Ry in Australië - Driving in Australia

Ry in Australië is 'n ervaring om van te geniet. Dit is 'n manier om die wye ruimtes en die pragtige natuurskoon te ervaar, en daar is soveel bestemmings wat net per motor ervaar kan word. Voordat u vertrek, moet u seker maak dat u goed voorbereid is op die Australiese bestuurservaring.

Verstaan

Soos die meeste ander ylbevolkte lande, is Australië se motorsyfer baie hoog, en die oorgrote meerderheid Australiërs besit motors. Alhoewel openbare vervoer beslis gebruik kan word om in groot stede, veral die stede Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane en Perth, rond te kom, neem die frekwensies skerp af wanneer u uit die middestad kom en in die voorstede ry, dus om self te bestuur, sal gewoonlik bespaar jy wag lank vir openbare vervoer. In kleiner stede en plattelandse dorpe is die openbare vervoer geneig om baie gereeld of selfs nie te voorkom nie, dus sal 'n motor nodig wees om net rond te kom.

Volgens die wet is alle padmetings in Australië volgens maatstawwe. Afstande is in meter en kilometer, en spoed in kilometer per uur.

As gevolg van sy Britse koloniale nalatenskap ry Australiërs aan die linkerkant van die pad in voertuie met regterhandse bestuur. Ongeveer 70% van die Australiese motors is outomaties. As u 'n motorhandrat (stick-shift) huur, word dit meestal slegs aangebied as 'n opsie vir die goedkoopste klein motors. Die ratstok in 'n handrat word deur die linkerhand bestuur. Die rangskikking van die pedale is standaard wêreldwyd. In die meeste motors sal die aanduiding (draai-sein) aan die regterkant van die stuurwiel wees en die ruitveër aan die linkerkant van die stuurwiel. (Europese motors soos VW het dit andersom.)

Die bestuurstoestande wissel. Die meeste Australiërs woon aan of naby die oostelike en suidoostelike kus. Paaie binne en tussen die stede en dorpe in hierdie gebiede is verseël (geplavei) en goed onderhou, asook die hoofpaaie wat by die hoofstede van die staat en gebied aansluit. Daar is meestal baie goed gemerkte rusareas op groot snelweë, hoewel dit gewoonlik baie basies is en nie altyd toiletgeriewe het nie. Dit word gewoonlik toegelaat om oornag in rusareas te slaap.

In meer afgeleë gebiede (bekend as die "Outback") motoriste kan honderde kilometers ry tussen dorpe of padhuise sonder geleenthede om brandstof in te vul, water te kry, verversings te gebruik of toilette te gebruik. In hierdie gebiede, selfs op groot snelweë, sal u u reis moet beplan, insluitend brandstof en eetplekke Afgesien van die belangrikste snelweë tussen die stad, kan padtoestande moeilik wees in afgeleë gebiede. Baie paaie is ongesegeld (gruis of sanderig) en word dikwels swak onderhou. Sommige is dalk net geskik vir vierwielaandrywing en ander (insluitend groot verseëlde snelweë) mag in sekere seisoene of weersomstandighede glad nie begaanbaar wees nie.

Motoriste moet selfonderhoudend wees en voorbereid wees op noodgevalle wanneer hulle op groot snelweë in afgeleë gebiede reis, en wees bewus daarvan dat die dekking van mobiele telefone (selfone) byna beslis nie sal bestaan ​​nie. 'N Satellietfoon kan 'n waardevolle en moontlik lewensreddende belegging wees in die mees afgeleë, liggies verhandelde gebiede. Permitte (gewoonlik gratis) kan ook nodig wees om deur inheemse gemeenskappe op sekere afgeleë plekke te reis.

'N Motor koop of huur?

'N Baie growwe reël kan wees:

• Minder as 3 weke: huur 'n motor.
• Meer as 3 maande: die mees koste-effektiewe om te koop.

Motorkoop en motorhuiskoop

Daar is 'n aansienlike tweedehandse mark in motors en kampeerders vir rugsakreisigers wat lang reis deur Australië wil onderneem. Hierdie voertuie word gereeld deur Gumtree en Facebook Marketplace gekoop en verkoop. Let daarop dat pryse oor die algemeen goedkoper sal wees op plekke waar mense is einde hul reise, soos Cairns of Darwin. Neem algemene voorsorgmaatreëls as u 'n motor koop. Onthou die belangrikheid van 'n deeglike meganiese kontrolelys, lisensiëring, registrasie en versekering. Staatsdienste is gratis beskikbaar om te verseker dat dit nie deur 'n finansieringsreëling belemmer word nie en dat dit nie voorheen afgeskryf is as gevolg van 'n ongeluk nie.

Die meeste wenke om 'n motor in Australië te koop, is dieselfde as die voorsorgmaatreëls wat u oral sal neem. In Australië:

• Let op die datum van hernuwing van die registrasie en die staat waarin dit geregistreer is. Verskillende state het verskillende fooie en vereistes vir registrasie en hernuwing van voertuie, en dit kan moeilik wees om die registrasie te hernu wanneer u buite die staat is. U moet die motor registreer in die land waar u "inwoner" is, en dit kan die aankoop van 'n motor wat in 'n ander staat geregistreer is, moeiliker maak. As u binne 'n jaar koop en verkoop, kan u die lewe vir u makliker maak as u nie hoef te hernu nie.
• As u deur die outback ry, hoe meer algemeen en eenvoudig u motormodel is, hoe makliker sal dit wees om onderdele te herstel en te bekom. Die Oodnadatta roadhouse sal beslis bande hê vir 'n Toyota Landcruiser, maar dit is onwaarskynlik dat die regte bande vir 'n Volkswagen Passat is, wat nog te sê van enige ander noodsaaklike onderdele. Om te wag dat onderdele by 'n afgeleë diensstasie afgelewer word, kan 'n vertraging van 'n week of langer beteken vir u planne, en dit neem aan dat die plaaslike werktuigkundige weet hoe u u spesifieke model kan regmaak.
• Voer 'n PPSR-tjek uit om te verseker dat daar geen geld is vir die motor wat u beplan om te koop nie. As dit so is, sal u die skuld van die vorige eienaar erf. Hierdie tjek kan op die internet gedoen word en kos slegs 'n paar dollar.

• Travellers Auto-Barn
• Gumtree het 'n gids vir rugsakreisigers om kampeerwaens in Australië te koop. Dit bevat ook 'n lys van voertuie vir private verkoop en van handelaars.
• PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register), 'n Australiese regeringsdiens wat u kan vertel of daar geld aan 'n motor verskuldig is, of dit as afgeskryf gerapporteer is en / of dit as gesteel aangemeld is. Dit werk teen die voertuigidentifikasienommer (VIN), wat gewoonlik in die enjinruimte voorkom. Wees op die hoogte van dienste van derdepartye, aangesien hulle presies dieselfde inligting teen 'n hoër fooi verskaf.
• Redbook is 'n Australiese motorprysowerheid. Vind die markprys van enige voertuig.
• Cruisin RV verkope is 'n Australiese tweedehandse motorhuise- en kampeerwa-handelaar

Huur in Australië

Sien ook: Motor huur

• Buite groot stede is daar gewoonlik daaglikse reisperke voordat 'n toeslag betaal word. Dikwels 100 km of 200 km per dag.
• Die vervoer van motorbote - veral die Gees van Tasmanië - is gewoonlik verbode.
• Ry na of uit Wes-Australië en / of die Noordelike Gebied kan beperk word. Om op grond of gruis te ry, snags of in afgeleë gebiede te ry, kan beperk word.
• As u tussen skemer en dagbreek ry, kan u versekering op paaie buite stede ongeldig wees.
• Sommige huurmotormaatskappye sal versoek dat u 'n gratis vasvra vir toeristebestuurreëls voordat u die voertuig neem, of u op 'n kort rit vergesel om u vaardigheid agter die stuurwiel na te gaan.
• Huurmaatskappye kan probeer om u bang te maak om tolpaaie vir Toowoomba, Brisbane, Sydney of Melbourne te koop. Tolpaaie is vir reisigers onnodig, en dit is maklik om te vermy as hulle goed gemerk is.

Kampeerwaens en motorhuise

Moenie aanvaar dat huur 'n kampeerder 'n goedkoper manier is om Australië te sien nie. Die brandstofkoste wissel baie: die brandstofkoste in Australië is baie hoër as stedelike gebiede. As u huurkoste, ens. Byvoeg, is die verblyf in koshuise dikwels 'n goedkoper en gemakliker opsie, maar die vryheid om u eie vier wiele te hê, kan dit vergoed.

Pryse kan dramaties verander na gelang van die reistydperk. Moet dus nie verwag om byvoorbeeld gedurende Kersfees en Oujaarsaand 'n goedkoop huur vir kampeerders te vind nie. Verskaffers stel ook pryse vas afhangend van beskikbaarheid. Net soos vliegkaartjies, is dit altyd goedkoper om vooraf te bespreek.

Cruisin Motorhomes en Britz is geneig om aan die premie-punt van die kampeerwa-mark te werk, terwyl die laer kant van die mark sterk meeding: groter ondernemings sluit in, Maui, Jucy Verhurings, Hippie Kampeerder, Motorhuis Republiek , GoCheap-kampeerwaens en Ruimteskepe.

Kampeerwaens wissel baie in pas en kwaliteit, en sommige het storte, toilette, kombuise en meer, terwyl ander net minder as matrasse agter het. Dit is gewoonlik geskik vir 2-6 reisigers, afhangende van die grootte van die voertuig. Kyk die ekstra hef baie versigtig en sorg dat u nie dieselfde of meer vir 'n voertuig van minder gehalte betaal nie.

Padreëls en veiligheid

Bestuur word gereguleer deur staatsowerhede, maar daar is 'n redelike konsekwente stel aanwysings en padreëls regoor Australië. Padreëls wissel wel van land tot land, maar hierdie verskille is meestal redelik gering.

Lisensies

Bestuurders in Australië benodig 'n geldige rybewys. Buitelandse lisensies in Engels word beskou as geldig om vir drie maande in Australië vir besoekers te ry. As u lisensie nie in Engels is nie, moet u 'n Internasionale bestuurspermit wat in u tuisland uitgereik word voordat u in Australië aankom.

Australiese lisensies word uitgereik deur die onderskeie staats- en gebiedsregerings, en lisensiewette wissel van staat tot staat. Buitelanders wat langer as drie maande vertoef, kan nodig wees om hul buitelandse lisensie om te skakel na 'n Australiese van die staat waarin hulle woon. Buitelanders met lisensies van Oostenryk, België, Kanada, Kroasië, Denemarke, Finland, Frankryk, Duitsland, Griekeland, Guernsey, Ierland, Eiland Man, Italië, Japan, Jersey, Luxemburg, Malta, Nederland, Nieu-Seeland, Noorweë, Papoea-Nieu-Guinea, Portugal, Singapoer, Spanje, Swede, Switserland, die Verenigde Koninkryk en die Verenigde State kan hul buitelandse lisensies na 'n Australiese een omskakel nadat hulle 'n administratiewe fooi betaal het. Alle ander buitelandse lisensiehouers moet 'n teorie en praktiese toets aflê voordat hulle 'n Australiese lisensie kan kry.

Australiese wetgewing vereis dat u te alle tye u lisensie moet saamneem wanneer u bestuur. Boetes is van toepassing indien u afgetrek word en bestuur word sonder om u lisensie te dra.

Sitplekgordels

Die gebruik van veiligheidsgordels is verpligtend vir bestuurders en alle passasiers, en babas moet beveilig word met goedgekeurde veiligheidskapsules en -harnasse. Die veiligheidsgordelwette word streng toegepas, en die bestuurder moet toesien dat alle passasiers vasgespan word. Boetes geld vir die bestuurder van die voertuig, en sluit onderbrekingspunte in wat kan lei tot 'n lisensie-opskorting. 'N Boete van ongeveer $ 330 per onversekerde bestuurder en / of passasier is van toepassing, so 'n motor vol mense sonder veiligheidsgordels kan vinnig optel.

Bestuur onder die invloed van drank of dwelms

Die bloedalkohollimiet is 0,05% in Australië. Leerling- en voorlopige bestuurders mag nie alkohol in hul stelsel hê tydens die bestuur nie.

As 'n algemene riglyn: vir die meeste mans is dit twee standaarddrankies vir die eerste uur en daarna 1 drankie elke uur daarna om op die 0,05% limiet te bly. Vir die meeste vroue is dit 1 standaarddrankie vir die eerste uur en daarna 1 drankie elke uur daarna om op die limiet van 0,05% te bly.

Die polisie doen lukrake asemtoetse langs beide hoofroetes en agterstrate, sowel in stede as in die land. 'N Bestuurder hoef nie agterdogtig te bestuur of 'n ry-oortreding te pleeg om deur die polisie gestuit te word vir 'n ewekansige asemtoets nie. Willekeurige medisyne-toetsing word ook met behulp van 'n mondpypie gedoen.

As u betrap word dat u onder die invloed van alkohol bestuur, moet u 'n hofverskyning maak. Vir 'n eerste oortreding sal 'n boete en 'n tydperk van skorsing normaalweg opgelê word as daar geen verswarende omstandighede is nie. Die weiering van 'n asemtoets is ook 'n oortreding en die boetes vir weiering is hoër as vir drankbestuur.

Ongelukke

Ingeval van 'n ongeluk wat 'n persoon beseer of dood het, moet die polisie en toepaslike noodowerhede gekontak word. Bel die Australiese noodnommer 000. Die noodnommer 112 werk ook van enige selfoon, selfs al is dit nie aan 'n netwerk gekoppel nie. Noodnommers van ander lande (soos 911) werk nie in Australië nie.

Die bestuurder van enige betrokke voertuig enige ongeluk, hoe klein ook al, is wettiglik vereis om te stop en hulp te verleen. Die boetes vir die verlaat van 'n ongelukstoneel kan ernstig wees (tot tien jaar gevangenisstraf), selfs al is u nie skuldig nie. Klein ongelukke (in Australiese slang 'n "bingle" genoem) kan deur middel van versekering opgelos word, maar as daar uitgebreide saakbeskadiging of besering is, moet die nooddienste gekontak word.

Persone wat te goeder trou in Australië noodhulp verleen, word deur die wet beskerm en loop nie die risiko om regsaksie teen hulle op te stel nie. As u op 'n ongelukstoneel kan help, moet u dit altyd doen.

As u voertuig die pad versper of onklaar geraak het, moet u seker maak dat u gevaarligte gebruik vir sigbaarheid vir aankomende verkeer. Dit is veral belangrik op snelweë, want sommige treine kan meer as 500 meter neem om van volle spoed tot stilstand te kom. As u verbygaande verkeer swaai vir hulp, veral in afgeleë gebiede, sal dit gewoonlik werk.

Motorgroepe

Elke staat en gebied het 'n aparte motorgroep wat hulp by die afbreek van die pad bied, asook omvattende padkaarte, toeristegidse en nuttige motoradvies van hul talle takkantore. U moet jaarliks ​​lidmaatskap van een van hierdie verenigings koop om vir padbystand in aanmerking te kom, maar dit kan gedoen word wanneer u 'n oproep om hulp doen (teen 'n ekstra fooi). Elke staatsvereniging het wederkerige reëlings met die ander, so 'n enkele lidmaatskap sal vir die hele Australië geld. As u 'n lid is van die plaaslike motorgroep in u vaderland, is u miskien geregtig op gratis wederkerige hulp, soos kaarte, van die verskillende motorgroepe in Australië. Raadpleeg u plaaslike motorgroep voordat u vertrek.

• Nieu-Suid-Wallis en die Australiese hoofstadsterrein: Nasionale Vereniging vir Paaie en Motoriste (NRMA)
• Victoria: Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV)
• Queensland: Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ)
• Suid-Australië: Royal Automobile Association (RAA)
• Wes-Australië: Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC)
• Tasmanië: Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania (RACT)
• Noordelike Gebied: Motorvereniging van die Noordelike Gebied (AANT)

'N Ander dekkingsvlak met 'n hoër fooi is gewoonlik nodig om nuttige hulp in afgeleë gebiede te verseker. Al hierdie groepe is lede van die Australiese motorvereniging, wat wederkerige ooreenkomste het met buitelandse motorgroepe soos die New Zealand Automobile Association (NZAA), Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) en American Automobile Association, en 'n mate van wederkerige dekking kan beskikbaar wees as u lid is van die motorgroep in u huis land.

Handhawing

'N Mobiele spoedkamera in Victoria. Die gebruikte motors is heeltemal ongemerk, en daar is geen teken dat die voertuig 'n spoedkameramotor is wat van agter af kom nie.

Spoedkameras word in alle deelstate en gebiede van Australië gebruik, terwyl sommige state verborge kameras gebruik, terwyl ander verkies om sigbare te wees. Alhoewel die handhawing ietwat van land tot land verskil, word spoedbeperkings in die algemeen streng in Australië toegepas, en selfs om so effens bo die snelheidsperk te kruip, kan u 'n kaartjie en 'n stewige boete oplewer. Die strengste plek vir die toepassing van spoedbeperkings is Victoria, met mobiele spoedkameras wat in ongemerkte motors versteek is, asook verborge vaste kameras agter snelwegaanwysings. Die amptelike verdraagsaamheid in Victoria is net twee kilometer per uur wat die spoedgrens oorskry. Polisie se spoedlokvalle, en mobiele patrollies trek ook gereeld motors af omdat hulle die spoedgrens oorskry. In ander lande sal die spoedgrens met 10 km / h of minder oorskry word dat u gewoonlik 'n fyn kennisgewing van ongeveer $ 200 ontvang (en as u op 'n Australiese lisensie ry, sal dit punte verlaag. Die oorskryding van die spoedbeperking met meer as 30 km / h kan lei tot 'n hofverskyning en moontlike strafregtelike skuldigbevinding. Rooi lig en gekombineerde rooi lig / spoedkameras werk ook op baie stedelike kruisings en 'n soortgelyke boete sal tot gevolg hê.

Wetstoepassing word gewoonlik deur die staatspolisie uitgevoer. As u sien dat 'n polisievoertuig met flikkerende ligte agter u aan is, moet u aftrek en stop sodra dit veilig is. Die polisiebeampte sal dan gewoonlik u lisensie vra, wat u volgens die wet te alle tye moet saamneem terwyl u bestuur. As u geen vorm van foto-identifikasie verstrek nie, het die polisie die reg om u in hegtenis te neem totdat hulle u identiteit kan vasstel. Polisiebeamptes kan vereis dat u 'n asemhalingstoets vir alkohol en / of 'n dwelmtoets ondergaan, en die weiering van een van hierdie toetse is 'n kriminele oortreding wat boetes en 'n moontlike gevangenisstraf meebring.

Fyn kennisgewings word altyd na oorsese adresse gestuur. Huurmotormaatskappye vra 'n stewige "administrasiefooi" indien boetes aangegaan word, en gee u naam aan die skuldinvorderingsowerhede. U boete sal gewoonlik nie buite Australië nagestreef word nie, maar u moet die gevolge daarvan oorweeg as u in die toekoms in Australië wil ry. Boetes wat aan korporasies uitgereik word (soos 'n huurmotormaatskappy) kan tot vyf keer hoër wees as boetes wat aan individue uitgereik word. As u 'n boete ontvang via die huurmotormaatskappy wat aan die huurkaartonderneming gerig is, moet u dit nie betaal voordat u na die webwerf gegaan het om u as individu te identifiseer nie. Die boete sal aansienlik verminder.

Noodvoertuie

Net soos in die meeste ander Westerse lande, het noodvoertuie voorkeur bo alle ander verkeer as hulle flikkerligte en / of sirenes aan het. Daar word van u verwag om links af te trek en plek te maak vir sulke voertuie wat u teëkom. Die versuim om dit te doen, is 'n oortreding wat strafbaar is met groot boetes en gebreke.

As u noodvoertuie langs die pad verbyry met hul ligte wat flikker, moet u stadiger ry. 25 km / h in Suid-Australië, en 40 km / h in ander deelstate soos Victoria.

Stadsbestuur

Verkeer in Australië se groot stede kan oorvol wees. Soos op enige ander plek, is dit die moeite werd om in die sentrale sakegebied (SSK) te ry tydens spitstye wanneer almal probeer om van of na werk te kom, of op snelweë gedurende langnaweke (naweke op bankvakansies) wanneer almal probeer uit die stad te kom. Die stede van Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane en Perth het redelike betroubare netwerke vir openbare vervoer, so baie inwoners verkies om by 'n treinstasie te parkeer en eerder 'n trein na die middestad te haal.

Roetes

M1 Pacific Motorway, Noord van Sydney

Die stede van Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra en Hobart word bedek deur 'n betreklik goeie netwerk van stedelike snelweë (in sommige gebiede kan dit ook as snelweë of snelweë bekend staan) wat vinnig van die voorstede na die middestad kan ry. Adelaide en Townsville daar is geen snelweë wat na die middestad op pad is nie, en die snelweë wat bestaan, bedien slegs die buitenste voorstede en nabygeleë plattelandse dorpe.

Melbourne-trems

'N Gevaar wat uniek is aan die middestad van Melbourne en die binneste voorstede, is trems (straatmotors). Melbourne is bekend vir sy uitgebreide tremnetwerk. Daar is 'n paar tremverwante reëls:

'N Gebreekte geel streep beteken dat motors in die trembaan mag ry. 'N Stewige geel streep langs die trembaan dui aan dat motors nie in die trembaan mag ry nie. Daar is dalk 'n oorhoofse bord wat tye aandui wanneer motors nie in die baan mag ry nie (byvoorbeeld in spitstye). As daar geen teken is nie, is motors nooit op die spore toegelaat nie. Daar is slegs tremsones op paaie skoonveld.

Trampassasiers het reg om te ry as hulle oor die pad ry, gaan of ry 'n trem. U moet agter die tram stop as die gevaarligte daarvan flikker en / of die deure van die tram oop is, tensy die tram by 'n omheinde stop met versperrings en 'n duidelike "veiligheidsgebied" -teken stop.

Op sommige kruisings in die middestad van Melbourne kan u a haak draai (trek links om regs te draai) om te verhoed dat die tremspore in die middel van die pad geblokkeer word. Borde wat aandui of 'n haakdraai nodig is, word op die kruising van die tramkraglyne opgehang. Moenie 'n haakdraai by ander kruisings probeer nie.

1. Nader die kruising in die linkerbaan en dui aan om regs te draai.
2. Gaan op die groen lig tot by die kruising so ver as moontlik links (vermy die voetoorgang). Beweeg vorentoe totdat u loodreg op die verkeer beland en by die rooi lig op die dwarsstraat wag (die straat waarin u regs wil draai).
3. Let op die verkeersligte op die dwarsstraat. Sodra dit groen is, draai u na u regterkant en gaan voort soos normaal. Die verkeer waarna u voorheen loodreg was, volg wanneer u u beurt voltooi.

Spoedbeperkings en skoolsones

Spoedbeperkings word met gereelde tussenposes aangedui en kan gereeld verander. 'N Standaard spoedbeperking van 50 km / h is van toepassing in stedelike gebiede waar daar geen bewegingsnelheid is nie. Skolesones het 'n snelheidsbeperking van 25 km / h in Suid-Australië, en 'n snelheidsbeperking van 40 km / h op enige ander plek gedurende skoolure, en dit word duidelik aangedui; gewoonlik met flikkerende elektroniese veranderlike snelheidsbeperkingstekens. In sommige state kan skoolsones op groot snelweë met 30 km / h, 60 km / h of 80 km / h aangedui word. In Nieu-Suid-Wallis het skoolbusse flitsende ligte wanneer hulle kinders oplaai of aflaai. Dit is om bestuurders te waarsku om stadiger te ry; anders as in die Verenigde State, hoef u egter nie heeltemal te stop nie. Dit is onwettig om 40 km / h te oorskry as u met 'n skoolbus in Nieu-Suid-Wallis met sy liggies flikker.

Verkeerseine

Dit is onwettig om links te draai op 'n rooi verkeers sein, tensy 'n geplaatste bord dit spesifiek toelaat. Met die uitsondering van die deelstaat Victoria, is dit onwettig om 'n draai by 'n verkeers sein in Australië te doen, tensy daar 'n teken is wat dit uitdruklik toelaat. In Victoria word 'n afdraai toegelaat op enige kruising met of sonder seine, tensy die aanwysings dit spesifiek verbied.

Inhaal (verby)

Verbysteek is slegs aan die regterkant toegelaat, tensy u op 'n multispoorweg ry en die ander voertuig veilig in 'n gemerkte baan links van die voertuig verbygesteek kan word. As die bewegende spoed hoër as 80 km / h is, is dit onwettig dat 'n motor in die regterbaan op 'n pad bly, behalwe as hy 'n ander voertuig verbysteek. Na voltooiing van die verbysteek moet die bestuurders weer in die linkerbaan beweeg sodra dit veilig is. As daar nie sulke bane is nie, moet bestuurders net aan die regterkant van die ander voertuig verbysteek, tensy die ander voertuig stilstaande na regs draai of 'n voorneme is om dit te doen. Terwyl u verbysteek, mag u geen deurlopende (ononderbroke) middellyn, deurlopende dubbele lyne oorsteek of waar die dubbele middellyn die naaste aan u ononderbroke is nie.

Baie landelike hoofweë met twee bane het af en toe 'n derde baan vir veilige verbysteek. 'N Geel diamantbordjie sal met swart pyle aandui watter rigting voorkeur het om in die middelste baan te verbysteek. Die enkel teenoorgestelde baan kan ook die middelste baan gebruik om in te haal, solank albei aankomende bane skoon is en die middellyn naaste aan die ander baan is.

In bergagtige dele van Australië is daar soms baaie langs die pad wat deur die stadiger voertuig ingetrek moet word om die verkeer te laat verbygaan.

Op bergpaaie en ander paaie waar skaars geleenthede verbysteek, word dit baie waardeer as u aftrek om vinniger verkeer te laat verbygaan.

Parkering

Parkering in groot stede kan moeilik en duur wees, veral in die middestad en in toeristegebiede, soos strande. Selfs kleiner dorpe kan op baie gewilde markdae en geleenthede parkeerprobleme hê.

Kommersiële parkering baie koste is algemeen in hoofstede, en werk op 'n uurlikse basis op weeksdae, en vra dikwels 'n vaste fooi oor naweke of saans. Dit kan baie duur wees in die middestad.

Stede word gereeld deur die munisipaliteit bedryf parkeerplek op straat dit behels 'n bedrag betaalbaar. Daar is 'n meter wat ooreenstem met die plek waar u geparkeer het, of 'n kaartjiemasjien waar u 'n kaartjie kan koop. Hierdie plekke sal 'n bord hê wat aandui die maksimum tyd wat u daar kan parkeer (betaal die toepaslike fooi) en op watter tye die fooi werk. Die voer van meters (langer as die opgestelde tyd bly deur na die meter of kaartjiemasjien terug te keer en meer geld in te sit of 'n ander kaartjie te koop) is onwettig en sal dieselfde boete tot gevolg hê as om die fooi nie te betaal nie.

Parkeerplek word sporadies bestuur, sommige gebiede word gereeld gepatrolleer en ander selde, maar u is nooit heeltemal veilig om onwettig te parkeer nie. Parkering word strenger toegepas in die beboude stadsgebiede. Boetes is in die orde van $ 100.

Gebiede gemerk as skoonveld verbied parkering tydens spitstye. Geparkeerde motors word gereeld gesleep, wat 'n herstelheffing van $ 100 byvoeg, en aansienlike moeite.

Gebiede gemerk as geen keer nie, geen staanplek niebuszones of taxisones is onwettig om in te stop, selfs om op en af ​​te laai. Gebiede gemerk as geen parkering sones is die gebiede waarin u mag optel en aflaai, maar u kan nie u motor verlaat of u motor afskakel nie.

As u bereid is om 'n paar blokke verder te parkeer en te loop, is dit dikwels moontlik om gratis parkeerplek op straat in woongebiede naby sommige besienswaardighede te vind.

Groot hoofstede het gewoonlik goeie openbare vervoer binne die middestad self, en dit is 'n alternatief om te ry tussen middestad-plekke sodra hulle geparkeer is.

Tolle

Sommige snelweë, brûe en tonnels in groot stede vereis dat tolgeld betaal moet word. Met ingang van 2013 kan 'n kontantbetaling nie meer by tolhokkies op die pad gedoen word nie, vanweë die toenemende neiging van elektroniese tolinvordering via transponders wat in voertuie aangebring is. Dit kom met een groot uitsondering; as u op 'n betaalde pad binne-in 'n Nasionale Park gaan, sal kontantbetaling verkies word. As u sonder 'n transponder op so 'n pad ry, word 'n foto van u voertuig se nommerplaat geneem, en u het 'n beperkte tyd (tussen 24 en 72 uur, afhangende van die pad) om 'n nommer te bel of 'n webwerf te besoek en krediet te reël. kaartbetaling (plus 'n addisionele verwerkingsfooi) voordat 'n boete uitgereik word. Tolpaaie is duidelik gemerk en geleenthede om uit te gaan word duidelik omlyn voordat dit die eerste tolpunt bereik.

Tolpaaie is gebou om voordeel te trek uit stedelike pendelaars en is gewoonlik nie nuttig vir reisigers nie. 'N Enkele transponder (E-tag) kan op enige tolpad in Australië gebruik word, ongeag watter maatskappy die transponder uitgereik het en watter maatskappy die tolpad bedryf waarop u wil ry. Daar is geen ekstra koste verbonde aan die reis van 'n ander maatskappy se tolpad nie.

Tolpaaie bestaan ​​slegs in die stede Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney en Toowoomba.

Rotondes

As u 'n rotonde teëkom en afkomstig is van 'n land wat nie veel van hulle het nie, soos die Verenigde State van Amerika, hier is 'n vinnige gids:

gee pad. Gee plek vir voertuie wat reeds op die rotonde is: gaan slegs die kruising in as daar geen gevaar is om met 'n motor op die rotonde van u regterkant af te bots nie. Op die meeste rotondes beteken dit effektief dat u plek maak vir motors wat van u regterkant kom, motors wat uit die teenoorgestelde rigting kom en regs draai, en motors aan u linkerkant wat al die rotonde loop.

Dui aan. Wanneer twee paaie by 'n klein rotonde kruis, dui links aan om links te gaan, regs om regs te gaan en gee nie aan of dit reguit gaan nie. Moenie links aandui voordat u met die volgende afrit op 'n groter rotonde met meer afritke gaan nie.

Kies u baan. Op rotonde met meerdere bane is daar gewoonlik pyle op die pad wat aandui watter baan u moet kies in watter rigting. Andersins, neem net die linkerbaan om links te gaan, regterbaan om regs te gaan en een van die bane om reguit te gaan. Fietse mag in die linkerbaan bly en regs gaan, maar as hulle kies om dit te doen, moet hulle plek maak vir voertuie in die regte baan wat uitkom.

Landelike bestuur

Buiten die groot stede, die hoofweg tussen Sydney en Melbourne, is die hoofweg tussen Sydney en Brisbane, hoofweg Australiese hoofweë tweespoorlike, onverdeelde verseëlde asfaltpaaie. Terwyl minder as 15% van die Australiese bevolking in streeks- en landelike gebiede woon, vind ongeveer 60% van die noodlottige ongelukke op hierdie paaie plaas, omdat die snelweg soortgelyk is (snelheidsperke wissel tussen 100 km / h en 130 km / h), maar die omstandighede gevaarliker is as snelweë / snelweë omdat daar geen versperring of skeiding tussen aankomende verkeer is nie.

Sommige landelike snelweë het gereelde verbysteekbane, maar op ander moet u stadiger verkeer verbysteek deur in die baan aan die oorkant van die pad te trek, die een wat deur die aankomende verkeer gebruik word. Dit is duidelik dat dit gedoen moet word as daar geen aankomende verkeer teenwoordig is nie. Dit moet slegs gepoog word as u baie sigbaarheid het, en dit moet so vinnig as moontlik gedoen word. Moet nooit verbysteek deur links van die pad af te trek nie, want Australiese bestuurders sal dit nie verwag nie, selfs nie as die skouer geplavei is nie. Dit is ook onwettig om dit te doen.

Alhoewel dit onwettig is, is dit algemeen dat plaaslike inwoners die spoedgrens oorskry om stadiger verkeer te verbysteek om te verseker dat hulle nie 'wegraak nie', maar gebruik gesonde verstand. As u doen, sal u geen boete oplewer nie.

Sommige minder belangrike plattelandse paaie en buitewaaie is ongesegelde grondpaaie. Dit is moeiliker om teen hoë snelhede aan te ry, en u sal moet sukkel om die vreemde klip op te gooi. Ruitskade is nie ongewoon nie. Sommige huurmotormaatskappye Moenie toelaat nie hul motors moet van verseëlde paaie afgehaal word, selfs al is die ongesegelde pad 'n amptelike klein pad, ander verhoog die oortollige of dek nie klipskade nie. Baie grondpaaie in die suide is in 'n goeie toestand en ervare bestuurders is geneig om so vinnig daarop te ry as op die verseëlde paaie. As u op gruis is, is dit noodsaaklik om goed te vertraag voor 'n hoek of as u die kans loop om te gly. Los gruis wat los of dryf, hou ook 'n gevaar in, aangesien u bande die vastrap kan verloor rolle of skuif onder die bande. As u voel dat u beheer oor gruis verloor, moet u vertraag en probeer vermy om te rem of skerp te draai. Gebruik u ratte om te vertraag wanneer u kan. Paaie in die noordelike trope is dikwels sanderig, rotsagtig of gegolfd.

As u op die oop paaie van Australië ry, kan u dooie diere langs die pad sien. Die feit is dat vinnig swaai of swaar rem, 'n ernstiger ongeluk kan veroorsaak. Sundown and sunrise are times to be on the alert through the Australian bush, as well as regions where you will encounter water sources like rivers and reservoirs, or the plains surrounding mountain ranges.

If you come across multiple tyre marks on the road, this could suggest that animals regularly use this part of the road as a crossing, so just be a little more aware, and also, using the high beam head lights at night, will make it harder for an animal to find an appropriate escape route, so practice flicking them off for animals as well as for on coming traffic.

Slow down when approaching cattle grids (trenches in the ground with metal poles across) as these may be bent, broken or deeply potholed on the approaches. Severe tyre damage or a broken spring can result from speeding over these grids. Leave gates shut or open as you have found them.

Do not enter creek or gully crossings without first checking for depth, dips and holes and finding the shallowest path. Water crossings in northern Australia (Far North Queensland, Kimberley, Top End) are often inhabited by crocodiles so it is not advisable to walk these rivers. Vehicles are washed away more easily than most people realise.

Mobile (cell) phone coverage will probably be highly intermittent even on relatively major highways unless you are near a population centre. Check the coverage of the network you are using, Telstra tends to have the best rural network coverage, so it is also more expensive than the other operators. If you can budget for it, a mobile phone car kit with an external antenna can increase your range. Again, consult the coverage charts to see where an external antenna may help. You can check the Telstra Mobile coverage maps for the roads you are travelling in advance.

Tune in to local radio during Bushfire season or just for updates on the local situation. A tone of whirring alarm is played before any emergency warnings on local and even rural commercial radio, listen out for these for advice, especially if travelling during summer, so you don't end up travelling through bushfires.

Some mountain and tableland areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania are noted for having very frosty nights that may cause diesel to solidify in vehicles causing the engine to stop or run abnormally. Usually vehicles will run normally without intervention when the morning warms.

There are no bridges connecting Tasmania with the Australian mainland; the only way across the strait is by car ferry.

Fuel

Outside of major centres, do not assume that fuel will be available late at night, in the early morning, or in some cases even on a Sunday. Even on some major regional roads and national highways, roadhouses may be closed late at night. If you are planning a long drive overnight, make sure you know where and when you are going to get fuel.

Spoedbeperkings

Maximum speeds vary between states and are normally signposted.

The default open road speed limit varies between states in Australië. Those default limits should always be observed in rural and regional areas where there is no signposted speed limit shown and the area has no street lights and is away from townships or built-up areas. It is generally best to assume that the default limit is 50km/h in built-up areas, and 100km/h on the open road unless you are sure a higher limit is applicable. In the NT, if unsure, then go 60km/h in built-up areas and 110km/h in rural area.

When travelling on un-paved or gravel roads the posted limit may not be appropriate to the prevailing conditions. You should never presume the road is safe to travel at the posted speed limit; the actual safe speeds of travel on unsealed roads may vary tremendously within a short space of both time and distance due to current weather and/or road conditions. For this reason many gravel and dirt roads in Australia do not have speed limit signs posted lest they should mislead road users into believing that the posted speed is either achievable or safe. As an example of this, in Tasmania they do not normally install advisory speed signs on unsealed roads where travel speeds greater than 35 km/h can be achieved.

In the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Tasmanië en Queensland the default speed limit on an open road is 100 km/h. In New South Wales the posted speed limit is normally 110 km/h on motorways (freeways/tollways) and dual carriageway in non-built up areas, high quality rural (divided) roads and (undivided) rural roads with low traffic volume mostly in the western part of the state, other parts of the state are a default maximum speed of 100 km/h unless indicated otherwise with an exception if you are west of A39. If you are west of A39, the default limit is 110km/h on two lane paved roads unless the signs indicate a slower speed limit. Otherwise, the limit west of A39 is 100km/h. In South Australia the default speed limit is 100 km/h, though many major rural roads and state highways are posted at 110 km/h. In the Northern Territory the default speed limit is 110 km/h, with speed limits of up to 130 km/h on major highways away from urban areas. In Western Australia the default speed limit for open areas is 110 km/h with a limit for freeways of 100 km/h unless zoned otherwise.

Road markings

The dividing markings on the road indicate if overtaking is legal. A broken dividing line indicates that you may move to the other side if the road to overtake if it is clear. A solid or double solid dividing line indicates that no overtaking is allowed and you may only move over to the other side to avoid an obstruction. A broken line next to a solid line means that you may move to the other side of the road to overtake if you are driving on the side of the broken line but not if you're driving on the side of the solid line.

A centre road marking is often indistinguishable from a lane dividing marking. It can be sometimes impossible to tell if you are on a two lane one-way road, or a two way road. This can be a hazard when divided roads change to single carriageway roads, and you have to remember what type of road you are on. If unsure, just keep to the left most lane.

Distances can be a problem for the unprepared

Be wary of your fuel

Australia is a very big country, and while driving is a fun and interesting way to get around, you have to remember that it is a long long way to get from point A to point B. Taking the capital cities as an example, it is easy to drive from Canberra aan Sydney (3 hr), and relatively easy from Melbourne aan Adelaide (8 hr), but driving from Melbourne aan Sydney is a good 10 hr solid driving. If you want to drive to Perth van Melbourne, you must use the Eyre Highway and cross the Nullarbor Plain, which means driving for approximately 3,500 km, including 2,000 km on a virtually dead straight, totally flat road with only a few roadhouses, each a hundred kilometres apart. You will have to spend at least one night on the road, so book in advance. The general advice is to have a rest every two hours, with the national roadhouse slogan being "Stop, Revive, Survive". Always expect the unexpected to happen and drive to the conditions.

You should also be wary of your fuel supplies and always allow a generous reserve for unexpected contingencies. A good rule of thumb is to carry sufficient fuel to be able to turn around and return to the place you were last able to secure adequate provisions. Distances between fuel supplies can be extreme, even on main roads and national highways, and conditions can change without warning. Check that you have a map indicating fuel outlets, petrol stations (gas stations) and local fuel depots providing either petrol or diesel fuel. Outback communities do not always have fuel supplies, and if they do they may be limited. LPG (liquid petroleum gas) may be unavailable in some areas, and in remote areas it is very unlikely to be found. Some remote areas in the central and northern regions of the country use Opal fuel, a modified version of normal unleaded petrol that lacks the intoxicants sought by petrol-sniffing, once a serious issue in many remote Indigenous communities. The vast majority of cars will run just fine on Opal, but if your car happens to require premium fuel, it may see a slight decrease in performance.

There is little traffic on back roads, but what there is will consist of a fair proportion of road trains (semi-trailers towing up to three trailers). They will not necessarily be able to quickly reduce their speed, as their effective stopping distance is often far too great. Do not expect a road train to be able to take rapid evasive action to avoid your vehicle; even if you have a technical right of way, never pull out in front of a heavy vehicle. Slow down rapidly or stop without ensuring you have left a clear path for the larger and much heavier vehicle to proceed unhindered.

In years past Australian motorists travelling on outback and isolated roads had a tradition of stopping or slowing to enquire as to another motorists welfare or assist if they were in difficulties. This sort of behaviour is declining and motorists now tend to travel at much greater speeds and with much lesser regard for the plight of others. You should always ensure you have adequate skills, resources and knowledge to deal with the prevailing situation on your own. If you do experience difficulties stay with your vehicle, do not wander off or set off cross country to summon assistance.

As an example, here are the distances from one state capital to another:

Animals

Australia is the land of kangaroos, emus, wombats, feral camels, horses, rabbits and cattle. Sometimes these animals wander onto roadways. Kangaroos in particular will leap across roadways directly in front of vehicles, and are more likely to hop along the roadway than hop off it. Emus also run across roads and have no sense of how to get out of the way of a car. Off the main highways many roads run adjacent to farms that are unfenced, and stock on the road are common. Many animals caught in headlights come to a complete halt, but a short blast on the car horn may help startle them into moving off the road. Briefly switching off your headlights may also encourage them to move on. Most animal collisions occur at dusk, at dawn, or at night when some animals are more active but less visible.

Drive carefully when you spot these big animals and be ready to use your brakes. Swerving to avoid an animal can also lead to fatalities, so if the choice is between hitting the animal or potentially losing control of the vehicle, hit the animal.

Most car hire firms impose a curfew on driving after sunset in Western Australia en die Northern Territory. Often a collision with an animal has a higher excess (deductible) than other collisions. Away from cities and main highways try to be at your destination before nightfall. If forced to travel at night, keep your speed down.

Many vehicles in the bush have a "bull bar", a rigid steel or aluminium frame, fitted in front of the radiator. These are to protect passengers and the vehicle in the event of a collision with an animal.If you do hit a native animal, stop if it is safe to do so. There are trained wildlife rescue groups in each state who care for injured and orphaned animals. If such an incident occurs endeavour to remove any dead or injured animal from the road if it is safe to do so and within your physical capabilities.

• NSW wildlife rescue, tolvry: 1300 094 737. WIRES 
• Victorian wildlife rescue, tolvry: 1300 094 535. 

Bushfire season

During bushfire season (December - March) tune in to ABC Local Radio while travelling through rural Australia. You can find a list of stations hier, you will also see signs along your route (especially when entering towns) with radio frequencies of FM and AM stations in that area.

Fires are extremely dangerous, but easily avoidable. Never drive into fire or through fire. It can and will cover highways including wide/major ones.

During radio broadcast, a tone of "whirring alarm" will play before any emergency announcements and updates regarding any active emergencies in your area to help you listen in. Do not be alarmed: while the radio is "local", it can cover stretches as far as 500 km.

Police can and do setup roadblocks and have the right to prevent people from entering high risk zones. This will only happen if you are attempting to enter an area where fire is likely to affect within hours. Many Australians have been prevented from going back to their homes to collect belongings when the fire is actively threatening their homes.

Outback driving

Road signs at Tilpa, NSW

If you are driving in the outback, be prepared for anything. Some roads have little traffic, so there may be a substantial amount of time before anyone will pass should you break down. There are few towns and petrol stations etc, so motorists need to make sure that they carry adequate and surplus amounts of food, water and fuel. The interior of Australia is a true desert, so if your vehicle has no air conditioning, you could suffer from common day time temperatures of 45°C (113°F) and past 50°C (122°F) on really hot days. Night time temperatures can drop to freezing. Even if you are travelling on well travelled outback roads, a small diversion off the main road to see an attraction may see traffic volumes reduce significantly.

Depending upon the estimated time of travel and the remoteness of the roads, it is wise to take at least 10 litres of drinking water per person per day of travel, and an additional 3-5 days of extra drinking water per person, in case of breakdown. Do not have all of your water in one container at any time. Shade material and very thick warm blankets are also important survival tools. A box of matches or cigarette lighter should always be carried when intending to travel into isolated areas. A fire can provide warmth and can be very helpful in attracting attention if lost or stranded.

Do not expect your mobile (cell) phone to work if you are in the outback. Large areas of the country do not have service. If you're travelling to remote areas, take a satellite phone or a PLB)

Outback roads vary in quality and type. A freshly graded and wide gravel road can make for relatively easy driving. The same road several months later with rutting, corrugations and washed out creek crossings can be a nightmare for a 2-wheel-drive vehicle. The road reports will usually mention where there is rutting, corrugation, en washouts. Rutting is where the wheels of vehicles have worn away the road surface, meaning than low clearance vehicles can hit the bottom of the cars on the central raised section of the road. Corrugation is common on gravel roads that aren't freshly graded. Washouts occur when creek crossings see water flows since the road was last graded. The road surface is replaced by pebbles, sand and is uneven for the duration of the creek bed. Some outback roads are gravel and graded regularly. Others are unimproved dirt roads, where just a grader has been through, and the road base can be sand. It can be very difficult to tell the difference just by looking at a map. Some roads require a heavy duty 4wd (four-wheel-drive) vehicle for safe passage. One that is especially prepared for the trip with suitable equipment depending on the length, isolation, and roughness of the track. Advanced planning is required for such trips; you cannot just hire a passenger sedan and go. An SUV or soft road 4wd vehicle is not always suitable for roads marked as requiring a 4wd. Some outback road conditions may seriously damage anything other than a highly robust heavy duty vehicle to the extent it may become undrivable; the occupants may then be exposed to some considerable inconvenience and risk.

It is a good idea to advise a person you know and trust of your route and advise them to alert authorities if you do not contact them within a reasonable amount of time after your scheduled arrival at your destination. Carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite phone should be considered when travelling in remote areas, especially where you may not be able to make contact for several days. Police will not automatically start looking for you if you don't report in. Make sure you get one with a GPS built in. These can be borrowed from some local police stations, such as those in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. If you want to hire one, sort it out before you leave a major city, as you won't find hire places in small towns. Expect to pay around $100 to hire for a week, or $700 to buy one. Don't expect an immediate rescue even if you trigger a PLB.

Temperatures can be extremely hot during the day, and can drop drastically once night falls. Always go to the local police station when you are going off the sealed (paved) highway, and tell them where you are going and how long you expect to take. This will help them to look for you if they get reports you are missing. Never ever leave your car when it breaks down in the middle of nowhere. In case of a long wait, it gives you shelter and it is a lot easier to spot a vehicle than a person walking in the bush. Also, a person uses about four times as much water when walking, and Australia is a dry country.

Beware of potholes and corrugations on gravel roads. Potholes are not always visible on sandy roads or those with a lot of bulldust. The road surface might seem quite even, but hidden potholes hit with sufficient speed can overturn a car. Corrugations are wavelike formations that form on a road surface when enough cars have been driven over it. At low speeds the car will be shaken to a degree that's almost unbearable. At higher speeds there is a risk of losing control of the vehicles steering and direction. In most cases, a speed of 50-60 km/h is a happy medium; not too slow and not too fast. Do not try to swerve around lizards or other small creatures as the car is likely to become very unstable with a high chance of crashing.

Dust can also be a problem on unpaved roads, and heavy vehicles travelling at high speed often leave a trail of dust and small stones behind them, severely impairing visibility in vehicles behind them. As a precaution, do not tailgate. The significantly reduced visibility in dust storms caused by vehicles in front can have deadly consequences and any stones thrown up will become high speed projectiles.

Some two-way paved roads have only one lane paved, right down the middle. When approaching another car both of you are expected to move left off the bitumen onto the dirt at the side of the road, pass, and then move back onto the black. Be wary immediately after passing, as the other car will have stirred up a huge dust cloud which will lower visibility for several seconds.

Bulldust is a fine talcum powder-like dust that is very common on outback Australian tracks. Patches of bulldust look like smooth hard patches but in fact it is usually a fine covering of dust over a deep hole. Driving through bulldust at speed is very dangerous and must be avoided. It can cause damage if sucked into engines too, so in very dusty areas you should have a filter on your air intake and check it regularly.

Pay particular attention to the weather forecasts in outback areas and be prepared to stay put for a while if the weather sets in. Unsealed outback roads, especially, can be closed with little notice in the wet, isolating communities, at any time of year. Creek crossings are very common on outback roads, with dry creek beds. These creeks rise quickly after rain and can become impassable for several days. In the rain bulldust turns into a clay, which fills your wheel rims and can bring a two-wheel drive or a motorcycle to a grinding halt. Scraping out the bulldust and a bit of a push can sometimes get you on your way again, but it can be very tough going.

Respect road closures, even if the road or track appears traffic-able. The road may have been closed due to being damaged or impassable much further down the road. If you proceed you may end up having to turn back or become stranded at a remote location. Of course if you should experience difficulties then the chances of anyone passing by and rendering assistance are somewhat reduced if the road has been closed. Just find as comfortable a place as possible and wait for the conditions to improve and for the road to re-open, or seek an alternative route if available. Roads are sometimes closed to prevent them becoming seriously damaged by vehicles transiting them when the surface is too soft or slippery after rain. Do not cause damage to a road by continuing your journey and transiting a road or track when it has been closed, especially if your vehicles wheels are leaving furrows or ruts. No one will be impressed that you made it through, rather you may attract the wrath and considerable disdain of other road users and possibly the local authorities for cutting up the road whilst it was too soft for traffic. Many roads and tracks in the outback are public thoroughfares passing over private property, parks, reserves or leasehold pastoral land; you may be asked to contribute to the costs of grading or repairing the road if you damage it due to reckless behaviour.

If you encounter a gate on a public road or thoroughfare in the outback it may have a sign on it (or nearby) advising of the roads entrance conditions and gate closure requirements. The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence is a notable example of such formal gating. This fence is one of the longest structures in the world and is the world's longest fence. It stretches 5,614 km (3,488 mi) from Jimbour on the Darling Downs near Dalby in Queensland through thousands of kilometres of inland Australia finally ending west of Eyre peninsula on cliffs of the Nullarbor Plain near Nundroo 160 km west of Ceduna and 347 km east of the South Australian-West Australian border. Any gate on this fence must be closed at all times other than when a vehicle is actually passing through the gate. Other gates range from very formal solid constructions down to humble bush gates using many different methods of closure. The rule with these gates is to always leave it as you found it. If it is open leave it open, if it is closed then you must close it again and ensure that it is done properly. Pay very careful attention when you first open the gate to ensure that you fully understand how to close it again. If you are travelling close behind another vehicle they may open the gate and then drive on, leaving you to close the gate. Pay careful attention to any such situation to ensure there is no confusion as to the status of the gate upon arrival (open or shut) and who is closing it, do not just drive off unless you can see the gate is being properly managed by others, traditionally the onus is upon the last one through to close the gate; however if you opened it you still have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that it is left as you found it including being correctly fastened. Heavy grazing stock losses or intrusion of feral animals may arise from incorrect gate management by travellers. In some cases penalties may be applied for not following correct procedures where closure is mandated.

Road trains

An Australian Road Train

Road trains are a special hazard on Australian roads. These leviathans can reach lengths of up to 55 m, with up to four trailers, so treat them with care and respect.

Oncoming road trains should be given all the space they need. On asphalt roads, you should slow down and drive partly on the road shoulder if possible.

A road train coming up behind you should often be allowed to pass as well. When they overtake you at high speeds, they will often create a "vortex" which sucks you towards them. Therefore, be alert and stay in control of the vehicle at all times. In many cases overtaking a road train is not a good idea. If you have to do it, be sure to choose a nice long stretch of straight road where you can make sure that there's no oncoming traffic for about 2 km. On gravel roads there's only one piece of advice: don't.

When behind a truck on a long stretch of road, many truck drivers will indicate to you that there is no traffic ahead and therefore safe to overtake by flicking the right indicator light on once or twice. Treat this signal with caution as sometimes there is not enough space between you and the next oncoming car. Use your common sense. If you are equipped with a CB radio, you may be able to talk to the truckie and confirm the condition of the road ahead for safe overtaking. Confirm the truck licence plate with the driver to make sure you are talking to the truck in front of you.

Staying awake

Once you are outside the metropolitan areas, traffic tends to thin out and driving becomes relatively boring. The long straight stretches, the slowly changing scenery, and the fine weather on many through routes can be a recipe for drowsiness. Make sure you stop every couple of hours and, if possible, change drivers. On some routes local service clubs provide coffee and there are billboards with road safety advice. These are there for a reason. People die on those routes from drivers falling asleep.

When you arrive in Australia allow for "jet lag". Do not leave your car heater or air-conditioner switched to "recycle" as this can make you drowsy and watch for other signs of fatigue (blurred vision, yawning). On summer evenings, you can usually leave the windows open, for the fresh air and smell of the bush.

Wet season

In the north of Australia, the period from November (sometimes even October) to March is considered the Wet Season. Many remote communities (and even some major towns on the Queensland coast) are completely isolated during the Wet, unless they have a landing strip for light aircraft. Rivers that are dry at other times of the year can overflow their banks due to extremely high rainfall.

Sometimes, bridges are washed out, or dirt roads are turned into muddy quagmires. Water levels can rise quickly from nothing to flooding. Notably, the Bruce Highway, which is the main road from Brisbane up through the Queensland coast to Cairns, is notorious for being cut for days at a time in many areas, mostly near Innisfail and Tully, which are both just south of Cairns.

Travellers intending to drive around the North should contact local authorities beforehand as they will know the most about local conditions. They will also be the poor sods called out to rescue you if you get stuck, so be polite. In Queensland, it is possible to go from Cairns to Cooktown via Mareeba or Mossman using an inland route, which is fully sealed and suitable for normal cars. If you intend to take the coastal route (starting just north of Cape Tribulation), you can't do it whenever it is raining, unless you have a serious four-wheel drive, preferably equipped with a snorkel.

If travelling around the north on unsealed (unpaved) roads, a powerful four-wheel drive vehicle is a must. Being bogged in the middle of the Outback can be fatal if one is not properly prepared.

See also

• Driving in New Zealand
• Tips for road trips

Roetes

• Australia Highway 1
• Eyre Highway
• Gibb River Road
• Great Northern Highway
• Great Ocean Road
• Great Alpine Road
• Gunbarrel Highway
• Hume Highway
• New England Highway
• Oodnadatta Track
• Pacific Highway
• Stuart Highway
• Tourist Drive 30
• Tourist Drive 33
• Waterfall Way