Whether you’re a city commuter, a regional road-tripper, or just popping down to the shops, these changes could affect you—and your wallet.
Buckle up, Australia—the road ahead is about to look a little different. From 1 July, a raft of new road rules and harsher penalties will roll out across the country, aiming to make our streets safer and keep dangerous driving in check.
Let’s break down what’s changing, why it matters, and how you can stay on the right side of the law (and avoid those eye-watering fines).
Mobile phones: The crackdown gets smarter (and pricier)
If you’re one of those drivers who think a quick glance at your phone at the lights is harmless, think again.
From 1 July, AI-powered detection cameras will be watching—and they’re not just looking for texting while driving.
These high-tech eyes can spot you holding or even touching your phone, whether you’re moving or stopped at a red light.
Penalties vary by state, but they’re nothing to sneeze at. In some places, you could be hit with a fine of over $1,000 and cop five demerit points.
In Western Australia, for example, the fine for mobile phone use will jump to $700, with five demerit points to boot. Repeat offenders could even face licence suspensions.
Speed limits: Slowing down for safety
Several states are lowering speed limits in high-risk areas, especially where pedestrians are common. Here’s what you need to know:
Victoria: Road Rule 79A is expanding. Now, when you pass roadside assistance vehicles (think tow trucks, breakdown support, and incident response units) with flashing lights and visible workers, you must slow to 40 km/h. Ignore this, and you could be fined up to $961.
Queensland: Select tourist and residential areas, including the Hervey Bay Esplanade, will see speed limits drop from 50 to 40 km/h.
South Australia: Drivers must slow to 25 km/h when passing stationary breakdown service vehicles with flashing amber lights. Plus, 40 km/h limits are coming to inner-city Adelaide, and shared pedestrian zones will drop to a crawl at 10 km/h.
Nationally: School zones and high-pedestrian areas in several states will see speed limits reduced to 30 km/h.
Average speed cameras: Not just for trucks anymore
New South Wales is leading the charge by applying average speed cameras to light vehicles—that means cars and motorbikes, not just trucks.
These cameras, already in use for heavy vehicles, will be active on the Hume and Pacific Highways. There’s been a grace period with warning notices, but from 1 July, fines will start landing in letterboxes.
Ticketless parking fines: No more nasty surprises
NSW is also phasing out ticketless parking fines, after complaints from drivers who were stung by fines they never saw coming. Expect more transparency—and fewer ‘where did that come from?’ moments.
Fines on the rise: Queensland and WA lead the way
Queensland is bumping up fines by 3.5 per cent across the board, including for speeding, seatbelt offences, and mobile phone use.
Distracted driving is a particular focus, with new tech and a tougher approach to enforcement.
Western Australia is planning a major overhaul from 1 July, 2025, with fines for traffic offences set to soar.
Excessive speeding could cost you more than $1,600, and new AI cameras will target speeding, seatbelt non-compliance, and phone use. Enforcement has started after the given warning period ended, which was in effect up until May 2025.
Regional and off-road changes: WA’s safety push
WA will also trial lower speed limits on more than 1,800 regional roads in the Busselton and Augusta–Margaret River areas, aiming to cut the road toll in high-risk spots.
Off-road vehicle owners will be able to register their bikes online, making life a little easier for adventurers.
Why the big changes?
Australia’s road toll remains stubbornly high, and authorities are determined to bring it down. Distracted driving, speeding, and failure to slow down near roadside workers are all major contributors to crashes and fatalities.
These new rules are designed to protect not just drivers, but also pedestrians, cyclists, and the people who work on our roads.
What should you do?
Stay informed: Check your state’s transport website for the latest rules and penalties.
Drive defensively: Assume there’s a camera watching—because there probably is.
Slow down: Especially near schools, pedestrian zones, and roadside workers.
Put the phone away: It’s not worth the risk—or the fine.
Have your say
Have you been caught out by a new road rule or a sneaky camera? Do you think these changes will make our roads safer, or are they just revenue-raisers? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—share your stories in the comments below!
And remember, a little extra caution could save you a lot of money—and maybe even a life. Safe travels!
Also read: Drivers warned of little-known road rule after tragic outback collision
Will make little difference to road safety but be a huge revenue raiser.
Accidents are mostly caused by poorly skilled drivers, not speed or anything else.
A poor driver is a poor driver at any speed.
Believing this is about revenue makes YOU one of he problem drivers.
Totally agree.
They can keep telling themselves it’s for safety( show me the money school zones down to 30 will only increase congestion how about teaching kids road safety
I know of one 40kph zone in Wodonga (my friend lives in the street), and it’s been 40kph 24/7 FOR OVER 40 YEARS, now. That’s how long my friend has been living in the street. And they still ignore it.
I’m just waiting for all the new speed camera vehicles to come out.
I am 100% certain that kids are already taught about road safety. But they are just kids. They will make mistakes. Slower traffic means fewer and less serious injuries.
Don, in this article you state, “There’ll be a warning period until May 2025, so use this time to brush up on the rules.”
Well it’s already past May 2025. Do you mean May 2026? I don’t think that’s the case is it?
Can you please advise and fix the article if it is wrong. Thank you.
Rod63, I was just about to ask the very same question !!!!
Thank you for letting us know, Rod63! We have updated the article for more clarity.
what about all the legal roadside distractions like the huge advertising signs? surely they must contribute to driver distraction? why are they not being considered for removal? i guess their revenue is more important than driver safety!
as there is a increase in population which is encouraged by the government there is also a increase in road usage so that would also add to the increased road toll! more idiots on the roads!
What do you have against capital letters?
They are idiots. Every year, they slow the speed limits down, and each year, there are more accidents than the year before. It’s about time they realised that they are the main problem. Fix the bloody roads for a start. Stop dropping the speed limits, which are creating impatient drivers because we seem to be getting more time-poor as the years go by so everyone is in a rush.
Let’s be honest. Us Aussie men love speeding. We’re all guilty of speeding until we grow up but as everyone else in this post are saying – we’re culling the population so that hopefully first home buyers get a chance. When Covid 2.0 comes along that’ll cull more of us Aussies so the only ones left will be migrants- then they can change to a Republic as all the Monarchists will be culled
Hahaha! I think you need a change of meds, Ken.
Ridge is correct. Methinks you need more than your meds changed.
It’s sad to see that your mindset is so stuck in its negative groove.
What is a danger and should be stopped are those pesky people standing on the kerb with a large piece of cardboard with a message on it ,and they are wiggling it up and down side to side, that is a distraction, and will cause accidents .
Yeah – just a revenue raiser for cash strapped state govts.
Revenue-raiser or not, the only lesson any of us seems to learn is via our hip pockets. A poor driver is a poor driver is a poor driver, but the reckless among us aren’t going to learn to pull our heads in until fines and suspensions make it impossible to operate a vehicle. In any event, as usual it’s the 99% being penalised due to the one per cent of yahoos.
Agree Margaret.