If you’ve used your horn to express your disappointment with another driver, then you might need a refresher on the road rules.
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It’s the same story if you hang around in the right-hand lane, pull over to the side of the road to answer your mobile phone, try and cut through a funeral procession or even forget to lock your car.
Do any of these while on the road and you’re not just being a rude driver you’re also breaking one of the more than 300 road rules – most of which come with demerit points.
So perhaps this is the week you go back and check out the road rules handbook you probably haven’t looked through since you got your licence.
For this week is Road Rules Awareness Week which, umm, encourages people be more aware of the road rules.
“We have around 350 road rules in NSW and they are there to save lives,” Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said.
“Road Rules Awareness Week is a great time for everyone to think about their driving, and aims to help improve the community’s knowledge of the road rules including commonly misunderstood rules.
When it comes to the incidents mentioned earlier, the road rules only permit you to use your horn to warn others that you’re approaching, to get animals to move off the road or if it is part of an anti-theft device.
Note that honking the guy in front because he put his indicator on too late isn’t on the list.
When it comes to driving in the right-hand lane, generally speaking when the speed limit is greater than 80km/h the rules say you have to keep left unless overtaking – though an exception is allowed if the traffic is heavy.
Using a mobile phone while driving is without question illegal (unless it’s in a dedicated mounting or can be used without touching it) but some believe simply pulling over is enough.
Nope – unless you’re in a legal parking spot, have the car in park and the engine turned off, you’re breaking the law.
By the way, police and other emergency vehicles are exempt from laws restricting mobile phone use while driving.
If you come across a funeral procession while driving, it is illegal to interrupt its free passage – that includes turning across it or joining it.
A surprising road rule relates to parking; leave your car unlocked and you’re breaking a law punishable by a $110 fine.
Any time you go further than three metres away from your car, the rules require you to ensure it is locked.