Driving around Australia is an awesome experience. To help you relax and enjoy the drive here are some basic road rules to follow:
- In Australia we drive on the left hand side of the road.
- Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seat belt when the vehicle is moving.
- Always carry a copy of your driver licence in English. If using an international permit, you must also carry your original driver licence.
- Drive no faster than the speed limit signs allow; and slower in rain or fog.
- Alcohol and driving don’t mix. For experienced drivers the blood alcohol level is 0.05. Provisional drivers and young drivers may not have any alcohol before driving.
- Fatigue causes many crashes in Australia. When driving long distances, stop and rest every 2 hours.
- All traffic must proceed in a clockwise direction in a roundabout. A vehicle already on a roundabout has right of way over any vehicles entering.
- Always overtake to the right. Be sure you can see enough of the road to complete overtaking and move back to your side of the road. Never overtake on corners, blind rises or on double white lines. When overtaking heavy vehicles in wet weather, beware of wind turbulence and wheel spray causing a reduction in visibility. Allow plenty of space behind you when pulling back in after passing a truck. Trucks can’t stop as quickly as cars, especially when carrying heavy loads.
- Australia is an enormous country with driving conditions that can differ greatly from other countries. When calculating travelling time it is important to take into consideration the need to reduce speed through the many towns and cities. You will also need to consider adverse road and weather conditions.
- Australia is lucky to have many native animals living in their natural habitats. Enjoy them, but remember they can be a hazard on country roads. Although it is a natural instinct to swerve to avoid an animal, keep your vehicle on the same line, slow down, and stop if possible. Remember there may be an oncoming vehicle. It is preferable to cause minor damage to your car by colliding with an animal, rather than with another vehicle or immovable object.
- Remember that campervans can be double the height and length of sedan vehicles. Keep an eye out for height indicator signs, cantilever awnings, overhanging tree branches and be careful when reversing near fixed objects (walls etc.).
- In the unlikely event that you are involved in an accident in a remote area follow these simple tips:
- Do not leave your vehicle.
- Stay in the shade.
- Conserve water.
A current non-provisional and non-probationary resident country driver licence is to be presented at the time of rental. If the licence is not in English format and or displaying the driver’s photograph, an international driver licence is also required. When an international driver’s licence is being presented the domestic licence must also be presented. The primary hirer must hold both a valid driver licence and a credit card for identification purposes.
Driving Times and Distances
Get your bearings and work out your travelling schedule so your holiday goes off without a hitch.
Australia is an enormous country with driving distances that can differ greatly from other countries. Please give yourself plenty of time to travel between cities.
To make working out your holiday budget easier for you, we’ve put this link here for more information:
http://www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/FuelPrices
To make it even easier (and cheaper) for you, we offer a ‘Pre-Purchase Fuel Option’ whereby you purchase your first tank of fuel at a discounted rate at the branch on pickup. The rate is based on the local fuel price at the branch location at the time of pickup. This option also means you do not need to replenish the fuel tank upon return at the end of your holiday.
National Transport Commission Visit this site for more information on Australian Road Rules