driving a silver Saab convertible.
What started as a simple drive quickly turned into a textbook example of what not to do on Aussie roads.
First, the car was clocked at 129 km/h in a 110km/h zone.
In NSW, learners are restricted to a maximum speed of 90km/h, making the driver 39 km/h over his legal limit.
However, the driver’s list of offences did not stop there.
When police pulled the car over at 4:15 pm, they noticed something else.
The required yellow L plates for learner drivers were missing from both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Displaying these plates alerts authorities and other drivers to the fact that you’re still learning the ropes.
The third offence came when officers spotted a mobile phone mounted near the steering wheel playing a music video on YouTube.
When questioned, the driver claimed that he was looking at a map.
Learner and provisional drivers are banned from using a phone for any purpose while driving, which includes navigation.
This rule has been established since distracted driving has been one of the leading causes of accidents on Aussie roads.
To top it all off, the learner’s supposedly supervising passenger admitted she had been asleep during the drive.
Supervising a learner isn’t just a box to tick; it’s a serious responsibility to keep drivers alert on the road.
Here’s how the learner’s fines and demerit points stacked up:
This ballooned his demerits from 12 to 22 points.
Learner drivers in NSW can only accumulate a maximum of four demerit points before their licence gets suspended.
His learner’s licence was automatically suspended, with a likely extension to follow.
The supervising passenger also received a penalty for failing to supervise.
The rules may seem harsh, but these laws have been in place to protect everyone on the road.
Learner drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, and distractions like mobile phones or inattentive supervisors increase the risk of accidents.
The L plate system, speed restrictions, and phone bans are all designed to give new drivers the best possible chance to learn safely.
For seniors who have been driving for decades, it’s easy to forget how many rules there are for learners and provisional drivers.
If you’re supervising a grandchild or helping a friend’s child get their hours up, make sure you’re up to date with the latest regulations.
When unsure about the latest road rules, always check the official transport website in your state.
Have you or someone you know had a close call with road rules? Whether it’s a lesson learned the hard way, a tip for supervising learners, or a reminder about the road rules, please share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below.
However, a free road is not an invitation to break any road rules Down Under.
If you thought a quick drive down the highway couldn’t possibly land you in hot water, think again.
It was a typical Sunday on the Hume Highway near Penrose, New South Wales.
The driver in question was a learner driving a silver Saab convertible.
What started as a simple drive quickly turned into a textbook example of what not to do on Aussie roads.
First, the car was clocked at 129 km/h in a 110km/h zone.
In NSW, learners are restricted to a maximum speed of 90km/h, making the driver 39 km/h over his legal limit.
However, the driver’s list of offences did not stop there.
When police pulled the car over at 4:15 pm, they noticed something else.
The required yellow L plates for learner drivers were missing from both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Displaying these plates alerts authorities and other drivers to the fact that you’re still learning the ropes.
The third offence came when officers spotted a mobile phone mounted near the steering wheel playing a music video on YouTube.
When questioned, the driver claimed that he was looking at a map.
Learner and provisional drivers are banned from using a phone for any purpose while driving, which includes navigation.
This rule has been established since distracted driving has been one of the leading causes of accidents on Aussie roads.
To top it all off, the learner’s supposedly supervising passenger admitted she had been asleep during the drive.
Supervising a learner isn’t just a box to tick; it’s a serious responsibility to keep drivers alert on the road.
Here’s how the learner’s fines and demerit points stacked up:
- Exceeding speed by more than 30km/h: $1,045 fine and five demerit points
- Learner using a mobile phone: $410 fine and five demerit points
- Not displaying L plates: $320 fine and two demerit points
This ballooned his demerits from 12 to 22 points.
Learner drivers in NSW can only accumulate a maximum of four demerit points before their licence gets suspended.
His learner’s licence was automatically suspended, with a likely extension to follow.
The supervising passenger also received a penalty for failing to supervise.
The rules may seem harsh, but these laws have been in place to protect everyone on the road.
Learner drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents, and distractions like mobile phones or inattentive supervisors increase the risk of accidents.
The L plate system, speed restrictions, and phone bans are all designed to give new drivers the best possible chance to learn safely.
For seniors who have been driving for decades, it’s easy to forget how many rules there are for learners and provisional drivers.
If you’re supervising a grandchild or helping a friend’s child get their hours up, make sure you’re up to date with the latest regulations.
When unsure about the latest road rules, always check the official transport website in your state.
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