You’ve probably seen it happen many times: You’re driving and you see a car ahead of you with its lights on, so you give them plenty of room to move…but they never do.
- Indicators should only be used when necessary
- If you do not intend to change direction and fail to turn off your turn signal, you may be penalized.
- Fines apply to all Australian jurisdictions, some jurisdictions impose mandatory demerit points
Trucks are the most likely culprits, as turn signals can be hard to hear from inside the cab of a large truck, but all drivers are likely to make this mistake at some point in their driving life.
But did you know that you could be fined if you forget to cancel your turn signal? And you can’t blame the car if the turn signal stalk isn’t reset – it’s the driver’s responsibility to ensure they have control over any lighting on the outside of the vehicle.
Lights and indicators are an important way for other road users to judge your intentions, and there are strict rules about the misuse of lights and flashers (whether accidental or deliberate) that you should be aware of.
Rules 46(4) and 48(4) of the Australian Road Rules state: “A driver must cease signalling a change of direction as soon as he has completed the change of direction.”
The following is a summary of the costs you may pay if you fail to stop your instructions.
New South Wales
In New South Wales, if you fail to remove your turn signals you could be fined $227 and receive two demerit points.
The fine amount for “not stopping after the left lane change signal” and “not stopping after the right lane change signal” is the same.
Queensland
Queensland has a slightly different wording for this rule. But the intent is the same – if you forget or deliberately fail to cancel your turn signal, you could be fined: “Failure to cancel or wrongly operate a signal” ($96 fine, two demerit points).
Victoria
In Victoria, as in most other states, failing to cancel a turn signal does not attract demerit points, but if the police are in a bad mood, “failing to cancel or incorrectly operating a signal” can carry a fine of at least $198.
South Australia
South Australia takes signal light laws very seriously, with incorrect signalling on the state’s roads carrying some of the harshest penalties in the country.
You may be fined two points and $346 (including a $99 crime victim tax). If you fail to turn off your turn signal, you may be violating the following applicable rules:
- Failure to cancel left turn signal – $356 fine and two demerit points
- Failure to cancel right signal – $356 fine, two demerit points
- Misuse of turn indicators – $356 fine, two demerit points
Behavior
Like most other jurisdictions, the ACT does not issue demerit points for failing to switch off turn signals. Instead, a $219 fine and two demerit points may be imposed for “failing to stop the turn signal after the turn signal has been applied”.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, if you use your turn signal without actually changing lanes or completing any required maneuvers, you may be fined:
- Failure to turn off left turn signal after changing direction ($146 fine)
- Failure to turn off right turn signal after changing direction ($146)
- Using a sign without permission ($95 fine)
Western Australia
According to Western Australia’s Road Traffic Code 2000, “a driver must not allow a signal device on a vehicle to continue to operate after a turn has been completed.”
You will be assessed one penalty unit, or a $50 fine.
Northern Territory
If you do not cancel your turn signal, you will be fined, but you will not receive penalty points on your licence, according to Traffic Offences Schedule 12. “Failure to cancel turn signal – $40 fine”.
Not intended as legal advice. Please check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
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