This little-known road rule could cost you a $600 fine
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Driving on any road can be pretty dangerous, so it's important to do everything we can to stay safe while behind the wheel.
This is also the reason there are so many rules and regulations on the road; there seems to be a law for everything, and it can be confusing to keep track of them all.
One rule that you might not be aware of is the one that prohibits drivers from eating behind the wheel. Yep, that's right – if you're caught chowing down on your lunch while driving, you could be slapped with a hefty fine.
The penalty falls under the state's driver distraction penalties, which also apply to using your phone, putting on makeup, and more. In Queensland, you can be fined $575 and docked three demerit points if you're caught breaking this rule.
'Make sure you're not one-handing the wheel or taking your eyes off the road to eat,' Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads wrote in a Facebook post.
While this may come as a surprise to some people, it turns out that this isn't actually a new rule – it's just being newly enforced.
And Queensland isn't the only state where you could get penalised for munching on your morning commute. In 2018, a Perth teenager was slapped with a $300 fine and lost three demerit points after she was caught shovelling down a bowl of cereal behind the wheel. (Ouch! That was one expensive breakfast…)
The 19-year-old was later blasted by the state's top cop on local radio. '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.
Similarly, in NSW, drivers caught eating or drinking could be fined $469 and docked three demerit points.
Eating or drinking doesn't have its own rule in the Northern Territory but can be considered careless driving, which carries its own penalties, including fines up to $150 and loss of licence, as well as insurance hikes.
In South Australia, drivers can be fined $201 if they are found to be swerving or otherwise not maintaining adequate control of their vehicle; in the Australian Capital Territory, that same offence carries a punishment of $301.
If you're caught driving while distracted by eating or drinking in Tasmania, you'll have to pay a $173 fine and lose three demerit points.
While not technically against the law in Victoria, it is considered reckless driving if eating or drinking (non-alcoholic) beverages while behind the wheel causes an accident.
Needless to say, not everyone is happy about this news.
Some people argue that there are much more important things that police should be focusing on (like catching speeding drivers), and others simply don't see how eating or drinking could possibly be considered as dangerous as other activities like using your phone or taking your eyes off the road completely.
In the comments section of the Facebook post, one person even asked: 'How can you fine people for “distractions” like this when billboards on the sides of roads are actually designed to distract drivers with their LED displays and bright colours?'
Yikes… we definitely wouldn't want to risk getting pulled over for something like this! For now, it's probably best to just stick to having our breakfast at home before we head out for the day.
What do you think about this, members? Do you agree that this can be unfair to drivers, or do you think it's reasonable that this rule is being strictly enforced these days? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
This is also the reason there are so many rules and regulations on the road; there seems to be a law for everything, and it can be confusing to keep track of them all.
One rule that you might not be aware of is the one that prohibits drivers from eating behind the wheel. Yep, that's right – if you're caught chowing down on your lunch while driving, you could be slapped with a hefty fine.
The penalty falls under the state's driver distraction penalties, which also apply to using your phone, putting on makeup, and more. In Queensland, you can be fined $575 and docked three demerit points if you're caught breaking this rule.
'Make sure you're not one-handing the wheel or taking your eyes off the road to eat,' Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads wrote in a Facebook post.
Australian drivers are being warned of a little-known road rule that could result in a hefty fine and a loss of three demerit points. Credit: Facebook.
While this may come as a surprise to some people, it turns out that this isn't actually a new rule – it's just being newly enforced.
And Queensland isn't the only state where you could get penalised for munching on your morning commute. In 2018, a Perth teenager was slapped with a $300 fine and lost three demerit points after she was caught shovelling down a bowl of cereal behind the wheel. (Ouch! That was one expensive breakfast…)
The 19-year-old was later blasted by the state's top cop on local radio. '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.
Similarly, in NSW, drivers caught eating or drinking could be fined $469 and docked three demerit points.
Eating or drinking doesn't have its own rule in the Northern Territory but can be considered careless driving, which carries its own penalties, including fines up to $150 and loss of licence, as well as insurance hikes.
In South Australia, drivers can be fined $201 if they are found to be swerving or otherwise not maintaining adequate control of their vehicle; in the Australian Capital Territory, that same offence carries a punishment of $301.
If you're caught driving while distracted by eating or drinking in Tasmania, you'll have to pay a $173 fine and lose three demerit points.
While not technically against the law in Victoria, it is considered reckless driving if eating or drinking (non-alcoholic) beverages while behind the wheel causes an accident.
A teenager from Perth was caught having breakfast while driving. Credit: 9News.
Needless to say, not everyone is happy about this news.
Some people argue that there are much more important things that police should be focusing on (like catching speeding drivers), and others simply don't see how eating or drinking could possibly be considered as dangerous as other activities like using your phone or taking your eyes off the road completely.
In the comments section of the Facebook post, one person even asked: 'How can you fine people for “distractions” like this when billboards on the sides of roads are actually designed to distract drivers with their LED displays and bright colours?'
Yikes… we definitely wouldn't want to risk getting pulled over for something like this! For now, it's probably best to just stick to having our breakfast at home before we head out for the day.
What do you think about this, members? Do you agree that this can be unfair to drivers, or do you think it's reasonable that this rule is being strictly enforced these days? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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