No, you generally cannot turn right on a solid red light in Australia; a red light means stop, but you can enter the intersection on a green light (or green arrow) and wait for a safe gap to complete your turn, even if the light changes to yellow or red while you're waiting, provided you don't block oncoming traffic and it's safe. The key is to enter the intersection legally on green and wait safely, not to go from a red light.
Turning right at traffic lights
If the lights change to yellow or red while you're in the intersection, you must turn right as soon as it's safe to do so. You must not make a U-turn at traffic lights, unless there's a 'U-turn permitted' sign.
If you accidentally run a red light, you could receive a fine, demerit points, or both, depending on if a camera caught you or if a police officer saw you, with potential for license suspension or higher insurance if you cause an accident. The consequences vary by location (state/country) but usually involve a monetary penalty and points added to your driving record.
🔴 Red means stop. 🟡 Yellow means get ready to stop 🟢Green means go, but check it is safe first. If you do not follow traffic lights, you can get a fine or cause an accident. Visit our general guide to road rules to learn more.
Road rules for traffic lights
If you see a red light for the direction you're heading in, you must stop at the marked line. Drivers can be fined and receive demerit points if caught breaking the rules for traffic lights and signals. You must stop fully and don't enter the intersection.
Filtered right turns
When there's a break in traffic and it's safe to do so, you complete your turn. You need to give way to vehicles turning left and to any pedestrians. If there are turn lines painted on the road, follow these line indicators. Make sure you don't obstruct traffic when you move into the intersection.
Yes, it is legal to run a red light to make way for emergency vehicles such as police, ambulance and fire, but only when it is safe to do so. This can be explained through the interaction between Sections 59 and 78 of the Road Rules 2014.
You know you might have run a red light if you saw a bright flash (though not always visible), felt you entered the intersection after the light turned red, or if a ticket arrives in the mail with photos, but the only surefire sign is receiving a fine notice, which can take days to weeks. Red-light cameras use sensors or radar to detect cars crossing the stop line when the light is red, capturing images to issue violations, but sometimes they flash for testing or other reasons, so waiting for official mail is key.
Australian Road Rule 67 dictates the requirements for drivers at intersections with a stop sign or stop line but no traffic lights, mandating a complete stop before the line or intersection and requiring drivers to give way to any vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, or personal mobility device riders entering the intersection or crossing the road the driver is entering. The core of Rule 67 is to stop completely and yield to all other road users before proceeding, preventing crashes and chaos on main roads where side-road traffic must stop.
Possible Defenses to a Red Light Ticket
You know you might have run a red light if you saw a bright flash (though not always visible), felt you entered the intersection after the light turned red, or if a ticket arrives in the mail with photos, but the only surefire sign is receiving a fine notice, which can take days to weeks. Red-light cameras use sensors or radar to detect cars crossing the stop line when the light is red, capturing images to issue violations, but sometimes they flash for testing or other reasons, so waiting for official mail is key.
The standard penalty for running a red light or failing to stop at a red signal is, as of July 2025, a fine of $562 plus 3 demerit points for an unrestricted driver.
Sleeping in your car in Australia is generally legal if parked legally and not causing a disturbance, but rules vary significantly by location, with many local councils (especially in tourist areas like Byron Bay or the Gold Coast) banning it under "camping" by-laws, making it only permitted in designated campgrounds, while Queensland has stricter state laws treating it as illegal camping outside designated sites. Always check local signs for parking restrictions and council rules, as you can be fined for illegal camping or parking violations.
How Do You Know If a Red Light Camera Took Your Picture? You might see a flash — but often you won't. The only certain sign is receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) in the post, usually within 14 days of the incident.
Australian Road Rule 72 dictates that at intersections without traffic lights or stop/give way signs, drivers must give way to vehicles approaching from the right, slowing down and stopping if necessary to avoid a collision. This applies to standard intersections, but T-intersections, roundabouts, and intersections with specific signs or lights have different rules, and you must also give way to pedestrians or cyclists crossing the road you're entering.
You'll typically get a red light camera ticket in the mail within a few days to two weeks, but it can sometimes take longer, up to a month or more, depending on processing times and location. The ticket is sent to the vehicle's registered owner, and processing involves data collection, verification, and mailing, with some systems being faster than others.
Turn Off the Lights and Use a Flashlight
In a darkened room, use a flashlight to carefully inspect the motion sensor for any tiny, blinking red or green lights. These could be indicators of a hidden camera.
Red-light cameras jump into action when the traffic light is on red, ready to photograph any cars passing over the stop line. Some systems will wait for a fraction of a second after the light turns red, offering drivers a slight grace period.
While swearing at a police officer is not ideal, it doesn't automatically guarantee an arrest. However, if your language is deemed offensive in a public place, you could face an on-the-spot fine or, in more serious cases, be arrested and taken to the police station.
Yes, flashing your headlights to warn others of police is generally illegal in Australia, not as a specific offense, but under rules against dazzling drivers, misusing high beams, or hindering police, potentially leading to fines for using high beams inappropriately or even more serious charges for obstructing an officer, despite it being hard to prove, with fines and points applicable depending on the state.
You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. You have the right to be told if you are under arrest and the reason for it. You have the right to speak to a solicitor and a friend before police interview you.
Only make the right turn when safe, and never when there's a posted sign stating “NO TURN ON RED”. A red light camera will issue a citation if you turn red but don't stop at the intersection first. Stop completely for at least two seconds, then turn. Otherwise, you'll be given a red light camera ticket.
The 12 second rule helps you understand how far ahead you need to scan for hazards. To tell how far 12 seconds is: pull over on a straight piece of road. start counting to 12 as a car passes you, and. take a note of how far away the car is once you get to 12.
If you accidentally run a red light, you could receive a fine, demerit points, or both, depending on if a camera caught you or if a police officer saw you, with potential for license suspension or higher insurance if you cause an accident. The consequences vary by location (state/country) but usually involve a monetary penalty and points added to your driving record.