Tasmania speed limits and key road rules

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state Tasmania's three default speed limits.
• You can apply the learner and P1 speed caps.
• You can explain when school zone and school bus limits apply.
• You can slow correctly when passing emergency or roadside assistance vehicles.
• You can apply the keep left rule on faster multi-lane roads.

What you need to know and understand

• Default limits where no sign is posted: 50 km/h in a built-up area, 80 km/h on an unsealed road outside a built-up area, and 100 km/h on a sealed road outside a built-up area.
• Learners must not exceed 90 km/h and P1 drivers must not exceed 100 km/h, even where a higher limit is signed.
• You must not go faster than 20 km/h when turning at an intersection with traffic lights.
• School zones are 40 km/h on school days during the times shown on the sign, including in school car parks and driveways inside the zone.
• Within 50 metres of a school bus with its lights flashing the limit is 40 km/h, from either direction.
• A speed limit on an electronic sign only applies when the sign is lit up.

Reading the limit when there is no sign

A signed limit applies until another sign changes it, the road ends, or you pass an end speed limit sign. If no sign applies, you use the default limit for that kind of road.

Some Tasmanian highways are signed higher than 100 km/h. Learners and P1 drivers still keep to their own caps on those roads.

Slow to 40 for flashing lights

When you pass a stopped or slow-moving emergency, enforcement, escort or roadside assistance vehicle showing flashing red, blue, magenta or yellow lights, or sounding an alarm, you must slow down.

• On roads with a limit of 80 km/h or less: slow to 40 km/h.
• On roads with a limit over 80 km/h: slow to 40 km/h if it is safe; if not, slow down as much as you safely can.
• Brake gradually. Heavy vehicles behind you need longer to stop.
• Give way to any workers on foot near the vehicle.
• The rule does not apply if you are on the other side of a divided road with a median strip.

Other everyday rules worth knowing

Our guide to getting your full licence in Tasmania explains how speeding offences affect P platers.

• On roads with a limit over 80 km/h, or with a keep left unless overtaking sign, drive in the left lane unless you are overtaking, turning right or doing a U-turn, avoiding a hazard, or another listed exception applies (such as congested traffic in the left lane).
• Leave about a three-second gap behind the vehicle in front, and more in poor conditions.
• Indicate for at least 5 seconds before pulling out from the side of the road.
• You must not go over the speed limit to overtake.
• Radar detectors and jammers are illegal, even if they are switched off.

Common mistakes

• Driving at 100 km/h on a gravel road outside town because there is no sign. The default on unsealed roads is 80 km/h.
• Turning at traffic lights too fast. The limit while turning is 20 km/h.
• Forgetting the school zone limit continues after turning into another street until you pass an end school zone sign.
• Braking hard to 40 km/h on a highway when passing a crash scene. Slow down smoothly and only as fast as is safe.

Test yourself: Tasmania speed limits and key road rules

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Getting Your Full Licence in Tasmania and the Safer Driver Reward
• Learning to Drive in Tasmania
• Tasmania Hazard Perception Test