New Vic road rules set for next week

[Jason[98.EL]]

Just thought i would post this up

Originally Posted by ninemsn

Victorian motorists are being warned they face hefty fines from Monday when a swathe of new road rules will take effect.

The changes will tighten rules on mobile phones, GPS units, child restraints and U-turns.

"We know that talking on a hand-held mobile while driving is reckless and increases the risk of a crash fourfold," VicRoads manager of road behaviour Antonietta Cavallo said in a statement.

"Texting is extremely dangerous and banned. The advice is simple: `hands on the wheel, eyes on the road'," she said.

Come Monday, Victorian motorists can't talk on a mobile held up to their ear - drivers will have to keep their phones in a cradle or use a hands-free device.

Stand-alone GPS units must also be hands-free and fixed in a cradle.

If police catch a driver holding their phone they could face a $234 fine and lose three demerit points.

Other rules being launched on Monday include banning children under 8 from riding on motorcycles and forcing drivers to not pass the rear doors of a stopped tram.

Children under seven travelling in vehicles will have to be in a child restraint or booster seat while motorists won't be able to perform u-turns on a single continuous dividing line.

[Jason[98.EL]]

Summary of new rule changes
Mobile phones and visual display units
Using a mobile phone to make or receive a phone call while driving is prohibited except if the phone...more...
Child restraints
All children under seven years of age must wear a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car for improved safety. The type of restraint will depend on the age of the chilld...more...
U-Turns and overtaking
A driver will not be able to overtake, or do a U-turn across a single continuous centre line, or a single continuous line to the left of a broken lines...more...
Seatbelts
It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all passengers in the car are wearing a seatbelt or a child restraint...more...
Motorcyclists
There are three new rules for motorcyclists...more...
Cyclists
The changes are about the helmet and using the proper seat for bicycle passengers, and for cyclists turning from, and stopping in, bicycle boxes at intersections with traffic signals...more...
Wheeled recreational devices
Scooters, skateboards and roller blades are called Wheeled Recreational Devices in the road rules...more...
Drivers
Whilst all of the new road rules affect drivers, these rules are additional new road safety rules particularly for drivers...more...
Driving with trams
When sharing the road with trams, a driver must stop before passing the rear of a stopped tram at a tram stop. Once the tram doors are closed and pedestrians have crossed between the tram and kerb, a driver may then proceed at no more than 10 km/h past the tram...more...
Parking
Stopping to park in a slip lane or on a painted island will be prohibited...more...

look at this link http://www.roadrules.vicroads.vic.gov.au/summary.php to get the full info on each of the rules

[Yellow_Festiva]

So, prior to Monday, driving while talking on the mobile was legal in Vic?

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So, prior to Monday, driving while talking on the mobile was legal in Vic?

Was thinking the same thing

[chrisfpv]

If police catch a driver holding their phone they could face a $234 fine and lose three demerit points.

I found this out the hard way about two weeks ago.

[DRU842]

..why make new laws when the old ones aren't enforced.

[Silver Ghia]

The sad thing about these changes is the lack of notification to all drivers.

Last night I mentioned it to my wife and she asked what the changes were. She didnt have any idea. I'm also confused about that mobile phone one.

Also in the new rules is that it is illegal to park next to a solid white line on the road, unless you leave a certain distance (3.3 m I think it was - cant find it anywhere atm), so to allow other vehicles to pass without crossing the white solid line. Our estate has these white lines in many locations, so people will have to revise how they park in front of their property. And along freeways, drivers cross them all the time when changing lanes.

Why cant Vicroads notify every driver like they should about the changes? They charge for the licences so they should be able to afford it.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

The sad thing about these changes is the lack of notification to all drivers.

Last night I mentioned it to my wife and she asked what the changes were. She didnt have any idea. I'm also confused about that mobile phone one.

Also in the new rules is that it is illegal to park next to a solid white line on the road, unless you leave a certain distance (3.3 m I think it was - cant find it anywhere atm), so to allow other vehicles to pass without crossing the white solid line. Our estate has these white lines in many locations, so people will have to revise how they park in front of their property. And along freeways, drivers cross them all the time when changing lanes.

Why cant Vicroads notify every driver like they should about the changes? They charge for the licences so they should be able to afford it.

But there goes the financial interest if that happens, making this whole revision pointless for them.

They don't mind sending out letter reminders of the same fine 20 times over but they're not willing to post 1 letter regarding this issue????

[balthazarr]

The thing that irritates me most about the solid white line rules... there are places all over Melbourne where you basically have no choice but to cross a solid white line - either that or hold up traffic for 3, 4 or more light cycles... I'm sure the cars behind will be really understanding. :

As an example - take Toorak Road/Camberwell Road junction heading towards the city on Toorak Road.

Two lanes - the right lane is a combined straight/turning lane and it carries a tram line as a bonus. There are always cars parked in the left lane - outside of clearway times, that is. The right turn arrow is fairly short, add the fact that a lot of cars want to turn right, there is usually a banked up line of cars waiting for a chance to turn right - so essentially the right lane is blocked for traffic moving forward.

The solid white line painted between the two lanes leading up to the intersection stretches back a fair distance... far enough that if there are cars parked in the left lane, and cars banked up wanting to turn right in the right lane, you have no choice but to cross the solid white line to keep traffic moving forward.

I'd like to think that police would use common sense, see the design of the road and the traffic conditions and not stop anyone, but technically they're within their rights to stop almost ever car going through that intersection heading straight up Toorak Rd... revenue bonanza.

[ltd_on20s]

i don't see why we need all these road rules.

none of them will kill us, unless we are doing 61.4 in a 60 zone. if we do 59.9 while holding our phone we will be ok.

remember. it's the speed that kills.

[EDManual]

whats with all the white line rules?

So you are not allowed to change lanes when there are white lines in between lanes going in the same direction?

There are lots of curvy roads with single white lines, like down the Otways, where you cut corners lots of the time. Are you still allowed to do that on these roads? I guess not.

Also this could mean in Melbourne there will be near nowhere to do U turns where there are trams, as there is always a solid line down the centre of these roads!! Now that isnt right!! I'll sure be ignoring that one! As will all the cabbies and couriers i'll bet!!

Well, I guess as long as you have a quick look for cops before you do these things you'll be right?!

Its funny, I dont know about you people, but when laws stiffen up like that so you cant do even more, I do the opposite and will, for example do Uturns over traffic islands etc. Just cos I can see theres no cop around at that point in time. Will have to take the punt..

[prydey]

gee i though adelaide was behind but at least all those rules have been in action here for quite some time.

[yetchh]

well in New Zealand, for as long as i can remember its been illegal to cross the solid line anywhere, except our solid lines are yellow not white the broken line is white.. as for the line on the left hand side, its a broken yellow and you have to be 2.0m from it(same as fire hydrants, driveways etc).. i was always quite amazed at how little people acknowledged solid lines over here.... and orange lights, i guess now it wont be the case

[chevypower]

Might as well add some other rules:
1. Breathing and driving should not be tolerated.
2. Don't ever blink or sneeze while driving.
3. Your engine should never go above 2,000 rpm (this is hooning)
4. Don't adjust the radio - in fact it should not be turned on in the first place - wait, what are you doing with a radio in your car? This should be illegal!
What? Did somebody mention a car???? Cars should not exist! They are way too dangerous!!! :-)

[China]

You guys have had it easy we have had these rules for years, its called revenue raising

[prydey]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Might as well add some other rules:
1. Breathing and driving should not be tolerated.
2. Don't ever blink or sneeze while driving.
3. Your engine should never go above 2,000 rpm (this is hooning)
4. Don't adjust the radio - in fact it should not be turned on in the first place - wait, what are you doing with a radio in your car? This should be illegal!
What? Did somebody mention a car???? Cars should not exist! They are way too dangerous!!! :-)

so which of the new rules did you think was totally outrageous. whilst many think they are more than capable of controlling a car whilst using a mobile device, the truth is, to many, it is a major distraction and is the potential cause of many accidents or near misses. the govt's only option is to set a blanket rule for everyone.

as for crossing an unbroken white line, pretty sure thats been the norm in every other state for a number of years now.

[Paull]

Originally Posted by chevypower

This should be illegal!
What? Did somebody mention a car???? Cars should not exist! They are way too dangerous!!! :-)

If there are no cars on Vic roads, then how will the Government make any money : No speeding fines, no mobile phone fines, no parking fines, no crossing white line fines, no booster seat related fines, no GPS fines - the state will be bankrupt in 2 minutes flat

[HEMI POWER]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Might as well add some other rules:
1. Breathing and driving should not be tolerated.
2. Don't ever blink or sneeze while driving.
3. Your engine should never go above 2,000 rpm (this is hooning)
4. Don't adjust the radio - in fact it should not be turned on in the first place - wait, what are you doing with a radio in your car? This should be illegal!
What? Did somebody mention a car???? Cars should not exist! They are way too dangerous!!! :-)

Have to agree mate it's just getting stupid now.3/4's of the functional buttons in a car have no direct influence to driving but will still have to take our hands off the wheel to use them.I hope i don't get pinged for winding down my window in the future.

[Spanrz]

As far as I see it, a GPS stuck in it's commercially designed holder stuck to the windscreen is suffice as to reading the below :

"navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle."

It doesn't state that it has to affixed by screws/glue/etc.

So what's your view about the validity on the windscreen suckers conforming to this rule??
I say it conforms.

[Stattic]

Originally Posted by Spanrz

As far as I see it, a GPS stuck in it's commercially designed holder stuck to the windscreen is suffice as to reading the below :

"navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle."

It doesn't state that it has to affixed by screws/glue/etc.

So what's your view about the validity on the windscreen suckers conforming to this rule??
I say it conforms.

i read somewhere, i think it might have been vicroads that suction cup gps units are fine

[mik]

i don`t think it will make much difference really, the force does`nt have enough patrols to enforce the laws we have , but perhaps the parking officers might be kept busy, on the other hand maybe its another excuse to bring in more camera`s ..... yes yes i can see it, they will call them white line safety camera`s............even more revenue.

[SSD-85]

They are going to introduce tailgating cameras here in QLD soon.

[Charliewool]

What about THIS one???
Visual display units
A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or a visual display unit operating if any part of the screen is visible to the driver or is likely to distract another driver.

So if anyone else can see your DVD screen, YOU are guilty of distracting them???
Vic Roads are really losing the plot seriously!

[LTDterri]

As far as I was aware these rules were always in place....so Im a little confused about them calling them NEW

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by LTDterri

As far as I was aware these rules were always in place....so Im a little confused about them calling them NEW

I agree, I thought most of them already existed.

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So, prior to Monday, driving while talking on the mobile was legal in Vic?

No it wasn't. It was however legal to use a phone in a hands-free system, there wasn't a rule that stopped you pushing buttons on the phone itself.

EDManual - the parking rule has always existed. How many places are there with solid white lines that are not on a curve or intersection?

Sorted - yes one example of common sense prevailing!

[XRQTR]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

I agree, I thought most of them already existed.


No it wasn't. It was however legal to use a phone in a hands-free system, there wasn't a rule that stopped you pushing buttons on the phone itself.

Ye so did I, but maybe that's because I learnt when the whole "unwritten rules" thing was around and it was more about courtesy than just obeying the law.

So is it now illegal to use a phone with a hands free device in a vehicle?? What about bluetooth devices then??

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by XRQTR

Ye so did I, but maybe that's because I learnt when the whole "unwritten rules" thing was around and it was more about courtesy than just obeying the law.

So is it now illegal to use a phone with a hands free device in a vehicle?? What about bluetooth devices then??

I'm sure some of them were actual laws - in fact it appears the tram one is actually relaxed somewhat, I'm sure you previously had to stop behind a tram at a stop until it moved off not just until the doors closed. How many times do you see the doors pop open again when another person decides they want to get off? Anyway I think trams should be fitted with cameras the driver can activate to catch people who speed past dangerously.

You can now only use a phone so long as you do not have to touch the phone itself, eg bluetooth or installed car kit. Unless it has gps...

[XRQTR]

The phone thing I get and agree with 110%, from what I've seen over the last few years with "built in hands free" where you should be able to leave it on the dash or in your lap or even centre console, you see morons holding the thing only centimetres from their ears, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE YOU TOOLS.

The tram one, this has always been around, until the doors shut you must wait, but I have been caught out where the tram is stopped with doors open and I've waited, only to be told by the idiot tram driver that I can go that he is waiting for a driver swap or he's not taking or disembarking any passengers. So what happens there if a copper sees you go through, can you use the driver as a witness to argue your case?? Doubt it.

[divine_afg]

If Vic Roads isn't Informing us Motorist of these changes in writing, is it possible to challenge the fines in court.
I Hardly watch any TV and yeh read the news here and there but again this can be argued aswell.

[Dauphin]

These are three interesting small points that also start today:

- No more animals on the lap of the driver while driving a car. I've seen quite a few of those middle-aged drivers with little fluffy dogs on their laps as they drive through a busy roundabout.

- A driver cannot stop for longer than two minutes across a driveway, and must not leave their car unattended. No more parking in someone's already-packed driveway to visit them.

- You must not enter a marked pedestrian / children crossing if the road ahead is blocked.

(I EDITED the last one because I got it wrong.)