A fresh round-up of obscure driving offences is catching Australians out ahead of National Road Safety Week, after Youi Insurance highlighted eight lesser-known road rules from around the country. The penalties range from a $100 fine in Western Australia to a $538 fine in South Australia, and many drivers may not realise they are breaking the law until it is too late.
One of the clearest examples is in New South Wales, where excessive honking can result in a $349 fine. Marni Jackson said that is exactly the kind of offence that surprises people because it does not feel serious in the moment. “What really catches people out is that these aren’t behaviours most drivers associate with serious offences,” she said.
Jackson said some road rules are overlooked because driving habits quickly become automatic. “Once people pass their driving test, they rarely revisit the rulebook, even though road rules change and evolve over time,” she said. National Road Safety Week runs from May 17 to May 24, giving the issue extra weight at a time when authorities and insurers are again drawing attention to what drivers may have forgotten.
The list collected by Youi stretches well beyond the usual reminders about speeding or drink-driving. In Queensland, driving a hired 4x4 on K'gari with more than seven passengers or camping equipment strapped to the roof can result in a $483 fine. In Victoria, riding electric scooters on a footpath can lead to a $198 fine. South Australia can hand down a $538 fine for entering a roundabout in the incorrect lane, while Tasmania can issue a $152 fine for stopping on a continuous yellow line.
The Northern Territory rule may be the most unexpected for passengers and drivers alike: looking at a passenger’s phone can bring a $500 fine. In the ACT, driving with a passenger’s body part outside the vehicle’s window or door can result in a $219 fine. Western Australia’s rule on headlights and fog lights is another reminder that the law does not always match instinct, with a $100 fine for driving with both on in fine weather conditions.
Jackson said the problem is not just forgetfulness. “There’s also confusion because rules vary significantly between states, so what’s acceptable in one place can lead to a fine in another,” she said. That patchwork helps explain why a driver crossing a border can suddenly find familiar habits are no longer allowed.
She added that some behaviours become so normal that people stop judging them against the rulebook. “On top of that, some behaviours, like tailgating or failing to indicate, are so common that drivers underestimate how risky or illegal they actually are. When something feels normal, people stop questioning it,” she said. “But while they might seem minor, they all have real safety implications – whether it’s preventing road rage, reducing distractions, or avoiding crashes. That’s why these rules exist, and why drivers are often surprised when they learn about them.”
The bigger message is straightforward: the fines are not just trivia for a safety campaign, but a sign that everyday road behaviour is more tightly policed than many Australians assume. For anyone driving through multiple states or picking up a hire vehicle, the safe bet is not to guess. It is to know the rule before the fine arrives.
