√Is it illegal to eat while driving?
Fancy a snack? Before you tuck in while behind the wheel, brush up on the road rules in each state.
Is it illegal to eat while driving in Australia? No – as long as you maintain control of your vehicle.
Whether it’s a burger from McDonald’s or a homemade salad from your spouse, the good news is that it’s not expressly illegal to eat while driving in Australia.
However, you could face penalties if your decision to enjoy a meal behind the wheel results in you losing control of your vehicle.
There are no specific road rules prohibiting eating while driving in any Australian state or territory, but there are road rules relating to a driver having proper control of their vehicle.
In New South Wales, if police determine that eating while driving caused you to lose control of your car, they could impose a fine of $481 and three demerit points.
Similarly, Victoria’s road rules don’t specifically prohibit eating while driving, but drivers can be charged with careless driving if eating affects their concentration and control of the vehicle.
In Victoria, a careless driving offence has an infringeable penalty of $444 and three demerit points, while there is a maximum of 12 court penalty units ($2219) that a magistrate can impose if found guilty.
“In Queensland, a driver must always have proper control of their vehicle and drive with care and attention for the safety of other road users,” a Queensland Transport and Main Roads spokesperson told Drive.
“While there are no specific laws prohibiting a driver from eating while driving, it is up to the driver to ensure they remain in proper control of their vehicle and sufficiently alert to the road environment.”
Queensland drivers who drive carelessly or without proper control can face fines of up to $575 and three demerit points.
Road authorities in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory also confirmed to Drive that while there are no road rules prohibiting eating while driving, penalties could apply if a driver is found to have lost control of their car.
So snack away, but keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and drop the hot chips the second they start to impede on your control of the car.
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