Sahar Mourad
Travel Trouble

The most bizarre traffic fines you've never heard of

These little known road rules could cost you thousands of dollars - from splashing pedestrians, to honking goodbye to your mates. It’s just not worth it. 

  1. Leaving your key in the ignition

You may think it’s saving you time because “I’m just going to be a couple of seconds/minutes” but doing this can cost you $114. 

Also, why would you risk having your car stolen?

  1. Flashing headlights to warn of speed camera or RBT

Other motorists will love you for the heads up but at what cost? $116 and a loss of one demerit point. 

  1. Not giving way to horses

Bit of a weird one but you could be slugged with a $130 fine if you do not give way to horses on the road. 

Motorists must move as far left as possible and turn off the engine until the horse has trotted past.

  1. Splashing pedestrians

It may look like fun but imagine how the pedestrians feel? However, the $187 fine is actually only limited to splashing pedestrians waiting at a bus stop. 

  1. Speeding up while being overtaken

Drivers who speed up while someone is trying to overtake them could be slapped with a $344 fine and lose two demerit points. 

  1. Cutting through service station

We’re all guilty of cutting through the servo to not waste time at the red light. Not only is it dangerous and puts pedestrians at risk, but you will be handed a fine of $349. 

  1. Driving over nature strip in school zone

Just don’t do it. You have kids walking, running or playing around and the last thing you want is to endanger them. 

If caught driving on the nature strip say goodbye to four demerit points and hello to the $464 fine. 

  1. Throwing apple core out the window

Wait until you get home to throw away your rubbish and not out the car window. You may think it’s fine because an apple core is biodegradable, but it’s not. 

It will cost you $533 and two demerits so save your rubbish for when you get home.

  1. Using your phone to pay at a drive-through

We all know it's illegal to touch your phone while driving and in the drive-thru it’s not any different.

Before even grabbing your phone to pay, you need to put your car into park and switch off the ignition. 

If caught doing the wrong thing you better hope the meal is worth the $534 fine. 

  1. Beeping goodbye and waving

We’re all guilty of tooting our horn when leaving a family or friend’s place. But the fine is so hefty just remember you already said goodbye.

If caught using your horn unnecessarily, you will be hit with $349 and waving will cost you another $349 because no body part should be outside of the vehicle.

All together it’s $698 and three demerits. Not worth it at all. 

Image: Shutterstock

Tags:
traffic, driving, fines, illegal, car, motorists