Urgent warning to Aussie motorists over little-known road rule

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There’s many ways you can get a fine while driving but many motorists might not realise there’s a hefty price to pay if you’re caught parking an unregistered vehicle on the street.

In New South Wales it’s illegal to park an unregistered car on a road or a road related area for more than 15 days after the vehicle’s registration has expired.

If you get caught, you could be facing a $704 fine and up to 20 penalty units.

Penalties vary between jurisdictions but owners can be fined just as heavily as if they’d been caught driving the unregistered car. 

How waving out the window could land you in big trouble with police  

Another little known road rule that could leave motorists out of pocket is waving out a car window. 

Both passengers and drivers could face a fine of $337 and a loss of three demerit points if they’re caught doing the simple act, according to Budget Direct.

‘Even winding down the window and stretching your arm outside to cool down could also get you in trouble,’ the insurer stated.

‘According to all state and territories’ driving regulations, it is illegal for any part of your body to be outside a moving vehicle at any time.’

How snacking at the wheel could land you a $575 fine and under a little-known Aussie road rule 

Australians could be fined up to $600 if they are caught eating or drinking behind the wheel under a little-known road rule.

Drivers in Queensland could be slapped with a $575 fine and three demerit points for ‘driving without due care or attention’. 

‘You can be fined $575 and three demerit points if you don’t have proper control of your vehicle,’ the Queensland police department explained on Facebook.

‘So make sure you’re not one-handing the wheel or taking your eyes off the road to eat,’ the department posted.

‘Obviously, you’re allowed to take a hand off the wheel for a short time to operate your vehicle, but eating while you’re driving could be interpreted as not having proper control of your vehicle and driving distracted,’ they clarified. 

The penalty falls under the state’s driver distraction laws.

In Western Australia, the fine for the same offence is even higher at $600 while in NSW drivers can cop a $469 fine and three demerit points.

In the Northern Territory there is a $150 fine for careless driving – which eating or drinking while driving could be considered.

South Australian drivers can be fined up to $201 for not having proper control of their vehicle, with the same offence in the ACT costing $301.

Eating or drinking while driving in Tasmania could lead to a $173 fine and three demerit points for not having proper control of their vehicle or driving without due care and attention.

Up to 60 per cent of Australians have admitted to eating food behind the wheel in data from a new Compare the Market survey. 

Up to 31 per cent said they used their phone while driving, while 17 per cent had smoked or vaped and eight per cent had applied makeup. 

While the law doesn’t explicitly state these actions are illegal, they can be considered a distraction to drivers. 

In 2018, a hungry teenage P-plater was fined $300 after she was pictured eating a bowl of cereal while driving on a Perth road.

A photo of her taken by a 6PR radio listener and appeared to show the young woman steering the car with her knees.

The ‘cereal offender’ also got three demerit points and was lambasted by then WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.

‘You can’t be driving a car and eating your brekkie at the same time. That is just ridiculously dangerous, it’s incomprehensible,’ he told 6PR.