Smooth dice, or matte dice. We’ve all seen them hung on car rearview mirrors before, and you may have even had them in your car at some point.
- If you can get distracted by it, you can get in trouble for it
- Penalties apply to many states in Australia
- The rules also apply to other items in your field of view
But if you have a set of these six trim points in your car, you could be fined.
You can choose to roll the dice, but the smart money is to remove fuzzy number blocks from your car, as there could be a back pocket ram. You can even deal with some minuses.
Judgments vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the concept is the same; Those dice can distract you while driving, so you shouldn’t leave them in your car.
The parents out there are probably thinking, “Wow, isn’t it illegal to drive with children in the car?”. Or maybe you’re thinking, “Wow, shouldn’t billboards on both sides of the road be banned?”. Those are fair points.
Look, you’re more likely to get fined if you drive erratically and happen to have smooth dice hanging on your mirror. But if the police think you are driving that way because If you have those there, then you may be subject to a financial penalty.
The National Transportation Commission has endorsed recommendations to “seek to address all sources of distraction while driving”. Essentially, that group’s 2020 publication mainly focuses on digital distractions that are currently heavily penalized, such as smartphones and touchscreen devices.
However, police may find you with smooth dice or any other decorations – such as stickers on the front or rear windshield – as distractions that block your view of the road. way.
Australian Roads Law 297 (2) states: “A motorist may not drive a motor vehicle unless the driver has a clear view of the road and traffic, ahead, behind and to each side of the driver. .”
If enforced, it could cost you almost $350 in NSW and could result in a three-point deduction. For Queensland, the penalty is similar, but without deducting points.
Victoria’s Offenses Code 2088 states that a motorist can be in breach if they “have no full control, uninterrupted visibility…” This does not attract any negatives, but could be subject to a penalty. nearly $250 fine.
The WA Road Safety Commission’s mobile phone and distraction guidelines offer a few ways to ensure you can “Avoid Any Distractions” while behind the wheel:
- Turn off cell phones while driving.
- Adjust all vehicle controls before departure.
- Turn off your MP3 player while driving.
- Take a break instead of eating, drinking, smoking, or grooming while driving.
- Check the map before starting the journey to know what lies ahead.
- Ask passengers to be quiet if you have trouble concentrating while driving.
- Make sure pets are properly kept in the vehicle.
- Recognize what distracts you and avoid it while driving.
- Make sure your vehicle’s windshield and mirrors are clean and unobstructed.
So better keep your snake eyes on the road, hey?
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
