Guide to Road Rules

Roads, road rules, road laws, transport, traffic, etc. falls under the control of the individual states and territories. This means that laws and rules differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction across Australia. That said, for years now the Federal body has attempted to have the states implement a unified set of major offences and rules which would encourage the unity of road rules across the nation to some degree. These set of rules are known as the Australian Road Rules. While some states (such as NSW) have fully ratified these rules and blatently listed them as 'Australian Road Rules', other states have not, or have simply added in those offences or changed their own to mirror those in the ARR.

Therefore a list of the Acts and Regulations which make up the bulk of the general offences of the roads around Australia has been compiled. They are listed below by state. In general the regulations will contain the offences themselves.

All information is provided through links to Australasian Legal Information Institute (or AUSTLII for short). This is a free legal database used by those in the profession of law or the general public. Remember the law is fluid, so laws will change from time to time, however AUSTLII update very regularly.

Please note: This is not legal advice. If you require legal advice you should consult a lawyer. The above links are merely a guide. This is not an exhaustive list but is a guide to those who have a question relating to a road rule in their state.

Thanks to Break the Cycle for his work in compiling this list and information.

QLD

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT) ACT 1995

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (ROAD USE MANAGEMENT--ROAD RULES) REGULATION 1999

NSW

ROADS ACT 1993

ROAD TRANSPORT (GENERAL) REGULATION 2005

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES

VIC

ROAD MANAGEMENT ACT 2004

ROAD SAFETY ACT 1986

ROAD SAFETY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1999

ROAD SAFETY (ROAD RULES) REGULATIONS 1999

SA

ROAD TRAFFIC (ROAD RULES--ANCILLARY AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) REGULATIONS 1999

AUSTRALIAN ROAD RULES

WA

ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1974

ROAD TRAFFIC CODE 2000

TAS

TRAFFIC ACT 1925

TRAFFIC (ROAD RULES) REGULATIONS 1999 (also here)

NT

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Note that section 71 also enforces the 'Australian Road Rules' as set in schedule 3 except where stated.

ACT

Use links found at the link below to find the laws or offences you require (e.g. use the link to Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 to find general offences such as speeding and the use of radar detectors).

ROAD TRANSPORT (GENERAL) ACT 1999 - SECT 6