You’ve probably seen this scenario play out plenty of times: You’re driving along and you see a vehicle up ahead with its indicators on, so you leave plenty of space for them to make their move… but they never do.
- You should only use your indicators when necessary
- Failing to cancel your blinker if you don’t plan to change direction can lead to penalties
- Fines apply in all Australian jurisdictions, and some enforce demerit points
Trucks are the most likely culprits, as it can be harder to hear blinkers in the cabin of a big rig, but all drivers are likely to make this mistake at some point or another when driving.
But did you know that you could be fined for forgetting to cancel your blinker? And no, you can’t blame the car because the stalk didn’t reset – it’s the driver’s responsibility to make sure they are in control of any lighting on the exterior of the vehicle.
Lights and indicators are crucial ways by which other road users can judge your intentions, and there are strict rules around misusing lights and blinkers – be it inadvertently or intentionally – that you should know about.
The Australian Road Rules Regs 46 (4) and 48 (4) state: “The driver must stop giving the change of direction signal as soon as the driver completes the change of direction.”
So here’s a rundown of the price you might pay if you fail to stop indicating.
New South Wales
You could be fined $227 and slogged with two demerit points in NSW for failing to cancel your blinker.
The fine is the same for “Not stop left change of direction signal after change” and “Not stop right change of direction signal after change”.
Queensland
The QLD wording around this rule is a bit different. Still, the intention is the same – you could be fined if you forget to, or intentionally don’t, cancel your blinker: “Fail to cancel or incorrectly operate signal” ($96 fine, two demerit points).
Victoria
As with most other states, there’s no demerit impact for failing to cancel your blinker in Victoria, but there are fines of at least $198 for “Fail to cancel or incorrectly operate signal”, if the officer booking you is in a bad mood.
South Australia
South Australia takes a very strong view on indicator laws, with the heaviest penalties in the nation for doing the wrong thing when signalling intent on the state’s roadways.
You could be slapped with two demerit points and $346 fine (including a $99 Victims of Crime Levy. These could be the applicable rules that you’re breaking if you fail to turn off your blinker:
- Fail to cancel left signal – $356 fine, two demerits
- Fail to cancel right signal – $356 fine, two demerits
- Misuse of direction indicator – $356 fine, two demerits
ACT
As with most other jurisdictions, the Australian Capital Territory doesn’t impose a demerit penalty for failing to turn off your indicators. Instead, there’s a potential $219 fine and two demerit points for “not stop left/right change of direction signal after change”.
Tasmania
You can be fined in Tasmania for having your blinkers on when you’re not actually changing lanes or have completed any movement as indicated:
- Fail to turn off left-indicator on completion of direction change ($146 fine)
- Fail to turn off right-indicator on completion of direction change ($146 fine)
- Use indicator when not permitted ($95 fine)
Western Australia
According to WA Road Traffic Code 2000, “A driver must not permit a signalling device on the vehicle to remain in operation after the completion of the turn in respect of which the device was put into operation.”
It’ll set you back one penalty unit, or a $50 fine.
Northern Territory
Traffic Infringements Schedule item 12 states that you will cop a fine, but your licence won’t be stung, if you don’t cancel your turn signal. “Fail to cancel signal – $40 fine”.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or Territory.
