Victoria rules, OK?

Although Victoria's new road rules came into effect on November 9, 2009, it is likely few drivers are fully aware of the details.

The electronic and print media have devoted reasonable air time to explaining the rules, but most viewers/listeners are unlikely to have had the time to sit down and digest them.

While most of us are probably aware of the higher-profile changes, such as new solid white line rules, and further stipulations of the use of in-car mobile telephones, how many of us are aware that, unless you are a farmer, you can no longer carry your dog between you and the handlebars of your motorbike?

Or that it is only legal to block a driveway for two minutes and you will be booked if the vehicle is unattended during that time? Or that the vehicle's driver -- unless it is a bus or taxi -- can be penalised if a passenger is not belted in?

While many seem to be either stating the obvious, or seem no different to existing rules, it is a good idea to familiarise with them in order to escape the monetary penalties or loss of licence points.

According to VicRoads Manager - Road User Behaviour Antonietta Cavallo, drivers who "fail to obey the new rules could be issued with an on-the-spot fine of up to $300 and three demerit points for some offences.

"A driver found to be handling a mobile telephone or otherwise using it inappropriately will face a fine of $234 and three demerit points," she said.

A $234 fine also applies to drivers performing illegal U-turns or carrying a passenger not wearing a seatbelt.

Following is a brief summary of the new rules:

Mobile phones, GPS
Most of us know it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when driving. The new rules further clarify what is, and what isn’t allowed (Mobile GPS units come under the same restrictions).

Mobile phones must not be used when driving unless "secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle, or operatable without the driver "touching any part of the body of the phone".

The phone must not be held, or rested in the driver’s lap.

Texting and emailing are no-nos, while P-platers are "prohibited from using a mobile phone at all while driving."

It might seem like stating the obvious, but a TV visible to the driver -- or likely to distract any other driver -- is not allowed, although GPS systems remain permissible provided they are integrated into the car or "secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle."

Child restraints
Further clarifications of permissible child restraint use are a welcome part of the new rules.

Children under six months must be in an approved rear-facing capsule, switching afterwards to a forward-facing approved safety seat until the age of four years. Then, until the age of seven, a child can be restrained in either a forward-facing restraint or on a "booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or child safety harness."

Further, it is illegal for a child under four to travel in the front seat of a car with two or more rows of seats, while if "all seats, other than the front seats, are being used by children under seven years, children aged between four and six years (inclusive) may travel in the front seat, provided they use an approved child restraint or booster seat."

U-turns and overtaking
As most of us now know, drivers are not allowed to cross a continuous white line to overtake, or execute a U-turn. The only situation where a driver is allowed to cross the single white line is when "entering or leaving the road" such as when making a right turn onto or off the road.

This means that, apart from entering or leaving situations, a continuous white line is, in effect, the same as a double white line in terms of restrictions.

Seat belts
The new rules bring changes to, and clarification of seatbelt rules. For instance bus drivers and -- when carrying passengers 16 years of age and over -- taxi drivers are not responsible for ensuring passengers are wearing seatbelts. The onus is on passengers.

Otherwise, the driver can be penalised if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt.

Motorcyclists
There are new rules for motorcyclists:

It is illegal to carry a passenger under eight years of age unless in a sidecar (which can only carry the "number of passengers for which it is designed") and, unless you are a farmer, it is illegal to carry an animal between you and the handlebars -- and then you have to be working at the time.

Cyclists
Cyclists are required to wear an "approved helmet" and "sit on a proper seat" while riding. At marked intersections cyclists must stop at the "second line within the bicycle box" and right turns can be executed either from the right-turn lane, or by doing a "hook" turn from the left lane.

Wheeled recreational devices cannot be used on the road at night unless crossing via the shortest route, and are not allowed to be towed.

They are also out of bounds where signs prohibiting their use (mainly on footpaths) are displayed.

Drivers
New safety rules for drivers include the following:

>> At an intersection, a driver must stop at the first stop line and must not enter the area for cyclists when the traffic light is red.
>> If a driver is blocking a driveway, the driver is only allowed two minutes to pick up or drop off passengers and must not leave the vehicle unattended.
>> A driver must not have another person or animal on their lap.
>> If two vehicles, for example a bicycle and a car or two motorcycles, are travelling in the same single marked lane and one vehicle diverges to the left or right within the marked lane, the diverging vehicle must give way.

Driving with trams
The new rules clarify what can and can’t be done where tramways are present. For example: "When sharing the road with trams, a driver must stop before passing the rear of a stopped tram at a tram stop. Once the tram doors are closed and pedestrians have crossed between the tram and kerb, a driver may then proceed at no more than 10km/h past the tram." Also, a driver cannot stop or park within 20 metres of a tram stop.

Rules on what constitutes a full-time or part-time tramline are also clarified.

A part-time lane is indicated via a sign stating the days and times it "functions as a tram lane". A driver is allowed to drive for a maximum of 50 metres within the lane to "enter or leave the road or to avoid an obstruction."

Otherwise a driver is not allowed to travel in the tramway -- marked by broken, continuous or double yellow lines, or by a "raised dividing strip."
 
Parking
The rules say parking or stopping in a "slip lane or on a painted island" is "prohibited".

Parallel parking, "unless parking signs show otherwise, and provided there is at least three metres of clear road between the car and the centre dividing line for other cars to pass", is permissible "opposite double continuous dividing lines, a single continuous dividing line, a single continuous line to the left or right of a broken dividing line, or a dividing strip.

"However, a driver is permitted to park opposite a broken line without leaving three metres clear between the parked car and the broken dividing line.

"Heavy or long vehicles cannot be parked on a road in a built-up area for longer than one hour, unless parking signs show otherwise or the driver is picking up or setting down goods.

"When moving a parked vehicle to another parking spot, the driver must move the vehicle off the length of road, or out of the area to which the parking sign applies."

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