Headlight Mistake Could Land Australian Drivers with $1000 Fine

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Millions of Aussie drivers could be breaking the law with their high beams — and not even realise it. In fact, getting it wrong could cost you up to $1000 in fines.

A lot of people think high beams are only allowed on dark country roads, or that you need to flick them off the second you see another car. Others leave them on until just before they pass an oncoming vehicle. Turns out, none of those are quite right.

Here’s how the rules actually work. Under the Australian Road Rules, you can use high beams on any road, but there are two key limits:

• You must dip your lights if you’re within 200 metres of an oncoming car.

• You must also dip them if you’re within 200 metres of a car ahead of you going in the same direction.

On top of that, you can’t use your lights to dazzle other road users. You can give a quick flash of your high beams before overtaking, though.

The penalties vary depending on where you’re caught. In the NT, it’s just $50. In Queensland it’s $66, WA $100, and NSW $140. The fines climb higher in the south: $202 in Tasmania, $224 in the ACT, up to $300 in SA, and in Victoria they start at $305 — but can blow out past $1000 if it ends up in court. Everywhere in Australia, you’ll also lose one demerit point.

And if you’ve ever flashed your headlights to warn about a police speed trap — be careful. While it’s not technically a specific offence, you could still be fined for illegal high beam use, dazzling another driver, or even charged with hindering police.

So next time you’re driving at night, keep that 200-metre rule in mind — it could save you money, points, and a nasty surprise in the mail.

Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.