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Driver fined $544 for little known road act

A Mercedes driver has copped a massive fine after illegally transporting a ladder in the back of his car. The motorist thought he snagged a bargain on Gumtree, buying a ladder from someone who lived only a few streets away. But when he went to take the ladder home after placing it in the backseat of his car, the ladder was protruding almost one metre out the window. Highway Patrol officers in Sydney's west stopped the driver who said, "I picked it up from someone on Gumtree, I’m just going down the road". He was $544 and lost three demerit points by the roadside, with the short distance of travel between his purchase location and destination meaning nothing to police due to the dangerous nature of the act. The driver claims he "didn't know" it was an offence to drive with a protruding load, despite every state and territory handed an on-the-spot fine if any items stick out of a moving vehicle. "Due to the danger posed to other road users as well as the driver himself, he was issued with an infringement," NSW Police said, explaining that the driver was able to disassemble the ladder and store it "more suitably" in the car before taking off again. In NSW, the fine for driving with a protruding load will set a motorist back $349. Across the country, fines fall between $200 to $400 for drivers of light vehicles, however, those in heavy vehicles can pay thousands. Protruding loads can alter the weight distribution of a car and make it unstable and unsafe to drive, reducing a driver's control, while also posing a risk of hitting others on the road, pedestrians or cyclists. Image credits: Facebook

Legal

"Drivers deserve better": Huge win for motorists over parking fines

In a move to stop unsuspecting drivers being hit with unfair parking fines, NSW councils will soon be banned from issuing a fine without a physical ticket. Finance Minister Courtney Houssos will legislate to effectively ban ticketless parking fines after council raked in $155 million in sneaky fines last year. Ms Houssos will introduce legislation later in September, which will require parking rangers to attach an “on-the-spot notification” to a car which gets a fine either in the form of a sticker or a traditional parking ticket. Ticketless parking fines were first introduced under former Premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2020, with councils issuing a whopping 822,310 ticketless parking fines last financial year, up almost 50 per cent from the year before. Ms Houssos said forcing councils to leave a note telling drivers they had been fined, rather than waiting for a fine to come ion the mail weeks later, was a victory for common sense. "No one ever likes to get a parking fine, but the idea you only find out about a fine weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test,” she said. “Frustration among drivers and community members about the ticketless parking system is high – and that’s fair enough. The ticketless parking fine system was introduced by the previous government without regard for the impact on drivers and families,” she said. NSW Premier Chris Minns also backed the move, saying, “Drivers deserve better than the current system." In certain limited circumstances, rangers will be able to issue a fine without leaving a ticket, but only if they install new-warning signs, which could include areas where there is no phone reception, like national parks, or in timed enclosed car parks. NRMA Spokesman Peter Khoury said the government’s changes will rebuild public confidence, saying, “Ticketless parking fines removed transparency and made it almost impossible for motorists to contest their fine if they felt they had a legitimate case.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Legal

Aussie motorist's act of defiance against parking fees

Aussie drivers have been warned against replicating a cheeky way a motorist tried to pay for parking at a cashless parking meter. The motorist wasn't able to pay for his parking charges with a card, so instead they erected a sign in his car with gold coins attached, proving they are good for the parking fees. The driver said the cashless revolution doesn't "suit their lifestyle", but added they are "willing to pay for parking with these coins any day of the week". Despite displaying their method of payment, the North Sydney Council, who recently upgraded all their parking meters to cashless ones, explained to <a href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/major-136-fine-warning-after-fed-up-aussies-3-cashless-act-of-defiance-023528239.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo</a> Finance this method could massively backfire. "The only way to avoid being fined is to comply with the signage restrictions for the space in which you have parked," a Council spokesperson said. "In metered spaces, you must pay using our parking meters. You are likely to receive a fine if you leave a note and do not pay," with parking fines in this council setting you back $136. After the driver's unique payment method garnered attention on social media, many agreed with their sentiment saying there should always be an option for people to pay with cash. "Should always have a cash option," wrote one user, while another said, "How can they expect everyone to be credit card online app savvy anyway and download it while standing in the street? I have so much trouble paying." A third added, "This is a great idea, but the inspectors do not have a sense of humour, they just issue you with a fine." Image credits: Facebook

Legal

Motorist fined $4000 for dodgy driver's license tactic

A prominent Sydney lawyer has warned Aussie drivers against falsely nominating someone to take on their demerit points after one of his clients was fined $4000 for the illegal act. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh said that there has been a significant spike in the practice in recent months. "In 2024, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) commenced a crackdown on false nominations of drivers," he told Yahoo. "There has been a widespread trend of people agreeing to take demerit points for other drivers. "The person nominated will usually charge a fee to take the demerit points. Often they are on international licences and may not even be in the country." He then explained the case of one of his clients who was issued a $4,000 fine for trying to offload their demerit points. "The reason the fine was so expensive was because the vehicle was registered as a company vehicle and the company had a record of previous offences," he explained. "As such, it was subject to the penalties for a corporation, which are significantly greater than that of an individual ($1,500)." He said the matter was listed at court where the $4,000 fine "could have been increased to $22,000". Singh managed to fight the fine on behalf of the driver, but warned that authorities are increasing their surveillance on this illegal act and have urged Aussies to remain vigilant. The tactic has gained popularity over the past few years, with the illegal service often being advertised on social media and the price of one demerit point going for anywhere between $30-$150. Image: Facebook/ Yahoo

Legal

Motorist fined $387 for "handling wallet" while driving

A motorist has collapsed after receiving a fine for $387, in which the fine claims he was holding his phone while driving. Sydney man Husni Tarmizi opened the infringement notice with his 62-year-old dad on Tuesday and admitted he was both "surprised" and "panicked" by the fine, leaving Husni to pick his father up off the floor after he collapsed from shock. Husni was confused by the fine, which also cost his dad 10 demerit points, as his father is rarely on his phone, and decided to take a closer look at the image captured by the mobile detection camera. "I went to the computer and downloaded the image and I could see clearly that it's a wallet [in his hand], you can see his phone is in the cradle," he told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/driver-fined-387-and-cops-10-demerit-points-for-handling-wallet-while-driving-073557336.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>. "In his left hand you can see the wallet and his right hand he's holding a $50 bill." Husni continued, "He was quite panicked, especially with the 10 demerit points... and I was scared a bit because he has a heart condition." The 62-year-old man said he recalls holding onto his wallet and the $50 note to pay for petrol over the Easter long weekend, which explains the hefty loss of demerit points. Tarmizi confirmed he has already appealed the infringement and is awaiting a response after people urged him to dispute it. "I've also written an appeal, it's called a review request, we'll see how that goes," he said. "For the older generation where they don't understand the technologies and stuff, it's scary." Image credits: Husni Tarmizi

Legal

Eagle-eyed motorists spot funny typo on "confusing" new interchange

The new interchange at Rozelle, in Sydney's inner west, has already copped backlash just days after its opening, because of the confusing signage and changed traffic conditions causing chaos among commuters. Now, motorists have spotted another awkward blunder at the bustling "spaghetti junction", intended to improve traffic. Just metres away from the main intersection along Victoria Road and Darling Street, some poor road worker made the same typo twice, in a left-hand turn lane. Instead of saying "buses excepted", they painted "buses expected", and now their mistake has gone viral on social media. "If I was a road, I'd expect buses too," one joked. "I get my bus near there and I'm constantly expecting buses that don't show, so seems accurate," another quipped. The interchange itself has been years in the making and opened up on Sunday. It was intended to connect drivers to the M4 and M8 tunnels, the City West Link, the Western Distributor and give access to the Anzac Bridge with a toll-free bypass of Victoria Road. While the aim of it was to improve traffic flow, just four days after its opening locals are still complaining about the chaotic strip, specifically it's poorly designed signage that has reportedly baffled drivers. One of the new signs suggested there was a toll from Iron Cove Bridge to Anzac Bridge, and while it is actually free, commuters are avoiding the tunnel and trying to switch across multiple roads to avoid presumed fee. Earlier this week, NSW Premier Chris Minns said: "Clearly it's confusing, that spaghetti junction is difficult to navigate and a lot of cars' GPS haven't caught up. "We'll change that sign and I understand the Minister for Roads is putting up those portable electronic signs to show people that you can use that road in particular and not pay the toll." Images: Twitter/ 9News

Travel Trouble

"Be alert": Australia Post's urgent plea to motorists

Australia Post has issued an urgent plea for motorists to look out for their local posties, after shocking new data revealed how many postal workers are injured on the job. The data has revealed that during the 2022-23 financial year, 65 posties were injured as a direct result of third-party traffic accidents, with injuries including everything from broken limbs to concussions. Many of these incidents resulted in hospital stays, extended periods of leave and lasting psychological trauma. Australia Post's General Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, Rod Maule, has said that even one vehicle-related accident is too many, and pleaded for motorists to drive safely at all times. "While we want our team to deliver for all Australians, we also want each of them to safely get home to their families at the end of the day," Mr Maule said. "Safety is our number-one priority, which is why we've invested millions of dollars into advanced technology and training to keep our team safe on the road. But it isn't just up to us," he added. "We are asking all drivers to be alert and keep an eye out for our posties, especially over the next few months as we ramp up deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas." The statement comes in the wake of shocking footage going viral of postal workers being hit by motorists. In an incident last month, a postie is seen riding across an intersection when, seemingly out of nowhere, he's struck by another motorist and knocked from his bike causing an injury to his leg. Image credits: Australia Post

Travel Trouble

Brisbane officer captured punching and tasering motorist

Footage of a brutal altercation between a police officer and a motorist has surfaced online following a catastrophic three-car crash. The Queensland Police officer is captured on video punching the motorist through the window of his car in Strathpine in Brisbane’s north. Police allege the “highly agitated” man was drinking from a wine bottle and was under the influence when the officer arrived on the scene. “After the officer attempted to take the bottle away several times, it was allegedly thrown towards him,” a Queensland Police spokesperson said. “After giving numerous directions for the man to remain in the car, it will be alleged he continued to attempt to leave the vehicle by kicking the door into the officer, who used physical force to contain the man in the vehicle.” The heated exchange occurred around 1:45pm on June 22 after a collision at the intersection of Gympie and Samsonvale roads. The officer is seen in the video approaching the passenger side of a white car where the motorist tries to leave the vehicle through the open window. The officer is then seen grabbing at an object the motorist is holding, which police allege was a wine bottle, before allegedly hitting him multiple times. The video shows the man retreat inside the car before making another attempt to exit through the window, where he is then struck again. The motorist falls back again before trying to exit for a third time, blocked once again by the officer. Police allege the man continued to try and leave the car and “after several verbal warnings, a taser was deployed”. “Additional officers arrived on scene and another officer was allegedly spat on by the man,” the spokesperson said. The man has since been taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital while in custody to treat minor wounds. The scene was not short of witnesses, with several firefighters seen approaching the officer. “He needs to stop,” the woman filming the clip is heard saying. “Stop hitting him!” Senior police have reviewed body cam footage of the altercation as investigations continue. Image credit: 9News

Legal

Mother left shaken after shocking cyclist attack

A single mother has been left shaken after being confronted by an out of control cyclist in Sydney. Monique was driving on Pittwater Road in Sydney’s northern beaches where she gave a cyclist plenty of room on the road and indicated when she was turning. “I looked back ... just to check that he (the cyclist) hadn’t caught up, I was pretty sure she hadn’t but I wanted to double-check and then I consciously indicated because again I wanted it to be very clear to the cyclist that I was going to be turning,” Monique told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/shocking-footage-of-a-cyclist-abusing-a-motorist-renews-calls-for-bike-registrations--c-7561212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. As she continued driving, she heard a loud yell, prompting her to stop her car. “I just had this feeling that not everything was OK,” she said. Monique saw the infuriated cyclist approach her car, which is when she decided to pull her phone out and record the ordeal. The video shows the man repeatedly open her car door and try to hit her, while unleashing a tirade of profanity and abuse. “Are you f***ing blind,” he can be heard saying. In response, Monique can be heard asking the cyclist to stop hitting her. “I’m calling the police, you can’t hit me,” she says. “I was indicating, and I turned ... it was perfectly safe.” After the ordeal, Monique said she was left “shaking”. “I couldn’t drive. It wouldn’t have been safe to drive.” The video has since been turned over to police as they try to identify the man to press charges. Lawyer Sam Macedone told 7News the video showed there was “intimidation without any doubt” but said it will be hard for police to actually do anything about it. “There’s really nothing you can do because there’s no registration plate, there’s no identification, there’s nothing,” he said. Monique believes the incident should be a catalyst for debate on cyclists needing to be registered to ride on the road. A spokesperson from the Australian Cycle Alliance condemned the man's actions, but said registration is not the answer. They said bike registration is an "expensive exercise" which remains deeply unpopular within the cycling community. “It would cost just as much to register a bike as it does to register a car in order to make it financially viable,” the spokesperson said. “Do we start at four-year-olds on their balance bikes ... how do you manage when you have multiple bikes? <div> “The cost of the system would far outweigh the benefit of the system.” Monique on the other hand said she believes cyclists should be registered if both cars and bikes are going to be sharing the roads. “We need to share accountability for our actions,” she said. Image credits: 7News </div>

Legal

Motorists "gobsmacked" by confusing fines that are about to DOUBLE

Transport officials in Queensland have warned residents to be on high alert as the installation of new high tech cameras has seen tens of thousands of fines issued in just a few months. The infrared cameras, which detect both mobile phone and seatbelt offences, were launched in Queensland in July last year. For their first three months of use, the cameras generated warnings to motorists doing the wrong thing. Since November, the cameras have been issuing fines, catching more than 75,000 people in just six months. Annabelle Brett was shocked when she received a fine in the mail, thinking she had been caught for speeding. "But when I saw that it was a seatbelt fine I was pretty gobsmacked," Brett told A Current Affair. Annabelle claims she always wears her seatbelt and was confused by the $400 fine. "If you are driving over 60 kilometres an hour, in my car and most modern cars nowadays anyway, it (the seatbelt alarm) goes mental. Like it's beeping the whole time," she said. After posting about her fine online, the Queensland resident was inundated with messages from other drivers who had received similar fines. One of those people was Antony Tseng, who was also caught on the new seatbelt cameras. "I thought initially, that's impossible, because I always wear my seatbelt. I drive a Tesla which is quite savvy in terms of technology; it would have obviously let me know," Tseng said. Andrew Mahon from Transport and Main Roads Queensland said the cameras rarely get it wrong. "The technology is exceptional, the image quality is very high quality and we can always determine whether or not an offence has occurred," Mahon said. Of the 75,000 fines handed out in the past six months, 20,000 have been for seatbelt offences. Currently the fine for not wearing a seatbelt, or not wearing it correctly is $413, but it will go up to $1078 from July 1st. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Motorists shocked by sneaky snake surprise

A carpet python startled motorists just trying to fuel their cars after it emerged from a bin at a petrol pump in a service station. A customer shared the photo to Reddit of the carpet python sneaking out of the bin after filling up at the bowser. It's currently unknown where in Australia the photo was taken, but it has since gone viral. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839118/petrol.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1cca21d5432845f6a18836761613fbb7" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> Carpet pythons live almost everywhere in Australia except for Tasmania and sightings have become more frequent as the weather heats up. The pythons aren't venomous but can still cause damage if you're bitten by one, including deep puncture wounds. </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

“Stupid” driver slammed after high speed takeover ends in brutal crash

A 4WD driver towing a large boat who lost control of his vehicle while attempting to overtake a car at dangerously high speed has been criticised by commenters online. Footage shows the 4WD speeding past two cars on a single lane highway at Braidwood in NSW, attempting to overtake them both, before the vehicle and the boat attached to it begin to dangerously spiral. It didn’t take long for the car to lose its bearings, as it rolled onto the road and came to a stop. The crash, which took place on Braidwood Road, was captured on dashcam and shared by popular group Dash Cam Owners Australia on YouTube yesterday. The controversial video was watched by thousands of people, most of them surprised at the motorist's reckless behaviour. One commenter said the driver was “crazy level stupid” while others said it was just “lucky he didn’t take another’s life, or his own”. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDashCamOwnersAustralia%2Fvideos%2F1004976733228474%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> “Laid waste to everything he owns showin’ off to his mate,” one user commented. "We have all done stupid things while driving at some point in our lives, but it's the level of stupid that is the topic of discussion here," one YouTube user commented. "Why would you overtake two cars at high speed with a boat on a trailer behind you? He should have just kicked back, turned the music up and enjoyed the scenery. "Would have gotten to his destination quickly enough and his car and boat would have been in one piece each, not scattered across the road in thousands of pieces." "Well at least he got in front, that should save him some time," one commenter said sarcastically. The video revealed that the driver was lucky enough to escape without a scratch.

Travel Trouble

Drivers bamboozled over three-way speed limit

A confusing Sydney road featuring three different signs enforcing the speed limit has baffled drivers. A reddit user posted an image of the road with multiple signs with the caption “Let’s play a game.” One sign told drivers to a red light speed camera, saying the speed limit is 50km/h. On the ground, leaning up against that sign post is another sign which says 40km/h due to road work. However, to add to the confusing sage, on the road, the big “60” indicates the speed limit is 60km/h. The road is O’Riordan Street approaching Gardeners Road in Alexandria, in Sydney’s inner city. “Legally, the speed limit is enforced if the numbers are surrounded by a red ring. So the numbers on the road virtually mean nothing, in the eyes of the road laws,” one user wrote. “It's 40. Road work signs supersede the posted limit,” another added. “I work for the traffic control company that is in that area, if it is Alexandria. They're meant to cover other signs if they put out a 40 sign, so someone was lazy,” one Reddit user wrote. The photo was then taken to Facebook page Dash Cam Owners Australia which managed to cause a stir. “The police have answered this question before when it's asked, they say the lowest speed limit is the one that applies,” one informative person replied. A few Facebook users joked all the speeds together should be added together so 40, 50 and 60, which would equal 150km/h. O’Riordan Street’s speed limit was reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h on October 13, 2019. The Road and Maritime Service website reads “Where a road work speed limit sign is displayed, the speed limit is enforceable and must be obeyed. “When approaching roadworks pay attention to all signs and obey reduced speed signs.”

Legal

"He made it up": Police hit back at motorist fined for drinking water while driving

Police have confirmed a motorist who claimed he was fined for drinking water made up the fine. However, QLD police have warned drivers they could still be prosecuted for taking a sip of any liquid -whether water or not - if they are caught being reckless behind the wheel. Brock Harris, from Beaudesert, west of Gold Coast, said he was pulled over as he was turning into his driveway after working 12 hours in 39C heat. Mr Harris told radio listeners on ABC Radio Brisbane he was handed a $173 fine as well as one demerit point for driving with due care and attention. “As I was pulling into my street I was pulled over by the police and told it was illegal to drink anything while driving,” he told ABC’s Rebecca Levingston at the time. “If it is against the law then I’ll pay the fine, but it’s not compassionate to fine someone on a 39-degree day (for trying to) stay hydrated. “The policeman told me there was nothing I could do and he was doing his job — but I am going to challenge the fine.” While QLD Police have confirmed the fine was not issued to Mr Harris, the state’s Police Superintendent David Johnson told the ABC motorists must still be cautious behind the wheel. “There are many people who consume drinks while driving and do it safely in a safe manner,” he said. “For us to issue a fine we have to look at the circumstances to see if the driver's actions are causing risks to themselves or others. “Driving without due care and attention was once put before court, but these days it’s a traffic infringement notice that is issued. Driving without due care and attention carries a $533 fine and three demerit points, according to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

News

The gobsmacking reason one motorist was fined $173 – and it could have been much worse

A Queensland motorist says he was given a $173 fine and one demerit point for a seemingly innocent reason - taking a sip of water behind the wheel. Brock Harris, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-10/man-fined-for-drinking-water-at-the-wheel/11589030?sf221211951=1" target="_blank">ABC Radio Brisbane </a>he was driving home to Beaudesert about 70km from Brisbane after a long 12-hour work day, when he was pulled over by police. He told the radio station he’d taken a sip from his 600ml plastic bottle of water as he was turning onto his street, when an officer directed his lights at him. “As I was pulling into my street I was pulled over by the police and told it was illegal to drink anything while driving,” he told ABC’s Rebecca Levingston. The police officer reportedly told Mr Harris that he was being issued a $173 fine and one demerit point as a result of him “not paying due care and attention”. “If it is against the law then I’ll pay the fine, but it’s not compassionate to fine someone on a 39-degree day (for trying to) stay hydrated,” he said. “The policeman told me there was nothing I could do and he was doing his job — but I am going to challenge the fine.” A Queensland Police spokesperson told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/on-the-road/driver-says-he-was-fined-173-and-a-demerit-point-for-drinking-water/news-story/08fc919677de7e426f047fe003f82806" target="_blank">news.com.au </a>that fines are usually issued under such circumstances if the action causes the driver to not be in control of their vehicle. Queensland Police Superintendent David Johnson’ also reaffirmed the same sentiment, saying there are many drivers who consume drinks safely on the road. “For us to issue a fine we have to look at the circumstances to see if the driver’s actions are causing risks to themselves or others,” he said. “Driving without due care and attention was once put before court, but these days it’s a traffic infringement notice that is issued.” The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website says driving without due care and attention carries a hefty $533 fine and three demerit points. A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson noted that the on-the-spot fine for a driver not having proper control of a vehicle is $311. “We all have a role to play in road safety,” they said. “Distracted drivers are a danger not only to themselves and their passengers, but to other road users as well. It only takes a split second to lose your concentration.”

Travel Trouble

Motorist's mistake that cost her $311

A police officer was faced with a shocking sight after a woman drove past him with two dogs roaming in her car, with one hanging out the window and the other sitting freely in her lap. Queensland Police have shared shocking footage of a 35-year-old Gold Coast woman driving down a motorway, with one of the dogs “walking around the car and dash at will”. “This driver has learnt that the car is no place for lapdogs,” they shared on Twitter. “Police would like to remind all motorists that driving with unrestrained people and animals can result in a fine. Keep you and your pets safe.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This driver has learnt that the car is no place for lap dogs. Police would like to remind all motorists that driving with unrestrained people and animals can result in a fine. Keep you and your pets safe. 🐾🚘 More information here: <a href="https://t.co/HN1drfBCME">https://t.co/HN1drfBCME</a> <a href="https://t.co/1ZTFinRZ63">pic.twitter.com/1ZTFinRZ63</a> — Queensland Police (@QldPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/QldPolice/status/1175994848827936768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2019</a></blockquote> The footage recorded the officer saying “That’s absolutely ridiculous. Look at this. Two dogs on her lap”. He then pulls the woman over and she knows exactly why. “You know why I’m talking to you today, don’t you?” he asks. “Because of my dogs,” she replies. “You can’t have two dogs on your lap,” he responds. “It’s a bit distracting. One of them was out the window, the other one was bouncing around the dash.” The officer gave the woman a fine of $311 for driving with a person or animal in her lap. “While they are distracting, it’s also important for all to put the safety of all road users and passengers first when getting behind the wheel,” police said. The RSPCA says more than 5000 animals are killed in crashes in Australia each year.

Domestic Travel

“Highway robbery”: This Aussie city charges motorists $31.41 an hour for off-street parking

In a move that’s been described as “highway robbery”, Brisbane CBD is charging motorists the highest short-term off-street parking rates in Australia at an average of $31.41 an hour and $18.30 for just 30 minutes. Queensland’s motoring group RACQ’s latest CBD Parking Prices Report revealed that the most expensive 30 minute and one-hour parking in Brisbane was at the Treasury Hotel, where motorists pay a massive $50. Care Park on Tank Street has the most expensive all-day parking at $97. In surprising news, Brisbane also has the cheapest on-street parking at just $5 an hour compared with Melbourne and Sydney at $7 an and $7.40 an hour. RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said that Brisbane drivers pay the highest rates and that it punishes businesses in the CBD. “It’s highway robbery for motorists and what we end up seeing is CBD shops and restaurants punished because people can’t justify the cost of a visit,” Ms Smith said in a statement to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/highway-robbery-brisbane-cbd-named-australias-most-expensive-offstreet-parking-at-3141-an-hour/news-story/57eb61949c95a0d3725098e76425b3b8" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “Drivers will also be appalled to learn parking all day in Brisbane, at $76.77, is only on average $1 cheaper than in Sydney. The price jumped more than $4 in the past year. If we don’t see better parking rates in the city, more and more drivers will favour suburban shopping centres where parking is either free or much cheaper.” Smith said that it was encouraging to see the number of parking stations charging the maximum fee of $89 a day has dropped from seven to four in the last year. “Drivers still need to employ frugal tactics in order to avoid being stung at the exit station, including booking ahead online and taking advantage of early bird rates,” she said. The most expensive off-street places to park all-day in Brisbane <ol> <li>40 Tank Street – Care Park at $97</li> <li>Eagle Street Pier – Wilson at $89</li> <li>Waterfront Place 1 Eagle – Wilson at $89</li> <li>Central Plaza 2 – Wilson at $89</li> <li>363 Adelaide Street – Wilson at $89 </li> </ol>

News

Who should give way? Motorist vs cyclist quiz sparks furious debate

A road rules quiz that was meant to spark discussion on who should give way has instead left drivers frustrated and led to a furious debate. The RACQ posted to Facebook on Thursday a graphic depicting a yellow car travelling in a left lane and a cyclist not too far behind. The car wants to turn left while the cyclist wants to keep going straight. “The cyclist is catching up to the yellow vehicle in slow traffic, who gives way, the driver or cyclist?” the RACQ wrote. While the answer was the cyclist needs to give way to the car, many took to the comments to complain about bike riders. “A cyclist must not ride past or overtake to the left of a vehicle that is indicating and turning left,” the RACQ wrote. “If the vehicle was behind the cyclist near the intersection, the driver should slow down and turn behind the bicycle rider.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fracqofficial%2Fphotos%2Fa.185021091535422%2F2334039766633533%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="696" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> One user commented beneath the post to write: “I won't give way to a cyclist ever I don't care what the rules are I pay rego and insurance they don’t.” Another added: “Nanny law protects cyclists." “They can ride wherever they like and expect motorists to get out of their way.” “most cyclist would think they have the right of way anyway, and just power through and sue the driver for not giving way,” another person wrote. However, cyclists did not take the lashings lying down. “Nice to know as a cyclist I can stop paying income tax and council rates then,” one man wrote. Another comment read: “I pay rego, and I ride a bike, which incidentally, doesn't cause wear and tear on the road like your car does.”

Legal

Controversial new road rule leaves motorists outraged

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has sent users into a state of confusion as they try to figure out whether they know the road rules or not. It started out with a simple question posted on Facebook and a graphic with three cars parked at a T intersection. The Department of Transport post asked: “You know your road rules and now’s your chance to prove it. “The red, blue and orange cars are parked along the side of the continuing road at this T-intersection. Are all three cars legally parked?” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTMRQld%2Fphotos%2Fa.295748123801411%2F2381855518523984%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="639" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> However, the question left fellow road users baffled. “Well I always thought it was illegal to park opposite an intersection so I would say all three were parked illegally,” one person wrote. “Yes, no signage or line marking to say otherwise,” another countered. One Facebook commenter was quick to say that the blue car will have a bit of trouble getting out. “They could have given the blue car more room to get out,” they said. The Department of Transport finally answered the question and revealed the correct answer. “Yes, all cars are legally parked. A driver is allowed to stop along the continuous side of the continuing road at a T-intersection, provided they comply with any other parking restrictions,” the department wrote. They also explained that while you can be fined for parking within 10 metres of an intersection, the rule is different if it is along the continuous side of the continuing road. But people were not happy with the answer. “The law is poorly designed, does not improve road safety … in fact it compromises road safety,” one person replied. There are similar rules in place across almost all Australian states. In NSW, ACT and Western Australia, drivers are allowed to park along the continuous side of the road at a T-intersection without traffic lights. In Victoria and South Australia, parking on the side of the road across from a T-intersection is also allowed. Tasmania is where it’s different. Motorists are still allowed to park along a T-intersection, but they must leave a three-metre clearance beside their vehicle to allow room for traffic.

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Who was in the wrong? Cyclist slams driver for causing car crash

A driver has been slammed by cyclists for “brake checking” and causing a group of bike riders to collide into each other. The video, from Victoria shows a Toyota Landcruiser ute driving behind six cyclists travelling down a two-lane road. After overtaking the riders, the motorist appears to stop suddenly and turn into a driveway, causing two cyclists to crash and fall from their bikes. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" width="698" height="573" scrolling="no" id="molvideoplayer" title="MailOnline Embed Player" src="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/embed/video/1933750.html"></iframe> While one cyclist shouted to warn the others, it didn’t make a difference as they still collided with one another and crashed to the ground. The riders were riding in pairs. Some Facebook users took to the comments to shame the driver, one writing: “Dangerous driving by the d*** in the ute.” “Driver was being malicious! That's what the actions suggest,” another added. One user wrote the 4WD driver could have been less impatient and “waited five seconds to turn behind the riders instead of overtaking braking and then turning.” However, while there was a flurry of support for the cyclists, others took aim at the riders. “Funny how the first two folks on bikes don't come undone but the second pair do? Yes, the driver was impatient, but no-one contacted the vehicle,” one user wrote. Another added: “Perhaps single file cycling could have been a way of avoiding the impatient car driver. You cyclists bring this type of driving on yourselves.”

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