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Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-l-zagorsky-152952">Jay L. Zagorsky</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/boston-university-898">Boston University</a> Five out of the six <a href="https://www.oag.com/blog/biggest-airlines-in-the-us">biggest U.S. airlines</a> have <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/05/delta-is-the-latest-airline-to-raise-its-checked-bag-fee.html">raised their checked bag fees</a> since January 2024. Take American Airlines. In 2023, it cost US$30 to check a standard bag in with the airline; <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/02/20/american-airlines-bag-fees-mileage-earning/72669245007/">today, as of March 2024, it costs $40</a> at a U.S. airport – a whopping 33% increase. As a <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/">business school</a> <a href="https://www.bu.edu/questrom/profile/jay-zagorsky/">professor who studies travel</a>, I’m often asked why airlines alienate their customers with baggage fees instead of bundling all charges together. <a href="https://www.vox.com/2015/4/16/8431465/airlines-carry-on-bags">There are</a> <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2023/06/21/bag-fees-will-stay-a-while-cruising-altitude/70338849007/">many reasons</a>, but an important, often overlooked cause is buried in the U.S. tax code. <h2>A tax-law loophole</h2> Airlines pay the federal government <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D">7.5% of the ticket price</a> when <a href="https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/tax/library/aircraft-club-nov-2023-air-transport-excise-tax-rates-for-2024.html">flying people domestically, alongside other fees</a>. The airlines dislike these charges, with their <a href="https://www.airlines.org/dataset/government-imposed-taxes-on-air-transportation/">trade association arguing</a> that they boost the cost to the consumer of a typical air ticket by around one-fifth. However, the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D/section-49.4261-8">specifically excludes baggage</a> from the 7.5% transportation tax as long as “the charge is separable from the payment for the transportation of a person and is shown in the exact amount.” This means if an airline charges a combined $300 to fly you and a bag round-trip within the U.S., it owes $22.50 in tax. If the airline charges $220 to fly you plus separately charges $40 each way for the bag, then your total cost is the same — but the airline only owes the government $16.50 in taxes. Splitting out baggage charges saves the airline $6. Now $6 might not seem like much, but it can add up. Last year, passengers took <a href="https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Data_Elements.aspx?Data=1">more than 800 million trips on major airlines</a>. Even if only a fraction of them check their bags, that means large savings for the industry. How large? The government has <a href="https://www.bts.dot.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/baggage-fees-airline-2023">tracked revenue from bag fees</a> for decades. In 2002, airlines charged passengers a total of $180 million to check bags, which worked out to around 33 cents per passenger. Today, as any flyer can attest, bag fees are a lot higher. Airlines collected over 40 times more money in bag fees last year than they did in 2002. When the full data is in for 2023, <a href="https://www.bts.dot.gov/baggage-fees">total bag fees</a> will likely top $7 billion, which is about $9 for the average domestic passenger. <a href="https://viewfromthewing.com/the-real-reason-airlines-charge-checked-bag-fees-and-its-not-what-you-think">By splitting out the cost of bags</a>, airlines avoided paying about half a billion dollars in taxes just last year. In the two decades since 2002, flyers paid a total of about $70 billion in bag fees. This means separately charging for bags saved airlines about $5 billion in taxes. <iframe id="88MYD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/88MYD/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> It seems clear to me that tax savings are one driver of the unbundling of baggage fees because of a quirk in the law. The U.S. government doesn’t apply the 7.5% tax to <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-49/subpart-D/section-49.4261-3">international flights that go more than 225 miles</a> beyond the nation’s borders. Instead, there are fixed <a href="https://www.airlines.org/dataset/government-imposed-taxes-on-air-transportation">international departure and arrival taxes</a>. This is why major airlines charge $35 to $40 <a href="https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/baggage/checked-baggage-policy.jsp">for bags if you’re flying domestically</a>, but don’t charge a bag fee when you’re flying to Europe or Asia. <h2>Do travelers get anything for that money?</h2> This system raises an interesting question: Do baggage fees force airlines to be more careful with bags, since customers who pay more expect better service? To find out, I checked with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which has been <a href="https://www.bts.gov/content/mishandled-baggage-reports-filed-passengers-largest-us-air-carriersa">tracking lost luggage for decades</a>. For many years, it calculated the number of mishandled-baggage reports per thousand airline passengers. The government’s data showed mishandled bags peaked in 2007 with about seven reports of lost or damaged luggage for every thousand passengers. That means you could expect your luggage to go on a different trip than the one you are taking about once every 140 or so flights. By 2018, that estimate had fallen to once every 350 flights. In 2019, the government <a href="https://www.bts.gov/topics/airlines-and-airports/number-30a-technical-directive-mishandled-baggage-amended-effective-jan">changed how it tracks</a> mishandled bags, calculating figures based on the total number of bags checked, rather than the total number of passengers. The new data show about six bags per thousand checked get lost or damaged, which is less than 1% of checked bags. Unfortunately, the data doesn’t show improvement since 2019. Is there anything that you can do about higher bag fees? Complaining to politicians probably won’t help. In 2010, two senators <a href="https://www.nj.com/business/2010/04/us_senators_present_bill_to_ba.html">tried to ban bag fees</a>, and their bill went nowhere. Given that congressional action failed, there’s a simple way to avoid higher bag fees: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/packing-expert-travel-world-handbag/index.html">travel light</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/08/opinion/carry-on-packing-airlines-lost-luggage.html">don’t check any luggage</a>. It may sound tough not to have all your belongings when traveling, but it might be the best option as bag fees take off.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225857/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jay-l-zagorsky-152952">Jay L. Zagorsky</a>, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/boston-university-898">Boston University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-airlines-charge-so-much-for-checked-bags-this-obscure-rule-helps-explain-why-225857">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

Drivers left scratching their head by obscure road rule question

A road rules question about horses has left people scratching their heads with some questioning why it’s not more widely known. Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads took to Facebook to ask a question on Monday. The department shared a photo of a red car travelling behind a person on horseback. The red car is planning to pass them. “This rider is signalling that their horse has become agitated—by raising a hand and pointing to the horse,” the department wrote. “What must the driver of the red car do?” One person thought offering a carrot to the horse would help calm it down. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTMRQld%2Fphotos%2Fa.295748123801411%2F3504857962890395%2F&show_text=true&width=552&height=634&appId" width="552" height="634" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> “Take a wide berth and pass very slowly when safe,” one woman wrote. But it was revealed the correct answer is if a rider “signals that their horse is jumpy or agitated” the driver must stop at the side of the road and turn off their engine. The driver is not allowed to move the vehicle until the noise of the motor, or the movement of the vehicle, won’t aggravate the horse. Some people answered correctly, but one man complained the rule is “out of date”. “What year was that law introduced?” he wrote. “Probably time to update with changes in society, technology changes and road user increases.” Others suggested it needed to be more well-known by road users. “How would I know?” one man wrote. “I don’t own a horse and it definitely wasn’t in the driving tests when I did my licence.” A number of horse riders added people don’t adhere to the rule either. “I stopped riding horses on the roads many years ago. It’s too dangerous,” one woman wrote. Another woman added the rule needs to be “publicised more”.

Legal

Woman shocked over $114 fine for obscure road rule

A Sydney woman was shocked to learn she had been breaking the law after being pulled over police, who let her know about this relatively unknown road rule. The driver took to Facebook to explain that she was nearly hit with a $114 fine after police noticed she didn’t have any windscreen wiper fluid. Luckily, the woman got off with a minor defect notice and instantly rushed to a mechanic to get the washer refilled so she didn’t have to pay the penalty. NSW Police confirmed to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7845335/Sydney-woman-shocked-copping-114-fine-breaching-little-known-road-rule.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a> that the penalty for having no water in your wipers will result in a $114 fine with no loss of demerit points. The rule comes under the Road Transport Act as a wiper must be able to remove anything that could obstruct the driver’s view. It states that: 'At least one windscreen wiper fitted to the motor vehicle must— be able to remove moisture from the part of the windscreen in front of the driver to allow the driver an adequate view of the road ahead of the motor vehicle when the windscreen is wet.' Another woman was fined after police caught her flashing her lights at other cars to alert them that authorities were in the area. The penalty was a loss of one demerit point and a $110 fine.

Travel Trouble

4 “obscure” ways to save money according to an Aussie finance guru

A 26-year-old entrepreneur by the name of Dominic Aarsen has been using some simple money hacks for years now and they’ve reportedly saved him $50,000. Some of these steps are “easy” and he claims they will save the average Australian $15,000 a year. 1. Literally cut up your credit cards Aarsen says this is the step that surprises most people, but it’s the most effective. “Open your wallet and cut up every card except your key card. Every person I speak to sounds outraged (by the hack), but if people don’t have access to credit, they won't use it,” he said to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/expert-reveals-11-obscure-ways-to-save-extra-cash-on-the-side/news-story/64fee5cef680f2de851ff959293c13c6">news.com.au</a>. “If you’re not good with money, I guarantee switching from card to cash will save you a thousand dollars in the first two months.” 2. The “two-minute trick” “It doesn’t matter what you buy — whether it’s food or if you’re shopping for clothes — hold it in your hand, set the timer on your phone and wait for two minutes, and you’ll find that more than half the time you don’t actually buy it,” he said. “It’s a psychological trick that retrains your brain. Most of the time they’re not big purchases — usually under $10 — but lots of $10 adds up quickly.” 3. The “Coke bottle hack” This hack involves putting every spare $2 coin you find into a 600ml drink bottle which will add up to $1,000 when full. Aarsen said that collectively, Australians throw away or lose more than $350 million a year, with coins falling down the couch or accidentally thrown in the bin. 4. “Locking” your bank account over the weekend Aarsen believes that you should “lock” your bank account during times you might be tempted to overspend, such as on weekends. “Most people don’t know you can call your bank and lock your account, which means you can log into your app but you can’t transfer your money,” he explained. “All it takes is 30 seconds and it’s not like the money disappears, you just can’t get to it.” However, Aarsen is aware that his tactics are easy but extreme. “If I asked you if you wanted to save $15,000 you would say yes, absolutely, but if I said, ‘Here’s one thing that will save you $500’, you might be less inclined to do it,” he said. “But $500 here and there will actually make a massive difference, but unless it’s right in front of your face, a lot of people won’t do it.”

Money & Banking

Don’t get stung by this obscure $263 road rule

Next time you are set to embark on a road trip with the family, you might want to think twice before jam-packing your car with everyone’s belongings. According to Transport for NSW, it’s an offence to overload a vehicle and exceed the maximum weight limit set by the manufacturer. A spokesman for Transport for NSW told <a href="http://www.news.com.au">news.com.au</a> that the little-known rule was in place to prevent wear-and-tear on the roads as well as for safety reasons. “Overloading a vehicle, by exceeding the maximum weight set by the manufacturer, increases risk by affecting the vehicle’s stability and ability to brake safely,” the spokeswoman said. “It also significantly increases wear on the road pavement, which can cause potholes, cracking or damage to bridges or road culverts.” She explained that the Road Transport (General) Regulation introduced the rule for “light vehicles” such as cars, which means that “a person must not drive a vehicle if it is loaded in a manner that prevents the driver from viewing traffic or if the weight or dimensions of the load prevents the driver from safely driving or controlling the vehicle.” The penalty for breaking the rule is a $263 fine. If motorists also drive a vehicle with a load that makes the car unstable, they could face a $448 fine and lose three demerit points. The spokeswoman said the loading requirements for heavy vehicles were governed by the National Heavy Vehicle Law. NRMA spokeswoman Rebecca Page urged drivers to be mindful of the rule when loading up their cars. “Common sense plays a big role in how to most safely pack your car. At the NRMA we encourage members to make sure they’re not placing anything in the vehicle that can obscure their view: fluffy dice, oversized luggage or even an incorrectly placed GPS could all potentially create new blind spots,” she said. “When packing a vehicle make sure everything is secured — flying objects can be very dangerous if you need to break suddenly, and that includes pets. “There are various safety measures motorists can consider if they know they’re going to be packing a lot into the car. We encourage members to use cargo barriers where suitable and always make sure you don’t overpack a vehicle because it can affect the handling of the vehicle as well as create distractions for the driver.” To find out your car’s weight limits, look within the Owner’s Manual or contact your local dealership. Did you know about this road rule? Let us know in the comments below.

Legal

This obscure road rule could cost you $758

A Victorian woman learned a stiff lesson when she was slapped with a $758 fine for crossing the railway. Although the boom gate was up, and the bells had stopped ringing, the lights were still flashing at the time – which means it is illegal to cross the train tracks. Australian Rail Track Corporation data shows that every year there are on average 166 collisions between trains and people or vehicles, including 35 fatalities, in Australia. Sam Kurikawa said she was shocked by the high fine and didn’t know she’d committed an illegal act until she was fined. “It was completely news to me, as I explained to the police officer,” Ms Kurikawa said. “Of course I knew I had to yield at a boom gate but I assumed once it was up and the bells had stopped I was good to go.” She said she was “very stressed” by the high fine and was even more surprised to learn that her vehicle could be impounded. ”I’m on a low income and was going to a one-off job more than one-and-a-half hour return journey away. The fine was about six times the value of that work,” Ms Kurikawa said. “What was worse, they informed me that my vehicle could be impounded, which would cause serious difficulties for me. “I was quite fearful and extremely regretful that my ignorance and a small mistake could have quite serious consequences.” Thankfully Ms Kurikawa’s fine was later reduced. But if you are caught entering a level crossing while signals are still flashing and the train is visible, you can expect a big fine in most states. <ul> <li>NSW – $448 fine and three demerit point</li> <li>ACT – $432 fine and three demerit points</li> <li>VIC – $500 fine and three demerit points</li> <li>NT – $500 fine and three demerit points</li> <li>QLD – $391 fine and three demerit points</li> <li>SA – $454 fine and three demerit points</li> </ul>

Legal

The obscure road rule that could cost you $108

New South Wales police have been opening cars and checking for valuables as part of a crackdown on an obscure road rule. Drivers in NSW can be fined $108 for leaving their car unlocked, reports <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-06/police-crackdown-on-unlocked-cars-raises-civil-liberties-issues/9944598">ABC News.</a> The road rule is rarely enforced, but police in Wollongong have been checking cars in suburban streets and reminding residents of the rule. "We have been seeing how many cars are unlocked and then seeing what valuables are inside," Detective Inspector Brad Ainsworth said. "Unfortunately it was pretty disappointing. We found 30 vehicles over a couple of nights unlocked and with property in them." Police have not be finding car owners but have been placing warning notes on car windscreens. However, the patrol has angered NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Stephen Blanks. "I'm really concerned about police opening cars and having a look in and going through the contents," he said. "Police should not be doing that kind of thing without a warrant, and the mere fact a car is unlocked is not a cause for suspicion there's something illegal in it. "If they do that kind of activity they will lose community support and they already require strong community support to do their job well. "This kind of activity is just the wrong thing to do." Detective Inspector Ainsworth defended the decision saying police have a duty to prevent crime. "There have been lots of steal from motor vehicle offences in the [Illawarra's] northern suburbs and by going out and having a look, we're more than justified in doing that and unfortunately it's proven right. "Cars are in their driveway and on streets and people leave their wallet in there, credit cards get stolen and used with PayWave and the police are chasing up those things, CCTV [footage], and it creates a lot of work." Detective Inspector Ainsworth added that finding people was a last resort. "It would be a crook day when we have to do that, but that's one of the options up our sleeve," he said. "We've done community engagement in the northern suburbs and residents say they don't have to lock anything, but times have changed and offences like breaking into cars is happening. "We have to safeguard against it and the owners of the property have to safeguard against it too."

Legal

Do you know this obscure parking rule catching out drivers?

There’s a little-known parking rule that's catching out a lot of Australia drivers and you’ve probably broken it before without even realising it. The rule was recently brought up on social media when a Melbourne man parked on a side street in Chadstone. There were other cars parked on the street, no signs indicating he could not park there and he had parked there in the past before without issue. But this week the man got slapped with a $159 fine for violating a parking rule he had never heard of before. The traffic rule? Across the country, you cannot park or stop your vehicle within 10m of an intersection. It is 20m if there are traffic lights on the intersecting road. <img width="416" height="312" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/76926ed310490e13e314111fd49fa84f?width=650" alt="Drivers can’t park within 10m of an intersection unless there is a sign stating otherwise. Picture: Road Users’ Handbook/Supplied" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The man’s partner took to the Public Discussions Above the Law Facebook group to question the rule and ask if there was any way they could contest the fine. “My partner received a fine today for $159 for apparently parking less than 10 metres from an intersection around Chadstone (he works around there),” the woman wrote. “It’s a t-section of some sort … in a side street there wasn’t any signs, and the street was full of cars? Can we fight this fine?” Unfortunately, in all states and territories in Australia have rules preventing parking within 10m or 20m from an intersection, “unless a sign allows you to park there”. If you are caught breaking the rule: <ul> <li>New South Wales – $330 fine and two demerit points</li> <li>Australia Capital Territory – $114</li> <li>Tasmania – $119</li> <li>Western Australia – $150</li> <li>Queensland – $126</li> <li>Northern Territory – $154</li> <li>South Australia – $115 for the 10m rule and $153 for 20m rule</li> </ul>

Legal

“Not fair”: Is this Australia’s most obscure new road rule?

Aussies are being warned to research the road rules in each state before travelling or risk being hit by a big fine. Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia chief executive Robert Barwick took to the group’s Facebook page to alert members after people had contacted him after being stung by an obscure new road rule. The new rule involves having to slow down to 25km/h when passing emergency vehicles in South Australia. <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/2018/04/the-new-road-rule-you-need-to-be-aware-of/">New South Wales recently introduced</a> a trial of this rule but drivers are required to slow down to 40km/h. Victoria implemented the law last year with motorists having to slow to 40km/h. <img width="472" height="354" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/fad7e4e386409b2b60ce5c45e291deae" alt="The new road rule varies across states — it’s 40km/h in Victoria. Picture: RACV" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Mr Barwick shared a story of an unaware member who was caught out and says she was fined $1007 and disqualified from driving for six months. He wrote: “This week is a long message, but it is important that I share a member’s story with you all. This story will hopefully expand your knowledge of road rules while driving in different states around the country. “A member, on their way to Adelaide, drove past two police cars parked well off the side of the road (approximately 12 metres) with their lights flashing. They appeared to be talking to a motorist. “The member states that she was driving approximately 85km/h at the time (the speed limit was 110km/h). She continued driving and not long after she saw lights of a police car flashing behind her, requesting her to pull over — which she did. “She comes from northern NSW and was intending to visit friends in Adelaide and now needs to find a place to store her campervan and organise travel back home. “It is crucial to have a thorough understanding of road rules and how they differ from state to state. Both VIC and QLD require motorists to slow down to 40km/h when driving near emergency vehicles with flashing lights. The purpose of this message is to explain the importance of understanding that road rules vary from state to state. “I urge you all to do your research, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Many members in the group were shocked to hear of the rule, with many calling for a nationalisation of road rules to avoid such incidents. One member wrote: “Different rules in different states. You would think that in this day and age we as a country could get it together. Pathetic.” Another member agreed, saying: “We need, and must have, national road rules covering things like this, drivers’ licences, vehicle registrations, and so on. Come on ... we are all Australians and situations like this are just crazy.” Another posted: “Seems to me it’s 40km/h in most states so why 25km/h in SA? A bit unfair really, so perhaps the lady should have only had a fine ... it doesn’t seem fair.” Many others also pointed out the dangers of slowing down too suddenly while on a highway. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCampervanandMotorhomeClubOfAustralia%2Fposts%2F1602995249769220&width=500" width="500" height="472" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> Mr Barwick told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/is-this-australias-most-obscure-road-rule/news-story/a3db560a324e1cb737b3ba6dd3df8136">news.com.au</a> that while he wasn’t contesting the rule, it was confusing to have laws that vary across states. “I do think it is a good rule but motorists need to know about it. What I cannot understand how it varies in different states,” he said. “Generally it’s 40km/h but in South Australia (it’s less).” He reinforced that it’s a broader issue that this one rule. “National registration and national licensing should be brought in,” he said. “If your vehicle is registered in one state and needs an inspection you need to go back to that state to have it done, prior to registration. “For example if you are holidaying in Western Australia in your RV and you are from Queensland, you need to undertake the inspection in that state. A national system would ensure it would be easier. However I don’t believe the states will agree because they will lose out on the revenue stream attached to registration and licensing.”

Legal

Hundreds of Aussies copping fines for road rules they didn't know existed

New statistics have shown that hundreds of Aussie motorists are receiving fines for obscure road rules that many have never even heard of. Some of these lesser known road rules include hanging an arm or leg outside of a vehicle window or sitting your pet on your lap. The RACQ data shows that in a 12-month period, 400 motorists, in Queensland alone, received fines up to $126 for having a part of a person’s body outside a window or door. A further 52 drivers also received fines for improperly honking their horn. Another 170 were set back up to $294 for having an animal on their lap while in a car. And in the same 12-month period, 113 pedestrians in Queensland were fined for obstructing a vehicle. Cyclists have also been caught out by lesser-known road rules, with 66 riders being issued an infringement notice for riding without a bell. “Obviously, there are many motorists copping fines for breaking rules they may not be aware of,” said RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie. “These road rules may seem insignificant to some but they’re in place to keep all road users safe.” NSW’s Centre for Road Safety told news.com.au that there are a number of obscure rules that drivers need to be aware of. In NSW, a motorist must take due care to not splash any pedestrian walking or waiting at a bus stop. NSW drivers must also not stop within one metre of a fire hydrant, fire hydrant indicator or a fire plug indicator. Drivers also must not interfere with or interrupt the free passage of a funeral or authorised procession. In NSW, children aged 4-7 are not allowed to travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows. This rule has an exception for children in an approved booster seat if all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years. In Victoria, motorists can receive a $476 fine for forgetting to lock their car while paying for fuel at a petrol station. The rule states that you must secure the windows and lock the doors of an unattended vehicle when you are more than 3 metres away. If drivers leave their keys in the ignition and are more than 3 metres away from their vehicle, without anyone else sitting in the car, they can also be fined $476. Drivers in Victoria can also be hit with a fine of up to $317 for flashing their lights to warn vehicles of a speed camera or police vehicle. RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie said, “Ignorance of road rules isn’t a valid excuse so we urge everyone to refresh their knowledge, whether they’re a cyclist, a pedestrian, a driver or a passenger.” Have you ever received a fine for an obscure road rule? If so, share your story in the comments below.

Legal

Test yourself: Do you know what these obscure words mean?

No matter how big we think our vocabulary is or how many books we read, there’s always plenty more words to add to our ever-growing lexicon. So, if you’re ready to expand your vocab and give your brain a workout, test yourself with our quiz and see just how many obscure English words you know – the results might just surprise you! <div class="pb_feed" data-embed-by="d8abea86-ae62-4b8e-8a5d-828badfa1745" data-item="9ad43697-dff4-4b50-abee-3870f6aa243b" data-recommend="false" data-game-info="false" data-comments="false" data-shares="false"></div> Tell us in the comments below, what score did you receive?

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Why do airlines charge so much for checked bags? This obscure rule helps explain why

Drivers left scratching their head by obscure road rule question

Woman shocked over $114 fine for obscure road rule

4 “obscure” ways to save money according to an Aussie finance guru

Don’t get stung by this obscure $263 road rule

This obscure road rule could cost you $758

The obscure road rule that could cost you $108

Do you know this obscure parking rule catching out drivers?

“Not fair”: Is this Australia’s most obscure new road rule?

Hundreds of Aussies copping fines for road rules they didn't know existed

Test yourself: Do you know what these obscure words mean?

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