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Learn little known road rules such as leaving unlocked car, driving with pet

FROM leaving parked cars unlocked, to driving with an animal in your lap, drivers have been urged to brush up on some of the lesser-known road rules.

Leave you car unlocked and you could be fined $116, while driving with your pet in your lap could cost you $464 and three demerit points.
Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, said you might consider yourself a good driver, but keeping your knowledge up to date on even common rules was an important part of your responsibility in sharing the road safely.
Road Rules Awareness Week (March 22-28) is a reminder to all road users that road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Mr Constance said no matter how trivial you might think a road rule is, it’s there for a reason, so brush up on your knowledge to help save even more lives on the road.
“We want to put a stop to fatalities and trauma suffered when people disregard or aren’t aware of the road rules,” he said.
“The campaign also helps drivers understand why a rule is in place, such as a lower speed limit in a busy pedestrian area. For pedestrians, there’s a 90 per cent chance of survival at impact speeds of 30km/h, but only 10 per cent chance of survival at 50km/h. By educating road users about why rules are in place, we hope it’ll save lives.”
Andrew Nguyen, from Tang Driving School, says he understands the frustrations of the Minister and sees many motorists flouting the laws, and others who don’t seem to know or care about the basic rules of driving.
Some of his biggest concerns includes young drivers with only one hand on the wheel, not checking side mirrors and speeding.
“It’s also best to get professional help when you’re learning so you don’t pick up another driver’s bad habits,” he said.