Aussie drivers stumped by this weird road rule question
All motorists should have a sufficient grasp on road rules, but one scenario has left many motorists stumped on how they would respond.
Queensland’s Department of Transport has tested motorists by asking them what they would do if they encountered a spooked horse on the road.
The Department asked the tough question to its Twitter followers to see if drivers knew how to handle the situation correctly.
“You know your road rules, and now’s your chance to prove it,” read the caption on the image.
“The rider’s signalling that they’re having trouble controlling their horse. What must the driver of the orange car do?
“It’s for the rider’s safety, the horse’s safety, and for yours”, the Twitter post read.
If you would respond by quickly moving around the animal, then you could receive a $2600 fine in the Sunshine State.
In the scenario, the driver is expected to pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine, in order to avoid distressing the horse.
A driver can “not move the vehicle until there is no reasonable likelihood that the noise of the motor, or the movement of the vehicle, will aggravate the restiveness of the horse”.
Other states in Australia have similar rules about giving adequate space to horses on the road, but breaking the rule in QLD can result in a maximum penalty of 20 units, which equals $2611.
However, the rule only applies if the horse rider has raised their hand and pointed to the horse, signalling that the animal is distressed.
Under Australian law, horses are considered vehicles and are able to be ridden on the road.
Were you aware of this road rule? Let us know in the comments below.