NSW Birth Certificate Reforms, Australia Road Rule Changes Take Effect

From July 1, 2025, significant road rule changes and tougher penalties have come into effect across Australia to improve road safety. Victoria has mandated drivers to slow down to 40 km/h when passing roadside assistance and incident response vehicles with flashing lights, carrying fines up to $961 for non-compliance. Similar laws have been introduced in South Australia and Western Australia, with varying speed limits and increased penalties for violations such as mobile phone use and seatbelt infractions. New surveillance technology, including AI-enabled cameras, will detect mobile phone usage and seatbelt non-compliance, with fines reaching up to $1209 and demerit points applied. NSW has started applying average speed cameras to light vehicles on key highways and is phasing out ticketless parking fines, while Queensland is increasing fines by 3.5% for traffic offenses. These reforms represent a nationwide effort to enhance safety for drivers and roadside workers, with public awareness campaigns urging adherence to the new regulations.