The New South Wales Police Force has reiterated that sitting in the right lane longer than needed is still a punishable offence, making an example of one driver who committed a couple of other infractions, too.
On Friday, November 22, Goulburn Highway Patrol officers detected a Subaru Forester with red P-plates being driven in the right-hand lane on the Hume Highway, which has a posted speed limit of 110km/h.
While the Forester continued to be driven at 90km/h – the limit for learner and provisional drivers in the state – it was observed sticking in the right-hand lane even though the driver allegedly wasn’t overtaking, turning right or avoiding road obstructions.
The driver also allegedly passed signs telling drivers to keep left unless overtaking.
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Police subsequently stopped the male driver, who produced a learner’s licence – not a provisional licence, despite the car displaying P-plates and not L-plates.
The vehicle’s only other occupants were a female P-plater in the back seat and a small child she was attending to.
Though the P-plate holder could have driven the car, the learner’s indiscretions led to his licence being suspended for three months.
He was issued infringements for not displaying L-plates ($320 fine, two demerit points), driving in the right lane when the posted speed limit was above 80km/h ($410 fine, two demerit points), and driving unaccompanied by a fully licensed driver ($1045 fine).
MORE: Yes, someone was actually fined for hogging the overtaking lane
