Know the Penalties
Keeping track of every road rule can be a lot
Here’s your refresher so you can approach these situations with cool, calm confidence. And if your friend’s driving, you can be a Wheelmate and support them by knowing the rules too.
Emergency vehicles
This includes for police, fire and ambulance services. As a general rule, when an emergency vehicle is approaching you should:
- Stay calm and check to see where the vehicle is.
- Give way to the emergency vehicle by moving as far to the left of the road as you can.
- Use your indicator to signal your intentions to the driver of the emergency vehicle and other road users.
- If you can’t move into the left lane, slow down, indicate left and let the emergency vehicle drive around you.
- If you’re in the left lane, allow other vehicles from the adjacent lane to move into your lane if it is safe to do so.
- Don’t break the law by speeding, driving through a red light or any other illegal action.
Flashing lights on a stationary vehicle means you MUST slow down, move over (if possible) and pass at no more than 40 km/h. In doing so, you should apply your brakes gradually and safely.
This applies to drivers in all lanes that travel in the same direction as the lane where the emergency or response vehicle is stopped. If you’re driving in oncoming traffic from the other direction, you only need to slow if the incident occurred in the middle of the road or in the medium strip.
The Slow Down, Move Over or SLOMO law applies to all emergency service vehicles and first response personnel who need to attend to roadside incidents in WA, including:
- WA Police Force vehicles
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services vehicles
- St John Ambulances
- RAC roadside assistance patrol vehicles and other breakdown services
- Main Roads Incident Response vehicles (which assist in the removal of broken-down vehicles and debris) and
- Tow trucks.
- Failure to give way to an emergency vehicle:
$400 and 4 demerit points - Failure to slow down and move over:
$300 and 3 demerit points - Driving through a red light (Double demerits apply during holiday periods):
$300 and 3 demerit points
Knowing the road
Rule:
Give yourself the gift of stopping distance, because the car in front could slow or stop at any time. That means leaving at least two seconds between your car and the car in front. Leave more space if the weather or road conditions are tricky or if you’re towing something, as these factors can slow your stopping time.
How far is 2 seconds?:
Start counting as the car in front passes a tree or other landmark. You should be able to count ‘one thousand and one, one thousand and two’ before passing that landmark yourself. If not, drop back and leave more space.
Failing to follow a vehicle at a safe distance:
$200 + 2 demerit points
Rules:
On single lane roads, always drive as far to the left as is practical (except motorcyclists). On multi-lane roads if the speed limit is 90km/h or more, stick to the left lane. The same goes if you see a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign.
You can only drive in the right lane if:
- You’re turning right or making a U-turn.
- You’re overtaking.
- The left lane is a special purpose lane that you can’t use, like a bus lane, bicycle lane or slow vehicle turnout lane.
- The left lane is a turning lane and you are going straight ahead.
- You’re avoiding an obstruction.
- You’re not driving a vehicle of a type that’s prohibited from the right lane by way of signs (such as trucks).
- The other lanes are congested with traffic.
Failing to keep left in a multi-lane road:
$50 + 2 demerit points
Rules:
Whenever two lanes merge into one, the vehicle in front has right of way. If your lane is about to end, give way to the vehicles that are already in the lane you’re moving into. This is a common one if you’re entering a freeway or major road.
Tips for hassle-free merging:
- Always use your indicator to signal your intentions to other drivers when merging.
- Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
- Aim to match the legal speed of the road you’re merging into, but don’t speed up to push ahead of others.
- Take turns to merge if there are long lines of merging traffic. Much like a zipper!
Penalties - Failing to give way when merging:
$100 + 2 demerit points
Rules:
U-turns can be so handy if you get off track or forgot your wallet, but knowing when you can and can’t perform one is key.
When making a U-turn, you must:
- ensure it can be done safely
- use your indicator to signal your intentions to other drivers and
- give way to all other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road you’re turning into.
You MUST NOT make a U-turn:
- if you don’t have a clear view of approaching traffic
- if it interferes with other traffic
- at traffic lights unless there’s a ‘U-turn permitted’ sign
- where there’s a ‘no U-turn’ sign
- on freeways, including on and off ramps.
Penalties - Making a U-turn where not permitted:
$100 + 2 demerit points
Rules:
Roundabouts can feel hectic, but there’s a simple rule to remember: When entering a roundabout, always give way to any vehicles already in the roundabout, and obey any directional arrows on the road.
When turning left
- On approach, indicate left from the left lane
- Stay in the left lane
- Exit the roundabout from this lane.
When driving straight ahead
- You don’t need to indicate on approach
- Enter either the left or right lane
- Stay in and exit from the same lane
- If possible, indicate left once you’ve passed the last exit before the one you plan to use.
When turning right or making a full turn
- On approach, indicate right from the right lane
- Stay in the right lane and exit the roundabout from this lane
- If possible, indicate left once you’ve passed the last exit before the one you plan to use.
It’s really important to be aware of cyclists as you navigate a roundabout. If you come across cyclists, don’t try to squeeze past or overtake them.
Failing to give way at a roundabout:
$150 and 3 demerit points
Continuous lines are the solid or unbroken lines marked on the road. It's usually dangerous to cross a continuous line and you can only do so under certain circumstances, otherwise you can face penalties. There are three types of single continuous (unbroken) lines:
- Edge Lines
These are used to mark the edge of the road. You can only cross over an edge line when entering or leaving the road, passing a vehicle on the left that is turning right, or making a U-turn. - Lane Lines
These are used to define multiple lanes travelling in the same direction. If the lane line is continuous, don’t cross the line to change lanes. - Centre/Dividing Lines
These are used to separate lanes travelling in different directions. If the centre/dividing lines are continuous, don’t cross that line unless you are turning right (i.e. leaving or entering the road), or making a U-turn. The same applies if there’s a continuous line on the left of a broken or dotted centre line.
Here’s an exception: If you’re overtaking a cyclist or you need to avoid an obstruction, you can cross the continuous centre line(s) or edge line as long as you have a clear view of any approaching traffic and it’s safe to do so.
Penalties:
| Offence | Penalty | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing the edge line of a road | $100 | |
| Crossing a continuous lane line when changing lanes | $100 | 2 |
| Crossing a continuous centre line | $150 | 3 |
Overtaking can be dangerous. When overtaking, make sure you have a clear view of oncoming traffic and use your indicator to signal your intentions to other drivers. It’s illegal to speed up or otherwise prevent someone from overtaking you.
Overtaking on the right
This is permitted when both vehicles are travelling in the same direction and you’re not crossing a continuous white line.Overtaking a vehicle on the right is NOT permitted:
- at a railway, pedestrian or children’s crossing
- at an intersection
- where there is a ‘no overtaking’ sign
- where there are single or double continuous centre lines, and
- where you do not have a clear view of approaching traffic.
Overtaking on the left
You can overtake on the left when:
- Driving on a multi-lane road.
- Directed by an authorised person such as a police officer.
- The vehicle(s) in the right lane is stationary and it is safe to do so.
- A vehicle is indicating that it is turning right or making a U-turn.
See the cyclists section for information on overtaking cyclists.
Penalties:
| Offence | Penalty | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Failing to overtake at a safe distance | $400 | 4 |
| Overtaking at a railway/pedestrian/children’s crossing | $400 | 4 |
| Overtaking on continuous white line | $150 | 3 |
| Failing to overtake a bicycle at a safe distance | $400 | 4 |
| Overtaking to the left of a vehicle displaying a ‘do not overtake turning vehicle’ sign | $200 | 2 |
| It is illegal to speed up or otherwise prevent someone from overtaking you. | $200 | 2 |
| It is illegal to exceed the speed limit when overtaking – Penalty varies. | ||
Everyone on the road – including drivers, riders, cyclists, and pedestrians – needs to look out for each other and drive safely.
Remember that cyclists are vulnerable road users, so we all need to be aware to keep them safe.
If you’re a driver
If you’re driving a vehicle, only pass a cyclist when you have a clear view of the road ahead and if there’s enough space for you to pass. You can legally cross continuous white lines to safely pass a cyclist. Remember to indicate.
How to share the road safely with cyclists:
- Don’t drive in designated on-road bicycle lanes
- Give way to cyclists if crossing an on-road bicycle lane.
- Before opening a car door, ensure there isn’t a cyclist in the way.
- When turning left – if a cyclist is in front, allow them to pass before making a turn.
- Don’t enter the green bicycle boxes (at some intersections).
When travelling on roads with a speed limit up to 60km/h, allow 1m between your vehicle and the cyclist to pass safely. When travelling on roads with a speed limit over 60km/h, allow 1.5m to pass a cyclist.
Riding two abreast makes people on bikes more visible.
If you’re a cyclist who likes riding in a group, you shouldn’t ride any more than two abreast. When the road narrows, do the courteous thing and move into single file. It keeps everyone safe and allows drivers to pass you safely.
Other safety rules:
- Wear a helmet that is properly fastened.
- You must have at least one brake and a warning device (bell/horn) working.
- Use a front white light and rear red light which can be seen for 200m during the night and in conditions of poor visibility. A red rear reflector visible for 50m is also required.
- You may ride two side-by-side on the road, with up to 1.5m between riders.
- Don’t ride less than 2m behind a vehicle.
- You are not allowed to pass on the left of a vehicle that is turning left.
- You must give way to vehicles exiting a roundabout.
- Ensure high visibility by wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing.
- When travelling on the road, you may be on the left of a road’s edge line.
| Offence | Penalty | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Motorists | ||
| Motorists failing to overtake a cyclist allowing a passing distance of 1 metre (up to 60km/h) 1.5 metres (over 60km/h) | $400 | 4 |
| Entering a green bicycle box (at some intersections) | $200 | 2 |
| Cyclists | ||
| Cyclists riding more than two abreast (with up to 1.5m between riders) | $50 | |
| Not wearing a helmet | $50 | |
| Failure to have at least one effective brake and working warning device (e.g. bell) | $100 | |
| Failure to have correct lighting for visibility | $100 | |
| Riding less than 2m behind a vehicle | $100 | |
| Passing on the left of a vehicle that is turning left | $100 | |
Overwhelmed by an oversized truck in front of you?
Pilot vehicles (oversize vehicles) need more room on the road when travelling and making turns, and more space to stop safely. To keep our roads safe, pilots direct motorists verbally or by hand signals. Pilot vehicles will have a bright yellow "oversize load ahead" sign and either one or two amber flashing lights on the roof of their car.
When you see a pilot vehicle, you need to follow the pilot vehicle driver’s direction. Remember to:
- slow down
- move over or off the road
- follow any directions you are given and
- be patient.
Failure to follow a pilot vehicle driver’s direction is a $100 fine and 3 demerit points
Almost all of us are pedestrians at some point, and we all need to take care to keep pedestrians safe.
Drivers:
Drivers should give way to pedestrians:
- when turning
- when making a U-turn
- at all intersections and stop signs
- at a slip lane with a ‘stop’ sign or ‘stop’ line.
Pedestrian crossings are marked by white or yellow stripes on the road and are usually marked by a sign. As a driver, you should approach a pedestrian crossing at a speed that makes it easy to stop safely if you need to.
Pedestrians:
Pedestrians crossing at traffic lights must obey the signals. If a traffic control signal shows a steady or flashing red pedestrian light, and you haven’t already started to cross, then you must not do so until the pedestrian light changes to green. If the red pedestrian light starts to flash once you’ve stepped off the kerb onto the road, continue to cross.
Penalties:
| Offence | Penalty | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | ||
| Failing to give way to a pedestrian at a designated crossing | $300 | 3-4 |
| Failing to give way to a pedestrian at an intersection | $300 | 3 |
| Failing to give way to a pedestrian when entering a road | $200 | 3 |
| Failing to give way to a pedestrian when exiting a road | $300 | 3 |
| Pedestrians | ||
| Crossing on a red light at an intersection | $50 | |
Headlights and fog lights
High beams are great at improving visibility, but you’re not allowed to have them on if:
- you’re driving less than 200m behind a vehicle
- an oncoming vehicle is less than 200m away or has its headlights dipped.
Daytime running lights
Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are headlights that, as you might expect, run during the day to make vehicles more visible.
It’s a great idea to drive with your DRLs on because they can help reduce crash risk. Some turn on automatically.
Fog Lights
Fog lights can be used in foggy conditions, dust storms or heavy rain. Just make sure you don’t drive with both headlights and fog lights at the same time, as that’s actually an offence.
In wet, or poor visibility conditions
- Turn on your headlights (even if you have daytime running lights that turn on automatically)
- Remember to check your lights are on whenever there’s low visibility
- Use your windscreen demister to stop the windscreen from fogging up.
In foggy conditions
- drive slowly
- turn on windshield wipers
- Turn on fog lights, but don’t use high beam headlights at the same time.
| Offence | Penalty | Demerits |
|---|---|---|
| Inappropriate use of headlights / high beams / fog lights | $100 | 1 |
Take a detour to these useful pages
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