A number of amendment packages to the Australia Road Rules recently announced by the Northern Territory Government are now in effect.

From today, Thursday 1 August 2019, the new road rules include:

• Motorcyclists are now permitted to lane-filter safely through traffic travelling less than 30km/h. Read more about lane filtering.

• When travelling in a 60km/h or less speed zone, motorists are required to leave a minimum one metre passing distance when overtaking a cyclist. When the speed limit is over 60km/h, motorists are required to leave a passing distance of at least one and a half metres. Read more about wider of the rider.

• Cyclists can now ride slowly across pedestrian crossings. Read more about riding across pedestrian crossings.

• The penalty for using a hand held mobile phone while driving has increased from $250 to $500. Read more about mobile phone penalties.

• A new traffic infringement penalty of $500 has been introduced for visual display unit (VDU) driving offences. Read more about VDU penalties.

• Learner drivers can no longer ride a moped. Read more about moped riders.

• A new rule confirming children under one year of age, travelling in commercial passenger vehicle, such as a taxi or minibus, are allowed to be nursed on the lap of a passenger over 16 years of age, if there is no child restraint available. If a person is over one year of age they must be in a seatbelt or a child restraint if available. Read more about child restraints.
  

The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Manager of Road Safety, Jennifer Malone, said these road rules are now in effect, and it’s the responsibility of all road users to be aware of these changes.

“Territory Government is committed to the safety of all road users across the NT, and all road users need to understand all of the road rules, for their safety and the safety of other road users,” said Ms Malone.

“The changes not only increase road safety for Territorians, they bring the NT’s road rules in line with other states and jurisdictions, providing consistency for motorists.”

These four amendment packages are approved by the Transport and Infrastructure Council and identified in the Towards Zero Action Plan.

For more information about these road rule changes, visit www.towardszero.nt.gov.au.

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