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If you frequently drive on Australian roads, chances are you might have come across another driver flashing their lights as a way to warn you of either police or speed cameras.
While this act of mateship is generally welcome among Australian drivers, road authorities are warning drivers that flashing their lights at other drivers is illegal and can lead to various penalties.
To spare yourself the heartache of receiving a fine in the mail, here’s everything you need to know about this road rule.
Is it illegal to flash your headlights to warn of speed cameras?
Generally speaking, yes, it is illegal to flash your headlights to warn drivers of incoming speed cameras.
While there are no specific road rules regarding warning other drivers through a car’s headlights, the offence could fall under Australian Road Rules Regulation 219.
According to the Australian Road Rules – which form the foundational road laws used by all states and territories – “a driver must not use, or allowed to be used, any light fitted to or in the driver’s vehicle to dazzle, or in any way that is likely to dazzle, another road user”.
Additionally, the road rules state that a driver “must not use the vehicle’s headlights on high beam” if they’re 200m behind another vehicle travelling in the same direction or 200m from an oncoming car.
Motorists need to dip their headlights if they're within 200m of another vehicle to avoid distracting other road users.
But depending on the state, like New South Wales, for example, drivers can switch from low to high beam when they’re about to overtake the vehicle in front of them.
Interestingly, in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), road authorities can be lenient depending on the situation.
An ACT Policing spokesperson previously told Drive, “When there is a danger present to oncoming drivers that cannot be warned about via any other practical method (for example, a major collision where the road is closed, or a large number of livestock obstructing the road ahead), it may be permissible to warn oncoming traffic by flashing your headlights”.
However, the spokesperson warned, “Doing so in a way that the brightness dazzles any oncoming driver may still result in an infringement notice”.
What’s the fine for flashing your headlights?
Improper use of your headlights or 'dazzling' another road user can land you a maximum fine of $609 in Victoria. Drivers caught violating New South Wales road rules can be issued a maximum court infringement of $2200.
Meanwhile, in Queensland, motorists who warn other drivers with their headlights can be issued a maximum court-imposed 20 penalty units valued at $3320.
South Australian drivers caught by police using their headlights to dazzle other road users can face a $300 fine and one demerit point.
In Western Australia, dazzling other drivers with your headlights can land you a $100 penalty. Motorists residing in Tasmania can be fined a maximum penalty of $1025 for not using their headlights correctly.
Offenders caught in the Australian Capital Territory can face a maximum court-imposed fine of $3200 for dazzling other road users. Finally, in the Northern Territory, motorists who flash their headlights can be handed a $162 fine without any demerit points.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
