Driving in Australia is Easier Than You Think
Driving in Australia is easier than you think!
As an international student studying in Australia, understanding the country’s traffic system is essential. With Australians driving on the left side of the road, it can be a challenging adjustment for Canucks who are used to driving cars on the right side. When OzTREKK staff and students head to Australia for the first time, getting used to looking right then left can become a bit tricky, but everyone gets the hang of it!
In all Australian states and territories, you are able to drive on a overseas license as long as it is current and you haven’t been disqualified from driving anywhere else. You can only drive vehicles which your overseas license authorizes you to drive and you must drive according to any conditions on your overseas license.
If your license isn’t in English, you must also have an official English translation. These can be obtained from an embassy, consulate, Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT), or the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
Each of the states and territories has different rules and regulations for driving with a foreign license.
Most states allow international students to drive a 3–6 month period with an overseas license however since it varies per state you will want to look at the following government websites to be compliant.
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- New South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- Queensland (QLD)
- South Australia (SA)
- Tasmania (TAS)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
Driving tips
Here are some tips on navigating your vehicle in Australian traffic and knowing what to look for as a pedestrian:
Insurance
This is a no-brainer. Like Canada, car insurance is compulsory for all drivers in Australia.
In the driver’s seat
When driving on the left, you’re going to be tempted to inch away from the right-hand side in an effort to stay clear of the oncoming traffic. While it’s good to be cautious, you may find yourself inching too far to the left, either on the shoulder or a neighbouring lane. To ground yourself, place your right foot straight. This will help you understand where your right tire is located, thus giving you a better idea about spacing.
Roundabouts
We’ve got a quite few in Canada now, and we’re getting more every year! Roundabouts are extremely common in Australia and Europe. If you don’t understand how roundabouts work, you will! Roundabouts keep the flow of traffic going and don’t depend on lights to navigate traffic.
- Cars already in the roundabout have the right of way.
- Traffic in a roundabout flows in a clockwise direction in Australia.
- In a two-lane roundabout, you keep to the left lane if you’re turning left or going straight ahead.
- You keep to the right lane if you’re turning right. You can also use the right lane in a two-lane roundabout if you’re going straight ahead.
- You use your left-turn signal for a left turn, the right-turn signal for a right turn. If you’re turning right and are on the right lane, switch on your left-turn signal when exiting. It has become law in New South Wales that motorists must signal left, in every instance, whenever exiting from a roundabout.
Crosswalks
When crossing the street in Canada, we look left then right. You have to change your mindset for life Down Under. You must look right first, as the cars will be coming from this direction. International visitors often look left and inch out onto the road without realizing the traffic is coming from the opposite direction. Before you get confident crossing the road, get into the habit of looking both ways.
No distractions
Like Canada, you are not permitted to use a handheld mobile phone when driving in Australia. This includes making or receiving calls, sending a text message, playing games and/or web browsing. The only instances where you are permitted to use your phone is if it is set up with hands-free (Bluetooth) functionality and it is properly mounted and secured. Be sure to check the rules in place for the state in which you’ll be living, just to be on the safe side.
Easy-peasy
We know it seems intimidating, but before long, you’ll be whizzing around like a local and forget that traffic is opposite in the Great White North. Just ask OzTREKK Director Jaime Notman. She only turned her wipers on 56 times before she remembered the indicator switch was on the right.
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