Australian motorists will feel the impact of a suite of new road rules introduced in the year 2025, which have been developed to increase safety and boost the number of people killed on Australian roads. The laws that state governments and then the federal government are implementing range from speed limits to the use of mobile phones while driving to new regulations involving emergency vehicles. “With increased fines and revised caps, these changes will readjust the way that people drive all over the country.
Road Rule Changes Summary Table
| State | Key Changes | Penalties/Fines |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Increased mobile phone, seatbelt fines | Mobile use fine up to AUD 423 |
| Victoria | Slow to 40 km/h near emergency vehicles | Fine up to AUD 961 |
| Queensland | Lower pedestrian zone speed limits | Registration + fines +3.4% |
| South Australia | Slow to 25 km/h past breakdown vehicles | Fine up to AUD 1648, 7 points |
| Western Australia | Speed limits reduced on many roads | Fines up to AUD 700-1600 |
Increased Mobile Phone Detection and Fines
One of the biggest reforms deals with the use of AI-driven cameras to identify those drivers who use, hold, or touch their mobile phones while driving. These surveillance systems are widely expected to grow in the future, especially in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Penalties for these offences are severe, ranging from AUD1200 and demerit points, which are enough to get a driver’s license suspended. In addition, some jurisdictions have incorporated mobile-detection technology to crack down on drivers’ failure to buckle up, further highlighting an increasingly stringent compliance strategy for road safety.
Slowed Down: Around Emergency and Breakdown Vehicles
New important requirement on motorists to slow down to 25-40km/h during overtaking of emergency, police or breakdown service vehicles with their lamps lit There are several states which have already made this rule. Victoria has expanded its current regulation to cover all types of roads, including freeways, requiring drivers to reduce their speed to 40km/h when passing police, tow trucks and incident response vehicles with their lights flashing or sirens in operation. South Australia has a strict 25km/h speed limit on multi-lane roads when there are roadside vehicles or vehicles associated with breakdown repairs to avoid penalties of up to AUD1600 jointly with the loss of 7 demerit points per offence. One such change is an effort to make roadside workers and emergency responders safer.
Speed Limits Reduced in High Risk Areas
Queensland and Western Australia have adopted large scale speed reductions in impromptu tourist or other areas where there is a large volume of pedestrians. For example, parts of the Hervey Bay Esplanade in Queensland will have limits reduced from 50km/h to 40km/h, while in Western Australia the speed limits on the roads between Margaret River and Prevelly will be reduced from 70–110km/h down to 60km/h and 40km/h within the Augusta town centre for pedestrians. The changes epitomise government attempts to reduce accidents caused through speeding where accidents are prone to occur.
Higher Fees, Fines and Registration Costs.
Most states are today adjusting their laws to increase penalties and the price of vehicle registration, in order to maintain direct funding for road safety policies and infrastructure. The increase in fines applied in NSW is about 3.2 per cent for mobile-phone and non-use of a seat-belt violation offences, which is in the same order as in other jurisdictions. In Queensland, registration fees have gone up by 3.4 per cent. These small increases will support widespread enforcement efforts designed to drive down risky driving habits.
Other Interesting Changes to the Rules
Other states have amended specific regulations in order to define driver responsibilities. For instance, South Australia now has superseded traffic rules requiring motorists to give way to vehicles making U-turns under particular conditions. In addition, vehicle operators of motorcycles in some countries will be exempt from position change signalling requirements within the same lane to minimise crash risks at lower vehicle speed.
FAQs
Q: When do these new road regulations go into effect?
A: Speed limits reduced and mobile phones banned: most introduced from 1 July 2025 (note that the 25km/h limits past breakdown vehicles will be introduced on 19 May 2025)
Q: Do the fines carry greater severity when cell phones are used while driving?
Yes, fines are raised in many states and more cameras will be drawn to AI to enforce these rules, meaning more fines will be issued and demerits points issued.
Q: Is the new speed limit for all roads?
Different states have different speed limit changes, but most of them apply to certain toutist areas, pedestrian areas and subways, and places around emergency or breakdown vehicles.
These reforms usher in a new era of Australian road safety, highlighting the importance of technology-driven law enforcement and protection for road users as well as emergency services personnel. To prevent penalties and help make roads in the nation safer, it is recommended that motorists familiarize themselves with the state-specific regulations.
