Driving in Brisbane: Queensland road rules that catch visitors

Which side of the road do you drive on in Brisbane?

On the left. On a single-lane road you must stay as close as practical to the left side.^[1] If you're used to driving on the right, the moments that catch people are turning out of a car park or side street onto an empty road, and the first roundabout. A simple check for the first few days: the driver sits next to the centre line.

On multi-lane roads where the limit is 90 km/h or more, or where there's a "keep left unless overtaking" sign, you must not sit in the right-hand lane unless you're overtaking, turning right, making a U-turn, avoiding an obstruction, in congested traffic or using a special purpose lane you're allowed in. Overtaking on the left is allowed on multi-lane roads, so check both mirrors before changing lanes. Exceeding the speed limit to overtake is never legal.^[1]

What are the speed limits in Brisbane?

The trap for visitors is the unsigned street: if you turn off a signed 60 km/h road into a residential street with no sign, the limit is 50 km/h.^[2] Variable speed signs on motorways and in tunnels can change the limit during the day; if an electronic sign is blank, follow the static signs.^[2]

School zones are marked by a sign showing the reduced limit and the times it applies. The usual times are 7–9am and 2–4pm, but some zones run all day (7am–4pm), and some signs have flashing lights. If you can't tell whether it's a school day, slow down to the limit on the sign.^[3] School holidays differ between state and independent schools, so a zone can be active when you don't expect it.

Can I use my phone for maps while driving in Queensland?

Only hands-free, and only on the right licence. It's illegal to hold a phone or rest it on any part of your body, such as your lap, while driving, including when you're stopped in traffic, and the phone doesn't need to be on.^[4] Open and P2 licence holders may touch a phone that's in a cradle attached to the car for things like navigation or accepting a call, as long as it doesn't block the view of the road. Interstate and overseas licence holders must follow the rules for their equivalent Queensland licence type.^[4]

At the time of writing (October 2026), the penalty for illegal phone use is $1,295 and 4 demerit points, with double demerit points for a repeat within a year.^[4] Set your destination before you move off and put the phone in a cradle, or bring one.

Seatbelts are compulsory for everyone in the car, and the driver is responsible for making sure every passenger is restrained.^[5] Children under 7 must be in an Australian Standard approved child restraint suited to their age: rear-facing up to 6 months, rear- or forward-facing with a built-in harness from 6 months to 4 years, and a harnessed seat or approved booster from 4 to 7.^[6] Rentzy doesn't list child seats, so if you're travelling with young children, contact us before you book.

Fixed and portable mobile phone and seatbelt cameras photograph every passing vehicle, including the front seats. Software flags possible offences, and an authorised officer reviews each one before a fine is issued.^[11]

What is the drink-driving limit in Queensland?

Queensland has four alcohol limits. Open licence holders must stay below 0.05 blood or breath alcohol concentration. A zero ("no alcohol") limit applies to all learner, provisional, probationary and restricted licence holders regardless of age, and to anyone driving a truck, a bus, or a taxi or other vehicle providing a public passenger service.^[7]

Your BAC keeps rising for 30 to 60 minutes after your last drink, and depends on your weight, food, the drink and more, so there's no reliable number of drinks that keeps you under.^[7] If you're driving, don't drink. Our rental terms also prohibit driving over the legal limit, and clause 9 says the excess limit doesn't apply to loss or damage while driving under the influence.

Who gives way at a roundabout in Queensland?

You give way to every vehicle already on the roundabout, whether it's on your right, in front of you or on your left.^[8] On multi-lane roundabouts, the lane rules are where visitors go wrong:

• Turning left: use the left lane and signal left as you approach.^[8]
• Going straight ahead: use either lane; no signal on approach, but signal left before you exit.^[8]
• Turning right or making a U-turn: use the right lane, signal right on approach, then signal left before you exit. Never turn right from the left lane unless arrows on the road allow it.^[8]
• Lane arrows and spiral markings override the general rules, so follow them.^[8]

Can I drive in a bus lane or a T2 or T3 lane?

A bus lane is for buses, taxis, limousines, bikes and emergency vehicles; a "bus only" lane is for buses alone. In a private car you may enter a special purpose lane only for a short distance, up to 100 metres, to enter or leave the road or to turn, or to avoid an obstruction.^[9]

Transit lanes are marked T2 or T3. A car with 2 or more people may use T2 lanes; a car with 3 or more may use T2 and T3 lanes. The sign shows the hours, usually peak periods; if there's no time on the sign, it applies all the time.^[9] Driving in one illegally can bring a fine.^[9]

How are speed and red light cameras used, and who pays the fine?

Assume you can be caught anywhere. Red light cameras and combined red light and speed cameras run 24 hours a day; the combined ones catch speeding on red, yellow or green. Queensland has up to 3,500 mobile speed camera sites, and police can run them from marked or unmarked vehicles at any time. There are also fixed and point-to-point cameras, and portable cameras in school zones and roadworks.^[10] Once your car crosses the stop line on a red light, the offence is complete.^[10]

Camera fines go to the vehicle's registered owner, and Queensland lets the owner transfer a fine to the person who was driving, generally within 28 days of the notice.^[12] In a rental car the owner is the rental company, so the fine reaches you later, through them.

Parking fines and tolls work in a similar way; our guide to fuel, parking and fines in Brisbane covers them.

What should I do about wildlife on the road?

Kangaroos and wallabies are often drawn to the roadside, and livestock or pets can stray onto the road. Watch for animal warning signs.^[13] Kangaroos feed mostly at dawn and dusk, so slow down where you see crossing signs or roadkill, especially at night.^[14]

If an animal is in your path, brake in a controlled way. You may stop or drive on the shoulder to avoid it, but swerving into other traffic is not reasonable, and sometimes the safest option is to hold your line. If you hit an animal, or see one in distress, call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).^[13] In a rental car, tell the rental company about any damage straight away.