Speed is the biggest single danger on NSW roads, contributing to about 40 per cent of road fatalities each year. International and Australian research shows that even small reductions in vehicle speed can reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries caused by crashes. A small decrease in vehicle speed can make a big difference to your chances of survival.
If a car hits a pedestrian at 50 km/h the pedestrian is twice as likely to die than if the driver had been travelling at 40 km/h. For every extra kilometre per hour of speed:
The stopping distance increases
The time to react and avoid a crash decreases
The impact of a crash is more severe on the vehicle, driver, passengers and pedestrians
There is more likelihood of serious injury or death
You need to plan ahead to get home safely after a night out – if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive.
Positive choices
The Plan B drink driving campaign began in August 2012. It is about making positive choices to get home safely after a night out, highlighting that driving is not an option. With practical options to avoid drink driving, Plan B takes a humorous and positive approach designed to engage the community about making alternative arrangements to get home after a night out. The campaign emphasises that police mobile random breath testing (RBT) operations can happen anytime, anywhere.
Drink driving behaviour
Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of death and injury on NSW roads. In 2011, there were 70 people killed and 1182 people injured in crashes involving drivers who were over the legal blood alcohol limit. Men make up 87 per cent of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Plan ahead on how to get home after a night out
Some Plan B’s are smarter than others
What’s your Plan B?
Drink and drive, and you will face the consequences
Mobile phone detection cameras will start targeting illegal phone use across NSW on 1 December and will include fixed and transportable trailer-mounted cameras. Together, these cameras will target illegal mobile phone use anywhere, anytime.
The detection system operates both day and night and in all weather conditions, using high-definition cameras to capture images of the front-row cabin space of all vehicles to detect illegal mobile phone use.
The system uses artificial intelligence to automatically review images and detect offending drivers, and to exclude images of non-offending drivers from further action. Images that the automated system considers likely to contain a driver illegally using a mobile phone are verified by authorised personnel.
As with other road safety camera programs in NSW, strict controls are in place to ensure images captured by the system are securely stored and managed.
Warning letters will be issued for the first three months. Following this period, the penalty for offending drivers is five demerit points and a $344 fine ($457 in a school zone). The penalty increases to 10 demerit points during double-demerit periods.
While mobile phone detection cameras will be switched on and issuing warning letters from 1 December, NSW Police continue to enforce illegal mobile phone use and issue infringements as part of regular operations.
Find more information about mobile phone rules and FAQs on our Know the rules page.
In the Road Safety Plan 2021, the NSW Government outlined plans to investigate camera-based technology to enforce mobile phone use offences.
Legislation came into effect in July 2018 that enabled NSW to pilot world-first mobile phone detection camera technology between January and June 2019.
Fixed and transportable cameras were found to operate reliably in real world conditions. During the pilot, the cameras detected more than 100,000 drivers using their phones illegally.
The trial of a rule that required motorists to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing blue or red lights has been completed and changes will be made to the road rule as a result of a review of the 12 month trial, which included community feedback.
This rule is being changed to improve the safety of emergency services personnel, tow truck operators and breakdown assistance providers working on the road, as well as the people they are helping. The changes will also make it safer on higher speed roads where the time and distance required to reduce speed to 40km/h is the greatest. The changes to the rule will commence on 26 September 2019.
The rule will protect more vulnerable roadside workers
The rule will be expanded to apply to motorists when passing stationary tow trucks and breakdown assistance vehicles displaying flashing yellow lights, in addition to emergency vehicles displaying flashing blue or red lights.
There will be changes to the requirements for motorists, depending on the speed limit of the road
On higher speed roads (with a speed limit of 90km/h or more), motorists will be required to slow down safely to a speed that is reasonable for the circumstances. Motorists must also provide sufficient space between their vehicle and the stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights. This will include changing lanes on a multi-lane road if it is safe to do so.
On lower speed roads (with a speed limit of 80km/h or less), motorists will continue to be required to slow to 40km/h when passing stationary tow trucks, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights.
The rule applies to help protect those who protect us
All motorists must also give way to any person on foot in the vicinity of a stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights. Motorists must not increase their speed until they are a sufficient distance past all the vehicles and people involved.
The rule does not apply when a stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights is on the opposite side of a divided road separated by a median strip.
I just got my test today. My result is pass, thank you for a lesson. On the day you took me to 3 possible routes. They did not take me any 3 today but the route test officer took me is way easier than your route. All tricks and tips that you told me are helpful.
Thanks again for everythings you did. If you don’t mind I will recommend you to my friends but you may get a problem because they are not good in English.
I RECENTLY GOT MY LICENCE!!!!, can’t thank Camber driving school enough! I reckon he’s one of the best instructors in the hills area! Unlike any other instructor I have come across, Cameron makes passing the test seem like a easy thing do – if you just stick to the rules! he exactly knows what he’s doing and knows the area and the roads back to front! He was patient and taught me exactly what I needed to know, previously I had some terrible experiences with instructors in the area but Cameron’s so easy going and believes in your ability to master all the rules in no time! what else do you need! Thanks Camber driving school! life is so much better and so much time saved thanks to my P’s but probably not possible this quickly without the help of this fantastic instructor!
Thank you for giving the tips in those 2 lessons before the test, as it helped clear my driving test in the 1st attempt itself.
I would recommend Cameron on any given day, as he has loads of experience and corrects the driving patterns of individuals by giving useful tips which are very essential. Though, being an experienced driver after having driven across different countries, he made me realize a few basic things which are very crucial to pass the RTA test and everyone has to abide by that, to clear the DT seamlessly.
I will strongly recommend CAMBER classes and be relaxed and rest assured of clearing the DT with flying colours.
Regards
Vijay
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The number of road deaths per 100,000 population in NSW has dropped over the past four-and-a-half decades, from 28.9 in 1970 to 4.99 in 2017, with a low of 4.1 in 2014.
Continued government investment and key road safety interventions, such as the compulsory use of seatbelts and the introduction of random breath testing, have had a significant impact on reducing the fatality rate – at the same time as NSW roads have become much busier. In 2017, there were more than 6 million registered motor vehicles in NSW, up from about 4000 motor vehicles in 1910
The trial of a rule that required motorists to slow down to 40km/h when passing stationary emergency vehicles with flashing blue or red lights has been completed and changes will be made to the road rule as a result of a review of the 12 month trial, which included community feedback.
This rule is being changed to improve the safety of emergency services personnel, tow truck operators and breakdown assistance providers working on the road, as well as the people they are helping. The changes will also make it safer on higher speed roads where the time and distance required to reduce speed to 40km/h is the greatest. The changes to the rule will commence on 26 September 2019.
The rule will protect more vulnerable roadside workers
The rule will be expanded to apply to motorists when passing stationary tow trucks and breakdown assistance vehicles displaying flashing yellow lights, in addition to emergency vehicles displaying flashing blue or red lights.
There will be changes to the requirements for motorists, depending on the speed limit of the road
On higher speed roads (with a speed limit of 90km/h or more), motorists will be required to slow down safely to a speed that is reasonable for the circumstances. Motorists must also provide sufficient space between their vehicle and the stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights. This will include changing lanes on a multi-lane road if it is safe to do so.
On lower speed roads (with a speed limit of 80km/h or less), motorists will continue to be required to slow to 40km/h when passing stationary tow trucks, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights.
The rule applies to help protect those who protect us
All motorists must also give way to any person on foot in the vicinity of a stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights. Motorists must not increase their speed until they are a sufficient distance past all the vehicles and people involved.
The rule does not apply when a stationary tow truck, breakdown assistance or emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights is on the opposite side of a divided road separated by a median strip.
Some workplaces are more dangerous than others. This Transport for NSW video features a motorist broken down, personnel from NSW Police, Fire & Rescue NSW, Roads and Maritime Services, NSW State Emergency Service, the Ambulance Service of NSW and the NRMA.
Our playlist of 10 animations explains some of the most misunderstood road rules. You can also watch the videos separately, starting with Roundabouts.
Brush up on rules
Since 2013, Road Rules Awareness Week has given all road users the chance to improve their knowledge of the NSW road rules.
Transport for NSW is committed to improving safety on the state’s roads and bringing the road toll Towards Zero.
Each year we focus on the most misunderstood road rules and provide an opportunity for road users to have their questions answered. Our online video animations were developed for Road Rules Awareness Week to help all road users with the road rules.
Misunderstood rules
The Top 10 misunderstood road rules in NSW guide outlines the road rules most commonly misunderstood by road users.
The Top 10 guide provides simple answers to many road rule questions, including using roundabouts, when you can and can’t use high-beam and fog lights, and when it is permitted to make a U-turn. The guide is also available at Service NSW and RMS registries.
Road users can also visit the Roads and Maritime Services website to view the NSW Road Users’ Handbook.
Road Rules Awareness Week provides an annual opportunity for drivers to refresh their knowledge of road rules. It also allows pedestrians, motorcyclists, passengers and bicycle riders to better understand the rules and improve their safety on or near the road.
