Driving in Australia

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Driving in Australia

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 397

Trusted

#1526579 5-Apr-2016 22:25

blakamin:

Not sure if it legal in QLD to use your phone as a GPS (stupidest rule ever) even when mounted..

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Queensland-road-rules/Road-rules-refresher/Mobile-phone-use.aspx

Are you on a restricted licence?

Yes I am on Restricted license. I just read somewhere that if you have a NZ license, the conditions of the NZ license will apply. Does that mean it won't translate to a P1 or something license in Australia?

"Also, a mobile phone that is mounted in a hands-free mounting bracket on the windscreen must not obscure the driver’s view of the road."

From reading that link, so long as you're not talking on the phone hands-free, it should be okay?

Sony

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1526580 5-Apr-2016 22:34

Oblivian: Use the middle lane. And more so if someone is approaching the motorway from an onramp on your left, they have right of way.

I like the sound of that rule! People here refusing to merge correctly can be a nightmare sometimes.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#1526582 5-Apr-2016 22:41

sonyxperiageek:

blakamin:

Not sure if it legal in QLD to use your phone as a GPS (stupidest rule ever) even when mounted..

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Queensland-road-rules/Road-rules-refresher/Mobile-phone-use.aspx

Are you on a restricted licence?

Yes I am on Restricted license. I just read somewhere that if you have a NZ license, the conditions of the NZ license will apply. Does that mean it won't translate to a P1 or something license in Australia?

"Also, a mobile phone that is mounted in a hands-free mounting bracket on the windscreen must not obscure the driver’s view of the road."

From reading that link, so long as you're not talking on the phone hands-free, it should be okay?

Pretty much.

sonyxperiageek

2984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 397

Trusted

#1526583 5-Apr-2016 22:57

Yes the $2 a day for Optus is still on: http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/prepaid/plans?SID=con:premob:2ndNav:premob:othr:Prepaid:pos2#daily-plus

Sony

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 267

Trusted

#1526584 5-Apr-2016 22:58

Stu: Optus $2 a day (if they still have it) has 500MB a day?

Yep, just used this. Optus Daily Plus. Buy it at the airport, $10 for sim with $10 credit. It's $2 per day for 500MB and unlimited local calls/texts. NZ calls are pretty cheap too. You have to top up $10 minimum after that if required.

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9334 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1526628 6-Apr-2016 02:49

sonyxperiageek:

Cool thanks. :-)

Speaking of maps, I'm planning to just use my phone. Instead of starting up a new topic, is there like a 2degreesmobile in Australia? Something cheap, and with decent data.

Assuming you're referring to GPS, you could try Here Maps on your phone. Works brilliantly offline - just download the maps first.

Google Maps can be set up to provide directions offline too.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 537
Inactive user

#1526630 6-Apr-2016 06:09

from memory U-turn gives way to all traffic there.

That was 15+ years ago in Victroria but it may still be the same

mentalinc

3385 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1025

Trusted

#1526633 6-Apr-2016 06:49

sonyxperiageek:
blakamin:

Not sure if it legal in QLD to use your phone as a GPS (stupidest rule ever) even when mounted..

Are you on a restricted licence?

Yes I am on Restricted license. ?

You may want to check with the rental car company. They may also charge you extra fees for insurance cover as well.

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1526666 6-Apr-2016 07:21

No funny rules in Queensland. Enjoy!

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1684

ID Verified

Trusted

#1526952 6-Apr-2016 13:09

sonyxperiageek:

Also, any tricky rules I should know about in Australia that differ a bit from the NZ rules?

Do not cross a solid white line separating lanes. In NZ the solid line means nothing. In Australia, it is a "do not change lanes" marker, and is a single penalty unit offense (approx $117). Also, all fines are strict liability. If you get a fine, unless you can deflect it to another person you are responsible for it, and defending against them requires a court appearance.

Oblivian:

Use the middle lane. And more so if someone is approaching the motorway from an onramp on your left, they have right of way. IE move yo butt out the way or give space :)

Not true. If two lanes are merging together and one lane terminates into the other with a dotted line separating them, the terminating lane (i.e. the onramp) MUST give way. If two lanes are merging and both lanes terminate into a single lane (i.e. the separating line randomly disappears and a sign says "Form 1 Lane") then the car whose nose is ahead has right of way.

However, apply the "merge like a zip" rule and you should be generally OK.

scuwp:

Don't they have the free left turn on red rule? We should have that here!

Only in Brisbane on intersections signposted "Left Turn Permitted on Red After Stopping" - http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/traffic-management/left-turn-red-project

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#1526958 6-Apr-2016 13:21

Check your rental car agreement as to where you're allowed to go. We rented a car and found that we were only allowed to drive it in the Sydney urban area. Barely got it back there before it conked out!

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

NzBeagle

971 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

#1526964 6-Apr-2016 13:24

Kyanar:

sonyxperiageek:

Also, any tricky rules I should know about in Australia that differ a bit from the NZ rules?

Do not cross a solid white line separating lanes. In NZ the solid line means nothing. In Australia, it is a "do not change lanes" marker, and is a single penalty unit offense (approx $117). Also, all fines are strict liability. If you get a fine, unless you can deflect it to another person you are responsible for it, and defending against them requires a court appearance.

I'm pretty sure this is in place in NZ, the Victoria Park tunnel is an example of this, and they have signs in addition to ensure drivers are aware.

Driving in Queensland has always been reasonably straight forward for me, and the drivers are pretty reasonable. I used Google Maps when I was there with a local (Telstra & VF) SIM and had no issues navigating around.

NzBeagle

971 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

#1526972 6-Apr-2016 13:29

frankv:

Check your rental car agreement as to where you're allowed to go. We rented a car and found that we were only allowed to drive it in the Sydney urban area. Barely got it back there before it conked out!

And this, we found East Coast Rentals pretty decently priced, but remember we were told only within QLD.

Hoofhaarted

103 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 27

#1527030 6-Apr-2016 14:53

If driving around Brisbane itself, budget a few $$$ for the road tolls.

The Rd to the airport from the city ( well the tunnel) costs either $5 or $7 each way. Several other places had the sensor in the rental car sounding to let us know there was another charge. ( A good Sat nav will let you avoid them, but take much longer etc).

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1684

ID Verified

Trusted

#1527035 6-Apr-2016 15:00

NzBeagle:

I'm pretty sure this is in place in NZ, the Victoria Park tunnel is an example of this, and they have signs in addition to ensure drivers are aware

I thought this myself, but read the Road User Rules and it's actually not the case in NZ.

Hoofhaarted:

If driving around Brisbane itself, budget a few $$$ for the road tolls.

The Rd to the airport from the city ( well the tunnel) costs either $5 or $7 each way. Several other places had the sensor in the rental car sounding to let us know there was another charge. ( A good Sat nav will let you avoid them, but take much longer etc).

All tolls are avoidable, some of the free routes are actually faster than the toll roads.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5