Vožnja v Avstraliji - Driving in Australia

Vožnja noter Avstralija je izkušnja, ki si jo je treba privoščiti. To je način za doživetje odprtih prostorov in čudovite naravne pokrajine, toliko destinacij pa je mogoče doživeti le z avtomobilom. Pred odhodom se prepričajte, da ste dobro pripravljeni na avstralsko vozniško izkušnjo.

Razumeti

Tako kot večina drugih redko poseljenih držav je tudi v Avstraliji lastništvo avtomobilov zelo visoko, velika večina Avstralcev pa je lastnikov avtomobilov. Medtem ko lahko javni prevoz zagotovo obiščete večja mesta, zlasti mesta Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane in Perth, pa se frekvence močno zmanjšajo, ko izstopite iz središča mesta in se odpravite v predmestje, zato bi vožnja na splošno prihranila dolgo čakate na javni prevoz. V manjših mestih in podeželskih mestih je javni prevoz zelo redek ali celo neobstoječ, zato bi bil avto potreben samo zato, da bi ga sploh lahko obpeljali.

Vse meritve cest v Avstraliji po zakonu so v metričnih meritvah. Razdalje so v metrih in kilometrih, hitrost pa v kilometrih na uro.

Zaradi britanske kolonialne zapuščine se Avstralci vozijo po levi strani ceste z vozili na desni strani. Približno 70% avstralskih avtomobilov ima avtomatski menjalnik. Pri najemu avtomobila je ročni menjalnik (menjalnik) na splošno na voljo le kot opcija za najcenejše majhne avtomobile. Z ročico menjalnika upravlja leva roka. Razporeditev pedal je po vsem svetu standardna. V večini avtomobilov bo steblo kazalca (smernika) na desni strani volana, steblo brisalca vetrobranskega stekla pa na levi strani volana. (Evropski avtomobili, kot je VW, imajo te obratno.)

Pogoji vožnje so različni. Večina Avstralcev živi na vzhodni in jugovzhodni obali ali blizu nje. Ceste znotraj in med mesti na teh območjih so zatesnjene (tlakovane) in dobro vzdrževane, prav tako pa tudi glavne avtoceste, ki se povezujejo z glavnimi mesti držav in ozemelj. Na glavnih avtocestah je običajno dovolj dobro označenih počivališč, čeprav so ta običajno zelo osnovna in nimajo vedno stranišč. Na splošno je dovoljeno spati na počivališčih čez noč.

Na bolj oddaljenih območjih (znanih kot "Outback") vozniki lahko potujejo na stotine kilometrov med mesti ali hišami brez možnosti za oskrbo z gorivom, oskrbo z vodo, osvežilnimi pijačami ali stranišči. Na teh območjih, celo na glavnih avtocestah, boste morali načrtovati svoje potovanje, vključno s postanki za gorivo in hrano . Izven glavnih medmestnih avtocest so na oddaljenih območjih razmere na cestah težke. Številne ceste so nezatesnjene (gramozne ali peščene) in pogosto slabo vzdrževane. Nekatere so lahko primerne le za štirikolesne pogone, nekatere pa (vključno z glavnimi zaprtimi avtocestami) morda v določenih letnih časih ali vremenskih razmerah sploh ne bo prevozna.

Vozniki morajo biti samozadostni in pripravljeni na izredne razmere, ko potujejo z glavnih avtocest v oddaljenih območjih in se zavedati, da zunaj večjih mest pokritost z mobilnimi telefoni skoraj zagotovo ne bo več. Satelitski telefon je morda vredna in morda rešilna naložba na najbolj oddaljenih območjih, kjer je malo ljudi. Za potovanje po aboridžinskih skupnostih na nekaterih oddaljenih lokacijah bodo morda potrebna tudi dovoljenja (običajno brezplačna).

Nakup ali najem avtomobila?

Zelo grobo pravilo palca je lahko:

• Manj kot 3 tedne: Najem avtomobila.
• Nad 3 mesece: Najučinkovitejši nakup.

Nakup avtomobila in nakup avtodoma

Obstaja velik trg rabljenih avtomobilov in avtodomov za nahrbtnike, ki se želijo podaljšati na ceste po Avstraliji. Ta vozila se redno kupujejo in prodajajo prek Gumtree in Facebook Marketplace. Upoštevajte, da bodo cene na splošno cenejše na lokacijah, kjer ljudje konec njihova potovanja, kot sta Cairns ali Darwin. Pri nakupu avtomobila upoštevajte previdnostne ukrepe. Ne pozabite na pomen temeljitega mehaničnega kontrolnega seznama, licenc, registracije in zavarovanja. Storitve državne vlade so na voljo brezplačno, da se zagotovi, da niso obremenjene s finančnim dogovorom in da niso bile prej odpisane zaradi nesreče.

Večina nasvetov za nakup avtomobila v Avstraliji je enaka previdnostnim ukrepom, ki bi jih sprejeli kjer koli. Vendar v Avstraliji:

• Pazite na datum podaljšanja registracije in stanje, v katerem je registrirana. Različne države imajo različne pristojbine in zahteve za registracijo in obnovo vozil, zato je težko obnoviti registracijo, ko ni v državi. Avto morate registrirati v državi, v kateri "prebivate", in to lahko nekoliko oteži nakup avtomobila, registriranega v drugi državi. Če kupujete in preprodajate v enem letu, vam morda ne bo treba podaljšati registracije, vam bo olajšalo življenje.
• Če se peljete skozi zunanjost, bolj kot je vaš model avtomobila pogostejši in preprostejši, lažje boste popravili in pridobili rezervne dele. Cestna hiša Oodnadatta bo zagotovo imela pnevmatike za Toyoto Landcruiser, a verjetno ne bodo imele pravih pnevmatik za Volkswagen Passat, kaj šele za druge bistvene dele. Čakanje na dostavo delov na oddaljeni bencinski servis lahko pomeni zamudo pri načrtovanju za en teden ali več in to ob predpostavki, da lokalni mehanik ve, kako popraviti vaš model.
• Izvedite preverjanje PPSR in se prepričajte, da na avtomobilu, ki ga nameravate kupiti, ni dolga. Če obstaja, boste ta dolg podedovali od prejšnjega lastnika. To preverjanje lahko opravite na internetu in stane le nekaj dolarjev.

• Popotniški avto-skedenj
• Gumtree ima vodnik za nahrbtnike za nakup avtodomov v Avstraliji. Navedena so tudi vozila za zasebno prodajo in prodajo v prodajnih salonih.
• PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register), avstralska vladna služba, ki vam lahko sporoči, ali je avtomobil dolžan, če je bil odpisan in / ali ukraden. Deluje proti identifikacijski številki vozila (VIN), ki jo običajno najdemo v motornem prostoru. Zavedajte se storitev tretjih oseb, saj pogosto zagotavljajo popolnoma enake informacije za višjo plačilo.
• Redbook je avstralski organ za določanje cen avtomobilov. Ugotovite tržno ceno katerega koli vozila.
• Cruisin RV prodaja je avstralski prodajalec avtodomov in avtodomov

Najem v Avstraliji

Poglej tudi: Najem avtomobila

• Zunaj večjih mest pred plačilom doplačila običajno obstajajo dnevne omejitve potovanja. Pogosto 100 km ali 200 km na dan.
• Ulov avtomobilov s trajekti - zlasti duh Tasmanije - je običajno prepovedan.
• Vožnja v ali iz zahodne Avstralije in / ali severnega ozemlja je lahko omejena. Vožnja po umazaniji ali gramozu, vožnja ponoči ali v oddaljena območja je lahko omejena.
• Vožnja med mrakom in svitanjem lahko razveljavi vaše zavarovanje na cestah zunaj mest.
• Nekatera podjetja za najem avtomobilov bodo zahtevala, da to storite kviz brezplačnih turističnih pravil vožnje preden vzamete vozilo ali pa vas bo spremljal na kratki vožnji, da preverite svoje znanje za volanom.
• Podjetja za najem vas bodo morda skušala prestrašiti pri nakupu vozovnic za cestninjenje za Toowoombo, Brisbane, Sydney ali Melbourne. Cestninske ceste so za potnike nepotrebne in se jim je enostavno izogniti.

Kamperji in avtodomi

Ne predvidevajte, da bo najem avtodoma cenejši način za ogled Avstralije. Stroški goriva se zelo razlikujejo: stroški goriva v predelu Avstralije so veliko višji kot v mestnih območjih. Prištejte še stroške najema itd., Bivanje v hostlih pa bo pogosto cenejše in udobnejše - a svoboda, da imate svoja štiri kolesa, vam to lahko nadomesti.

Cene se lahko močno spremenijo, odvisno od obdobja potovanja. Torej ne pričakujte, da boste na primer našli poceni najem avtodomov na božični in novoletni večer. Dobavitelji določajo tudi cene glede na razpoložljivost. Tako kot letalske vozovnice je vedno tudi ceneje rezervirati vnaprej.

Cruisin avtodomi in Britz ponavadi delujejo na premijskem koncu trga avtodomov, medtem ko je spodnji del trga močno konkurenčen: večji operaterji vključujejo Maui, Jucy Rentals, Hipi kamper, Republika za avtodome , GoCheap Campervans in Vesoljske ladje.

Kamp prikolice se zelo razlikujejo po vgradnji in kakovosti, nekateri imajo prhe, stranišča, kuhinje in še več, drugi pa imajo le malo več vzmetnic. Običajno so primerni za 2–6 potnikov, odvisno od velikosti vozila. Preverite dodatno zaračunajte zelo previdno in se prepričajte, da za manj kakovostno vozilo ne plačate enako ali več.

Cestna pravila in varnost

Vožnjo urejajo državni organi, vendar obstaja precej dosleden nabor vozil oznake in cestna pravila po Avstraliji. Cestna pravila se sicer nekoliko razlikujejo od države do države, vendar so te razlike večinoma dokaj majhne.

Licence

Vozniki v Avstraliji potrebujejo veljavno vozniško dovoljenje. Tuje licence v angleščini veljajo za veljavne tri mesece vožnje v Avstraliji. Če vaša licenca ni v angleščini, se prikaže Mednarodno vozniško dovoljenje ki je izdan v vaši državi pred prihodom v Avstralijo.

Avstralske licence izdajajo zadevne vlade držav in ozemelj, zakoni o licenciranju pa se razlikujejo od države do države. Tujci, ki bivajo dlje kot tri mesece, bodo morda morali svojo tujo dovoljenje pretvoriti v avstralsko iz države, v kateri prebivajo. Tujci z dovoljenji iz Avstrija, Belgija, Kanada, Hrvaška, Danska, Finska, Francija, Nemčija, Grčija, Guernsey, Irska, otok Man, Italija, Japonska, Jersey, Luksemburg, Malta, Nizozemska, Nova Zelandija, Norveška, Papua Nova Gvineja, Portugalska, Singapur, Španija, Švedska, Švica, Združeno kraljestvo in Združene države lahko po plačilu upravne takse svoje tuje licence pretvorijo v avstralske. Vsi drugi tuji imetniki licence morajo pred avstralsko licenco opraviti teoretični in praktični preizkus.

Avstralska zakonodaja zahteva, da imate dovoljenje vedno s seboj, kadar koli vozite. Če vas potegnejo in ujamejo, da vozite, ne da bi imeli dovoljenje, se uporabijo globe.

Varnostni pas

Uporaba varnostnih pasov je obvezna za voznike in vse potnike, dojenčki pa morajo biti zavarovani z odobrenimi varnostnimi kapsulami in pasovi. Zakoni o varnostnih pasovih se strogo izvajajo, voznik pa je dolžan zagotoviti, da so vsi potniki pripeti. Kazni veljajo za voznik vozila in vključujejo demeritne točke, ki lahko vodijo do začasne ukinitve licence. Za nezavarovanega voznika in / ali potnika bo naložena globa v višini približno 330 USD, tako da se lahko avto, poln ljudi brez varnostnih pasov, hitro sešteje.

Vožnja pod vplivom alkohola ali mamil

Omejitev alkohola v krvi je v Avstraliji 0,05%. Učenci in začasni vozniki med vožnjo ne smejo imeti alkohola v sistemu.

Kot splošno vodilo: Za večino moških sta dve standardni pijači prvo uro in nato 1 pijača vsako uro po tem, da ostaneta na meji 0,05%. Za večino žensk je 1 običajna pijača prvo uro, nato pa 1 pijača vsako uro po tem, da ostane na meji 0,05%.

Policija izvaja preskuse naključnega dihanja tako na glavnih progah kot tudi na stranskih ulicah, tako v mestih kot v državi. Vozniku ni treba sumljivo voziti ali je storil prekrška v vožnji, da bi ga policija ustavila na naključnem preizkusu dihanja. Naključno testiranje zdravil se izvaja tudi z brisom ustne votline.

Če vas ujamejo, da vozite pod vplivom alkohola, boste morali na sodišču. Za prvo kaznivo dejanje se običajno naloži globa in obdobje začasne prekinitve, če ni obteževalnih okoliščin. Zavrnitev dihalnega testa je tudi prekršek in kazni za zavrnitev so višje kot za vožnjo pod vplivom alkohola.

Nesreče

V primeru nesreče, ki povzroči poškodbo ali smrt katere koli osebe, je treba stopiti v stik s policijo in ustreznimi organi za ukrepanje ob nesrečah. Pokličite avstralsko številko za klic v sili 000. Številka za klic v sili 112 deluje tudi iz kaj mobilni telefon, tudi če ni povezan v omrežje. Številke za klic v sili iz drugih držav (na primer 911) v Avstraliji ne delujejo.

Voznik katerega koli vozila, v katerega je vpleten kaj nesreča, ne glede na to, kako majhna, je zakonito zahteva ustaviti in pomagati. Kazni za zapustitev kraja nesreče so lahko hude (do 10 let zapora), tudi če niste krivi. Majhne nesreče (v avstralskem slengu imenovane "bingle") je mogoče rešiti z zavarovanjem, vendar je treba v primeru večje materialne škode ali poškodbe poklicati nujno službo.

Osebe, ki v Avstraliji dobronamerno nudijo prvo pomoč, so zaščitene z zakonom in jih ne ogroža sodni postopek. Če lahko pomagate na kraju nesreče, to vedno storite.

Če vaše vozilo ovira cesto ali se je pokvarilo, za prihajajoči promet uporabite vidne luči za vidljivost. To je še posebej pomembno ob avtocestah, saj se nekateri cestni vlaki lahko s polno hitrostjo ustavijo do 500 m. Mahanje navzdol mimo prometa za pomoč, zlasti na oddaljenih območjih, bo na splošno delovalo.

Avtomobilske skupine

Vsaka država in ozemlje ima ločeno avtomobilsko skupino, ki ponuja številne pomoči pri okvarah, pa tudi izčrpne cestne zemljevide, turistične vodnike in koristne avtomobilske nasvete svojih številnih podružnic. Če želite izpolniti pogoje za pomoč na cesti, morate kupiti letno članstvo v enem od teh združenj, vendar je to mogoče storiti ob vložitvi klica na pomoč (z doplačilom). Vsako državno združenje ima vzajemne dogovore z ostalimi, zato bo enotno članstvo zadostovalo za vso Avstralijo. Če ste član lokalne avtomobilske skupine v svoji državi, boste morda upravičeni do brezplačne vzajemne pomoči različnih avtomobilskih skupin v Avstraliji, na primer zemljevidov. Pred odhodom se posvetujte z lokalno avtomobilsko skupino.

• Novi Južni Wales in ozemlje prestolnice Avstralije: Nacionalno združenje cest in motoristov (NRMA)
• Victoria: Kraljevski avtomobilski klub Victoria (RACV)
• Queensland: Kraljevski avtomobilski klub v Queenslandu (RACQ)
• Južna Avstralija: Kraljevsko avtomobilsko združenje (RAA)
• Zahodna Avstralija: Kraljevski avtomobilski klub Zahodne Avstralije (RAC)
• Tasmanija: Kraljevski avtomobilski klub Tasmanije (RACT)
• Severno ozemlje: Avtomobilsko združenje severnega ozemlja (AANT)

Za zagotovitev koristne pomoči na oddaljenih območjih je običajno potrebna drugačna stopnja pokritosti z višjo pristojbino. Vse te skupine so člani Avstralsko avtomobilsko združenje, ki ima vzajemne dogovore s tujimi avtomobilskimi skupinami, kot so Novozelandsko avtomobilsko združenje (NZAA), Kanadsko avtomobilsko združenje (CAA) in Ameriško avtomobilsko združenje, nekaj vzajemnih kritja pa bo morda na voljo, če ste član avtomobilske skupine v vašem domu država.

Izvršba

Mobilna kamera za hitrost v Viktoriji. Uporabljeni avtomobili so popolnoma neoznačeni in nič ne kaže, da je vozilo avtomobil s hitrostno kamero, ki prihaja od zadaj.

Kamere za hitrost se uporabljajo v vseh zveznih državah in ozemljih Avstralije, pri čemer nekatere države uporabljajo skrite kamere, druge raje zelo vidne. Čeprav se uveljavljanje od države do države nekoliko razlikuje, se omejitve hitrosti v Avstraliji na splošno dosledno izvajajo, celo plazenje, ki je nekoliko nad hitrostjo, pa bi vam lahko prineslo vozovnico in zajetno kazen. Najstrožje mesto za uveljavljanje omejitev hitrosti je Victoria, z mobilnimi kamerami za hitrost, skritimi v neoznačenih avtomobilih, pa tudi skritimi fiksnimi kamerami za avtocestnimi oznakami. Uradna toleranca v Viktoriji presega hitrost le dva kilometra na uro. Policijske pasti za hitrost in mobilne patrulje prav tako redno zaustavljajo avtomobile zaradi prekoračitve dovoljene hitrosti. V drugih zveznih državah bo prekoračitev omejitve hitrosti za 10 km / h ali manj običajno povzročila približno 200 USD (in ogrožene točke, če vozite po avstralski licenci). Če prekoračite omejitev hitrosti za več kot 30 km / h, lahko pride do sodišča in morebitne obsodbe. Kamere za rdečo svetlobo in kombinirane kamere za rdečo svetlobo / hitrost delujejo tudi na številnih mestnih križiščih, kar bo povzročilo podobno globo.

Pregon na splošno izvaja državna policija. Če opazite, da se za vami zaustavi policijsko vozilo z utripajočimi lučmi, se morate ustaviti in ustaviti, takoj ko je varno. Nato bo policist običajno zaprosil za vaše dovoljenje, ki ga morate po zakonu vedno imeti s seboj med vožnjo. Če ne predložite nobene oblike identifikacije s fotografijo, vas ima policija pravico pridržati, dokler ne bo mogla ugotoviti vaše identitete. Policisti lahko zahtevajo, da opravite alkotest in / ali preizkus drog, zavrnitev katerega koli od teh testov je kaznivo dejanje, ki vključuje denarno kazen in morebitno zaporno kazen.

Lepa obvestila se vedno pošljejo na tuje naslove. Podjetja za najem avtomobilov zaračunajo zajetno "administrativno takso", če nastanejo globe, in vaše ime posredujejo organom za izterjavo dolgov. Vaše globe praviloma ne bodo plačevali zunaj Avstralije, vendar morate upoštevati posledice, če se boste v prihodnosti želeli voziti po Avstraliji. Globe, izdane družbam (na primer podjetjem za najem avtomobilov), so lahko do petkrat višje od glob, izrečenih posameznikom. Če prejmete globo prek podjetja za najem avtomobilov, ki je naslovljena na družbo, ki izdaja kartice za najem, je ne plačajte, preden se odpravite na spletno mesto, da se označite za posameznika. Globa se bo znatno zmanjšala.

Vozila v sili

Podobno kot v večini drugih zahodnih držav imajo tudi zasilna vozila prednost pred vsem ostalim prometom, ko imajo prižgane utripajoče luči in / ali sirene. Od vas se pričakuje, da se ustavite v levo in se umaknete takim vozilom, s katerimi se lahko srečate. Če tega ne storite, je kaznivo dejanje, ki se kaznuje z velikimi globami in slabimi točkami.

Ko mimo reševalnih vozil ob cesti utripajo luči, morate upočasniti. 25 km / h v Južni Avstraliji in 40 km / h v nekaterih drugih zveznih državah, kot je Victoria.

Mestna vožnja

Promet v večjih avstralskih mestih je lahko preobremenjen. Kot kjer koli drugje, se splača izogibati se vožnji v osrednjem poslovnem okrožju (CBD) ali okoli njega v času konic, ko se vsi trudijo priti v službo ali z nje, ali na avtocestah ob dolgih vikendih (ob praznikih ob koncu tedna), ko se vsi trudijo da gremo iz mesta. Mesta Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane in Perth imajo dokaj zanesljivo omrežje javnega prevoza, zato se mnogi domačini odločijo parkirati na železniški postaji in namesto tega ujeti vlak do CBD.

Poti

Avtocesta M1 Pacific, severno od Sydneya

Mesta Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra in Hobart pokriva razmeroma dobra mreža mestnih avtocest (na nekaterih območjih so lahko znane tudi kot avtoceste ali hitre ceste), ki omogočajo hitro vožnjo iz predmestja v središče mesta. Adelaida in Townsville nimajo avtocest, ki bi vodile v središče mesta, in avtoceste, ki obstajajo, služijo le zunanjim predmestjem in bližnjim podeželskim mestom.

Melbournski tramvaji

Nevarnost, ki je značilna za CBD v Melbournu in notranje predmestje, so tramvaji. Melbourne je znan po široki tramvajski mreži. Obstaja nekaj pravil, povezanih s tramvajem:

Prekinjena rumena črta pomeni, da lahko avtomobili vozijo po tramvajskem pasu. Polna rumena črta ob tramvajskem pasu pomeni, da avtomobilom ni dovoljeno voziti po tramvajskem pasu. Obstaja lahko znak nad glavo, ki določa, kdaj avtomobili ne smejo voziti po tem pasu (na primer v konicah). Če ni nobenega znaka, avtomobili na progah kadar koli ne smejo. Na cestah se imenujejo samo tramvajska območja plovne poti.

Potniki tramvaja imajo prednost, ko prečkajo cesto, vstopijo ali zapustijo tramvaj. Za tramvajem se morate ustaviti, ko utripajo njegove luči za nevarnost in / ali so vrata tramvaja odprta, razen če se tramvaj ustavi na ograjenem postajališču z ovirami in jasnim znakom "varnostno območje".

Na nekaterih križiščih v CBD v Melbournu lahko izvedete a kavelj zavoj (povlecite levo, da zavijete desno), da se izognete blokadi tramvajskih tirov na sredini ceste. Na križišču tramvajskih daljnovodov so obešeni znaki, ki kažejo, ali je potreben zavoj trnka. Na drugih križiščih ne poskušajte zaviti s kavljem.

1. Približajte se križišču na levem pasu in označite, da zavijete desno.
2. Na zeleni luči nadaljujte v križišče čim bolj levo (izogibajte se prehodu za pešce). Pomikajte se naprej, dokler ne pridete pravokotno na promet, ki čaka na rdečo luč na križišču (ulica, v katero želite zaviti desno).
3. Opazujte semaforje na križišču. Ko je zelena, zavijete na desno in nadaljujete kot običajno. Ko boste zavili, boste sledili prometu, na katerega ste bili prej pravokotni.

Omejitve hitrosti in šolska območja

Omejitve hitrosti so označene v rednih intervalih in se lahko pogosto spreminjajo. Privzeta omejitev hitrosti 50 km / h velja v urbanih območjih, kjer ni označene hitrosti. Šolska območja imajo v Južni Avstraliji omejeno hitrost 25 km / h in 40 km / h kjer koli drugje med šolskimi urami, ki so jasno označene; običajno z utripajočimi elektronskimi znaki za omejitev hitrosti. V nekaterih državah so lahko območja šol na glavnih avtocestah označena s hitrostjo 30 km / h, 60 km / h ali 80 km / h. V Novem Južnem Walesu imajo šolski avtobusi utripajoče luči, ko pobirajo ali spustijo otroke. To opozarja voznike, naj upočasnijo; vendar v nasprotju z ZDA vam ni treba popolnoma ustaviti. Prepovedano je preseči 40 km / h, ko mimo šolskega avtobusa v Novem Južnem Walesu utripata luči.

Prometna signalizacija

Nezakonito je zaviti levo na rdečo prometno signalizacijo, razen če postavljeni znak tega izrecno ne dovoljuje. Z izjemo zvezne države Victoria je v Avstraliji nezakonito zavijanje na prometni signalizaciji, razen če to izrecno dovoljuje znak. V Viktoriji je dovoljen obračanje v katerem koli križišču s signali ali brez njih, razen če signalizacija tega izrecno prepoveduje.

Prehitevanje (mimo)

Prehitevanje je dovoljeno samo na desni strani, razen če se vozite po večpasovni cesti in če lahko drugo vozilo varno prehitevate na označenem pasu levo od tega vozila. Če je označena hitrost nad 80 km / h, je nedovoljeno, da avtomobil ostane na desnem pasu na cesti, razen med prehitevanjem drugega vozila. Ko je manever prehitevanja končan, se morajo vozniki takoj, ko je to varno, premakniti nazaj na levi pas. Če noben takšen pas ni označen, morajo vozniki prehitevati le na desni strani drugega vozila, razen če drugo vozilo miruje in se ne obrača v desno ali ne nakazuje namere, da bo to storilo. Med prehitevanjem ne smete prečkati nobene neprekinjene (neprekinjene) sredinske črte, neprekinjene dvojne črte ali tam, kjer je dvojna srednja črta, ki vam je najbližja, neprekinjena.

Številne podeželske avtoceste imajo občasno tretji pas za varno prehitevanje. Rumeni diamantni znak s črnimi puščicami označuje, katera smer ima prednost pri prehitevanju na srednjem pasu. Enotni nasprotni pas lahko za prehitevanje uporabi tudi srednji pas, če sta oba prihajajoča pasova prosta in sredinska črta, najbližja nasprotnemu pasu, prekinjena.

V gorskih območjih Avstralije občasno obstajajo zalivi ob cesti, v katere naj počasnejše vozilo vleče, da promet lahko mine.

Na gorskih cestah in drugih cestah, kjer so možnosti prehitevanja redke, je zelo hvaležno, če se ustavite, da omogočite hitrejši promet.

Parkirišče

Parkiranje v večjih mestih je lahko težavno in drago, zlasti v CBD in okoli turističnih območij, kot so plaže. Tudi manjša mesta imajo lahko težave s parkiranjem ob priljubljenih tržnih dnevih in za prireditve.

Komercialno parkirišče plačila parcel so pogosta v središčih glavnih mest in obratujejo vsak dan ob delavnikih, pogosto pa ob vikendih ali večerih zaračunajo pavšalno ceno. Na območju CBD so lahko zelo drage.

V mestih pogosto deluje svet parkiranje na ulici ki vključuje plačljivo pristojbino. Na voljo je bodisi meter, ki ustreza kraju, kjer ste parkirali, bodisi avtomat za nakup vozovnic. Na teh mestih bo znak, ki določa, koliko časa lahko tam parkirate (plačate ustrezno pristojbino) in ob katerem času taksa deluje. Hranjenje števcev (če ostanete dlje od napovedanega časa, tako da se vrnete v števec ali avtomat za vstopnice in vstavite več denarja ali kupite drugo vozovnico) je nezakonito in bo povzročilo enako globo kot neplačilo pristojbine.

Parkiranje je nadzorovano občasno, nekatera območja redno obiskujejo, druga pa redko, vendar nikoli niste popolnoma varno parkirali nezakonito. Na pozidanih mestnih območjih se strožje izvaja parkiranje. Globe znašajo 100 USD.

Območja, označena z proste ceste prepovedati parkiranje v času konic. Parkirane avtomobile bodo pogosto vlekli, dodali bodo 100 USD povračila in precejšnje težave.

Območja, označena z brez ustavljanja, brez stajanja, avtobusne cone ali taksi cone so prepovedane, da se ustavijo, tudi da se odpeljejo in odpeljejo. Območja, označena z parkiranje prepovedano območja so tista, na katerih lahko prevzamete in odložite avto, vendar ne morete zapustiti avtomobila ali ga ugasniti.

Če ste pripravljeni parkirati nekaj ulic stran in se sprehoditi, je pogosto mogoče najti brezplačno parkiranje na ulici v stanovanjskih naseljih v bližini nekaterih znamenitosti.

Večje prestolnice imajo običajno dober javni prevoz znotraj same CBD in to je alternativa vožnji med lokacijami CBD, ko so enkrat parkirane.

Cestnine

Nekatere avtoceste, mostovi in ​​predori v večjih mestih zahtevajo plačilo cestnine. Od leta 2013 na cestninskih postajah na cesti ni več mogoče plačevati z gotovino zaradi naraščajočega trenda elektronskega pobiranja cestnin prek transponderjev, nameščenih v vozilih. To je z eno veliko izjemo; če greste po plačani cesti znotraj narodnega parka, bi bilo zaželeno plačilo z gotovino. Če se po takšni cesti vozite brez transponderja, se fotografira registrska tablica vašega vozila in imate omejen čas (med 24 in 72 urami, odvisno od ceste), da pokličete številko ali obiščete spletno stran in uredite kredit plačilo s kartico (plus dodatna pristojbina za obdelavo) pred izdajo globe. Ceste, kjer se plačujejo cestnine, so jasno označene in možnosti za izstop so jasno razmejene, preden pridete do prvega cestninskega mesta.

Ceste s cestnino so zgrajene tako, da izkoriščajo mestne vožnje, in na splošno niso koristne za popotnike. En sam transponder (E-tag) se lahko uporablja na kateri koli cestninski cesti v Avstraliji, ne glede na to, katero podjetje je izdalo transponder in katero podjetje upravlja cestninsko cesto, po kateri želite potovati. Potovanje po cestninski cesti drugega podjetja ni doplačilo.

Ceste s cestnino obstajajo le v mestih Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney in Toowoomba.

Krožišča

Če naletite na krožišče in ste iz države, ki jih nima veliko, kot je Združene države Amerike, tukaj je kratek vodnik:

Daj pot. Prepustite se vozilom, ki so že v krožišču: v križišče vstopite le, če na krožišču z vaše desne ne obstaja nevarnost trčenja z avtomobilom. V večini krožišč to dejansko pomeni, da se umaknete avtomobilom, ki prihajajo z vaše desne strani, avtomobilom, ki prihajajo iz nasprotne smeri in zavijajo desno, in avtomobili na vaši levi, ki gredo v celoti po krožišču.

Navedite. Ko se v majhnem krožišču prečkata dve cesti, označite levo, da gremo levo, desno desno, in ne označujemo, če gremo naravnost. V večjem krožišču z več izstopi ne označite levo, dokler ne zapeljete naslednjega izvoza.

Izberite svoj pas. Na krožnih križiščih z več pasovi so običajno puščice na cesti, ki kažejo, po katerem pasu se morate odločiti, v katero smer. V nasprotnem primeru zavijte levo po levem pasu, desno po desnem in kateri koli pas pojdite naravnost. Kolesa lahko ostanejo na levem pasu in gredo desno, če pa se za to odločijo, se morajo umakniti vozilom na desnem pasu, ki izstopajo.

Podeželska vožnja

Zunaj večjih mest, glavne avtoceste med Sydneyem in Melbournom, glavne avtoceste med Sydneyem in Brisbaneom, so avstralske avtoceste v glavnem dvopasovne nerazdeljene zatesnjene asfaltne ceste. Medtem ko manj kot 15% avstralskega prebivalstva živi na regionalnih in podeželskih območjih, se na teh cestah zgodi približno 60% smrtnih nesreč, ker so hitrosti podobne avtocesti (omejitve hitrosti se gibljejo med 100 km / h in 130 km / h), vendar pogoji so nevarnejše od avtocest / avtocest, ker ni ovire ali pregrade pred prihajajočim prometom.

Nekatere podeželske avtoceste imajo redne prehitevalne pasove, na drugih pa boste morali prehoditi počasnejši promet tako, da zavijete na vozni pas na nasprotni strani ceste, ki ga uporablja prihajajoči promet. Očitno je to treba storiti, kadar ni bližajočega se bližajočega se prometa. Poskusiti ga je treba le, če imate dovolj vidljivosti, in to čim hitreje. Nikoli ne prehitevajte z ustavljanjem s ceste v levo, saj avstralski vozniki tega ne bodo predvideli, tudi če je rama tlakovana - to je tudi nezakonito.

Čeprav je nezakonito, da domačini prekoračijo dovoljeno hitrost, da bi prehiteli počasnejši promet, da bi jim zagotovili, da jim ne "zmanjka ceste", pa uporabite zdravo pamet. Če to storite, vam ne bo plačana globa.

Nekatere manj pomembne podeželske ceste in obrobne ceste so zaprte makadamske ceste. Po njih je težje voziti pri visokih hitrostih in morali se boste spoprijeti z vrženim nenavadnim kamnom. Poškodbe vetrobranskega stekla niso nenavadne. Nekatera podjetja za najem avtomobilov ne omogočajo njihovi avtomobili bodo umaknjeni z zapečatenih cest, tudi če je nezapečatena cesta uradna manjša cesta, drugi povečajo presežek ali ne bodo pokrili škode zaradi kamna. Številne makadamske ceste na jugu so v dobrem stanju in izkušeni vozniki po njih vozijo tako hitro kot po zaprtih cestah. Na gramozu je nujno, da dobro zavijete pred ovinkom, sicer tvegate zdrs, ko zavijete. Rahli ali viseči gramoz predstavlja tudi nevarnost, saj lahko pnevmatike izgubijo oprijem kot prod zvitki ali prestav pod gumami. Če čutite, da izgubljate nadzor nad gramozom, upočasnite in se izogibajte ostrim zaviranjem ali obračanju. Uporabite svojo prestavo, da upočasnite, ko lahko. Ceste v severnih tropih so pogosto peščene, skalnate ali valovite.

Ko se vozite po odprtih cestah Avstralije, lahko ob cesti vidite mrtve živali. Dejstvo je, da lahko hitro zavijanje ali močno zaviranje povzroči veliko hujšo nesrečo. 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.

Speed limits

Maximum speeds vary between states and are normally signposted.

The default open road speed limit varies between states in Avstralija. 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, Tasmania in 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 to Sydney (3 hr), and relatively easy from Melbourne to Adelaide (8 hr), but driving from Melbourne to Sydney is a good 10 hr solid driving. If you want to drive to Perth from 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 in 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, brez cestnin: 1300 094 737. WIRES 
• Victorian wildlife rescue, brez cestnin: 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 here, 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, and 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

Poti

• 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