Category: Australia

Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a car learner licence in Queensland you must pass a road rules test, and for most new drivers that is PrepL. PrepL is an online course and assessment with 30 multiple-choice questions, and you need 27 correct (90 per cent) to pass. You can enrol from 15 years and 11 months. This page covers how PrepL works, the older written test, retakes, fees and how to prepare.

PrepL at a glance

	PrepL	Written road rules test
Where	Online, on a phone, tablet or computer	In person at a TMR centre
Questions	30 multiple choice	30 multiple choice: 10 giving way, 20 road rules and licensing
Pass mark	27 out of 30	At least 9 of 10 giving way and 18 of 20 road rules
Minimum age	15 years 11 months to enrol	16
Time	About 4 to 6 hours of learning, 12 months to finish	One sitting
Fee (from 1 July 2026)	$29.70	$29.70 each attempt

Do I have to do PrepL, or can I sit the written test?

TMR’s PrepL enrolment service says you will need to do PrepL before you can apply for a car learner licence. When PrepL launched in 2018, the Queensland Government said it would replace the 30-question written test and that alternative arrangements would be available for people who cannot use the online program. TMR’s driver tests page still describes the written test. If you cannot do PrepL online, ask TMR on 13 23 80 whether the written test is open to you.

How PrepL works

1. Enrol online through TMR’s “Enrol in PrepL” service. Use your own email address, not a school or shared one, because you will lose access when you leave school.
2. Enter your details. Existing TMR customers need their customer reference number (CRN). New customers may need Medicare card details.
3. Pay the course fee by Visa or Mastercard unless you have already paid at a centre.
4. Work through the modules at your own pace. PrepL covers the road rules and safe driving attitudes, including the “Fatal Five”: speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue and distraction.
5. Pass the assessment with 27 out of 30.
6. Visit a customer service centre with your identity documents to get your learner licence. See learning to drive in Queensland for what to bring.

What if I fail PrepL?

You can try again. TMR’s PrepL information says you wait 24 hours before another attempt and there is no extra fee within your 12 months of access. The written test is different: one attempt a day, and you pay the test fee each time. Your result is valid for 5 years, so you do not need to rush to get your licence once you pass.

What the questions cover

TMR’s free practice road rules test mirrors the general test: 10 giving way questions and 20 road rule questions. Expect questions on:

• giving way at intersections, T-intersections, roundabouts and to pedestrians
• speed limits, including the 50 km/h default in built-up areas and 100 km/h elsewhere
• signs, signals, road markings and traffic lights
• learner and P plate conditions, demerit points, alcohol and phones
• hazardous places such as school zones and level crossings

Useful revision: giving way in Australia, roundabout rules and Australian road signs explained.

How to prepare

• Read Your keys to driving in Queensland; TMR tells you to read it before the practice test. Our study guide to Your keys to driving in Queensland summarises each section.
• Do TMR’s free practice road rules test until you score at least 27 every time.
• Learn the Queensland learner rules you will need on day one: Queensland learner rules.

Common questions

Is PrepL harder than the written test?

Both have 30 questions and need about 90 per cent. The difference is that PrepL teaches you the material in modules before the assessment, and it also covers safe driving attitudes, not just the rules.

Can I do PrepL at 15?

Yes, from 15 years and 11 months. You still have to wait until 16 for the licence itself.

How long do I have to finish PrepL?

12 months from paying.

Can I do PrepL on my phone?

Yes. It runs on phones, tablets and computers.

Is cheating on the road rules test an offence?

Yes. The Driver Licensing Regulation makes cheating, or sitting the test for someone else, an offence.

I moved from overseas. Do I need PrepL?

Possibly. TMR’s enrolment page asks about your licence to decide. See moving to Queensland.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Enrol in PrepL” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Practice road rules test” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Driver tests: written and online” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “PrepL online learning and assessment” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Licence fees” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Ministerial Media Statements, “New learner test PrepLs Queenslanders into driver’s seat”, 21 November 2018 (statements.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021” (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Road Rules) Regulation 2009” (legislation.qld.gov.au)

Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you move to Queensland with an interstate or overseas driver licence, you can keep driving on it for 3 months after you take up residence, then you must hold a Queensland licence. Interstate and New Zealand licences transfer without tests. Licences from Austroads “recognised countries” also skip the tests. Everyone else needs a road rules test (PrepL or the written test) and a practical driving test. This guide explains each case, what to bring and how learners and P platers transfer.

Key facts

• Deadline: 3 months after you take up residence (for overseas licence holders who are not citizens, the clock starts when you take up residence with a permanent or special category visa, or when that visa is granted if later).
• Interstate and New Zealand: no road rules or practical test for the same class held within the last 5 years.
• Recognised countries: no road rules or practical test for a car licence.
• Other countries: road rules test and practical test, whatever your age or experience.
• Apply in person at a TMR customer service centre.

Transferring an interstate licence to Queensland

Under the Driver Licensing Regulation, your interstate licence lets you drive (or learn to drive) the same vehicles in Queensland that it allows at home. That authority ends 3 months after you take up residence. Full-time Australian Defence Force members and eligible family members carrying a current ADF identification card are exempt from the 3 month cut-off.

Your interstate licence	What you get in Queensland
Full (open) licence	Queensland open licence, no tests
P1 or P2	The matching Queensland P1 or P2; your time on Ps carries over
Learner	Queensland learner licence. No road rules test if you passed one within the last 5 years. You can apply for credit for up to 100 logbook hours.

Your licence conditions stay with you, and from transfer you follow Queensland’s rules, such as the under-25 P1 phone ban and peer passenger limit. See Queensland P1 and P2 rules and logbook credit.

Visiting rather than moving? See driving interstate on L or P plates.

Transferring an overseas licence to Queensland

A current overseas licence lets you drive the vehicles it covers in Queensland, and a car, until 3 months after you take up residence. After that you need a Queensland licence.

Licence from	Road rules test	Practical test
New Zealand	No	No
A recognised country (listed on the Austroads website, for example the United Kingdom, Canada or Singapore)	No	No, for a car licence
Any other country	Yes: PrepL or the written test	Yes

The licence must have been held within the last 5 years and cannot be a learner licence. TMR’s PrepL service confirms that the old “experienced driver recognition” category has been removed, so experienced drivers from non-recognised countries now sit both tests regardless of age.

Taking the practical test on an overseas licence

• You can sit the test on your overseas licence; you do not need a Queensland learner licence first.
• You may not be able to book online. Call 13 23 80.
• Warning: if you fail a Queensland practical driving test, your authority to drive on your overseas or interstate licence is withdrawn. You would then need a supervisor. Book lessons first and do not drive yourself home after the test.

What to bring to the customer service centre

• original Category A and Category B identity documents (no photocopies or certified copies)
• proof of your Queensland residential address
• your interstate or overseas licence
• a NAATI-accredited translation if your overseas licence is not in English
• a current medical certificate if you have a condition likely to affect safe driving

Licence classes, codes and conditions

Queensland uses the national classes: C (car; CA if automatic only), RE and R (motorcycles), LR, MR, HR, HC and MC (heavy vehicles). Common condition codes on a Queensland licence include:

Code	Meaning
A	Automatic transmission only, for the classes it applies to. It never applies to a car licence: an automatic-only car licence shows as class CA instead
S	Must wear corrective lenses
M	Must carry a valid medical certificate
V	Vehicle must have stated driver aids or modifications
I	Alcohol interlock vehicle only
X3	Driving under a special hardship order

Upgrading your licence

To move to a higher class you must have held your current licence for a minimum time within the last 5 years. TMR gives the example of holding a C class licence for 2 years before an HR licence. Time while suspended, surrendered, cancelled or expired does not count. If some of that time was on an interstate or overseas licence, call TMR before you book.

After you transfer: general rules

• Tell TMR within 14 days if you change your name or address.
• Tell TMR about any permanent or long-term medical condition likely to affect your driving.
• Interstate demerit points for matching offences go on your Queensland traffic history.

Common questions

How long can I drive on my interstate licence after moving to Queensland?

Until 3 months after you take up residence.

Do I need to do PrepL if I have an overseas licence?

Only if your licence is not from New Zealand or a recognised country. TMR’s PrepL enrolment service asks a few questions to tell you.

Is my UK licence recognised in Queensland?

The United Kingdom is a recognised country, so a UK car licence held within the last 5 years transfers without tests. Check the current list on the Austroads website.

I am under 25 with a full overseas licence. Do I need a logbook?

If you get a Queensland learner licence on the basis of your overseas licence, the regulation says the logbook and the 6-month hazard perception wait do not apply. Confirm your case with TMR.

Can I keep my interstate P plate time?

Yes. Time on an equivalent interstate provisional licence counts.

Main guide: learning to drive in Queensland. Tests: PrepL and the Q-Safe practical driving test.

Sources

• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, current as at 21 September 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Enrol in PrepL” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Bookings online: book a driving test” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transferring to a Queensland licence” and “Testing requirements to transfer your overseas licence” (qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland”, Queensland licensing section (publications.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Licence types, classes and conditions” (qld.gov.au)

Photo: Kerry Raymond, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Learning to drive in Queensland means passing PrepL, holding a learner licence for at least a year, passing the hazard perception test (normally taken online) and then the Q-Safe practical driving test. If you are under 25 you also need a logbook with 100 supervised hours, 10 of them at night. You can get your Ls at 16, your red P1 at 17, your green P2 at 18 and an open licence from 20. This guide sets out every step, what changes if you are 25 or older, and the 2026 fees.

Key facts

• Learner licence: from age 16, after passing a road rules test (normally PrepL). You can start PrepL from 15 years and 11 months.
• Minimum time on Ls: 1 year before you can move to a provisional licence.
• Logbook: 100 hours including 10 at night if you are under 25.
• Hazard perception test: normally online, after at least 6 months on your Ls, and passed before you book the driving test. An offline version is run by the Indigenous Driver Licensing Unit during community visits, and TMR (13 23 80) can help if you cannot do the test online.
• Licence path: learner, P1 (red), P2 (green), open. Minimum ages 16, 17, 18 and 20.
• Department: the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), phone 13 23 80.

The steps from L plates to an open licence in Queensland

For a learner under 25 with no motorcycle licence, the path looks like this.

1. Pass PrepL. The online course and assessment takes about 4 to 6 hours. You need 27 out of 30 to pass. See PrepL and the Queensland road rules test.
2. Get your learner licence at a TMR customer service centre (see below for what to bring).
3. Drive with a supervisor and fill in your logbook. 100 hours, 10 at night. See the Queensland learner logbook and Queensland learner rules.
4. Sit the hazard perception test after 6 months on your Ls. See the Queensland hazard perception test.
5. Submit your logbook and wait for approval. TMR asks you to submit at least 12 business days before your test. Wait for approval before relying on it.
6. Pass the Q-Safe practical driving test once you have held your Ls for at least 1 year and are 17 or older. See the Q-Safe practical driving test and Q-Safe manoeuvres and re-sit rules.
7. Drive on red P1 plates, then green P2 plates, then upgrade to an open licence. See Queensland P1 and P2 rules.

How long each licence stage lasts

Stage	Minimum age	Minimum time held	Plates
Learner	16	1 year before P1 (2 years if you have a logbook exemption)	L plates, black on yellow
P1 provisional	17	1 year	Red P
P2 provisional	18	2 years if you got your P1 under 23 and your P2 under 25; otherwise 1 year	Green P
Open	20	Not applicable	None

Time on a licence must be within the last 5 years. TMR says time while your licence is suspended, surrendered, cancelled or expired does not count, but the time does not have to be continuous.

Worked example

You get your Ls on your 16th birthday, pass Q-Safe at 17 and go onto P1. After a year you move to P2 at 18. Because you got P1 under 23 and P2 under 25, you hold P2 for 2 years and can upgrade to an open licence at 20.

What if you are 25 or older?

Under the Driver Licensing Regulation, the logbook rules only apply to learners under 25. If you are 25 or older when you apply for your provisional licence, you skip P1 entirely:

• hold your learner licence for at least 1 year
• pass the hazard perception test (after 6 months on your Ls) and the practical driving test
• go straight onto a P2 licence, which you hold for 1 year before an open licence

If you were first granted a P1 at 24, you can move from P1 to an open licence after 1 year without a P2 stage.

Applying for your learner licence card

You apply in person at a TMR customer service centre so staff can verify your identity and take your photo. TMR’s online service says to bring:

• original identity documents, unless you hold a Queensland licence or photo card: most people need 3, one from Category A, one from Category B and one more from either (photocopies and certified copies are not accepted)
• a Category C document if your Queensland home address is not on those, and a Category D document if your name differs from them
• a current medical certificate if you have a medical condition likely to affect your ability to drive safely

The regulation lets TMR issue a licence for a term of 1 to 5 years. TMR’s fees page lists the car learner licence as a 3-year licence.

Eyesight and medical conditions

Queensland’s “Jet’s law” provisions in the Driver Licensing Regulation require you to tell TMR about a permanent or long-term medical condition that is likely to affect your ability to drive safely, and to tell them again if it gets worse. You normally need a medical certificate from your doctor when you report, but not if you are only reporting that you need glasses or contact lenses to drive. TMR may put conditions on your licence. If you are unsure whether your eyesight or a condition needs reporting, ask your doctor and TMR before you apply.

Queensland driver licence types

• Learner licence: you can only drive with a supervisor.
• P1 and P2 provisional licences: you drive alone with red or green plates and extra restrictions.
• Probationary licence: issued after a disqualification ends, with tighter conditions.
• Restricted licence: a court-ordered licence for specific driving, such as work, in limited circumstances.
• Open licence: the full licence.

Motorbikes: a class C car licence does not let you ride a motorbike. Queensland has two motorbike classes, RE (the lower class) and R. Under the Driver Licensing Regulation, you generally need to be at least 18 and have held a car P or open licence for at least 1 year in the last 5 years before getting a class RE learner licence, and you can only learn to ride a class R motorbike after holding a class RE P or open licence for at least 2 years. To get the RE licence you pass a motorbike hazard perception test, then complete Q-Ride training with a registered provider, or, if you live more than 100 km from a Q-Ride training area, you can take a practical riding test instead.

Learner and P plate drivers can only have 4 demerit points in a year. See Queensland demerit points and licence sanctions.

Queensland learner and P plate fees (from 1 July 2026)

Item	Fee
PrepL or written road rules test	$29.70
Learner licence (3 years)	$80.15
Hazard perception test	$42.70
Practical driving test	$69.40
Provisional licence, 1 year / 3 years / 5 years	$94.65 / $163.25 / $212.00

Fees are indexed each July. Check the current figures on the TMR licence fees page before you pay.

Study material

The official handbook is Your keys to driving in Queensland. TMR has flagged that it is being reviewed for the e-scooter and e-bike rules that started on 1 July 2026. See our study guide to Your keys to driving in Queensland. For road rules that apply in particular places, read hazardous localities in Queensland and driving in Brisbane tunnels.

Common questions

Can I get my Ls in Queensland at 15?

No. You can start PrepL online from 15 years and 11 months, but the learner licence itself needs you to be at least 16.

What is the fastest way to a Queensland open licence?

Starting at 16, the minimum is 1 year on Ls, 1 year on P1 and 2 years on P2, which brings you to an open licence at 20. Any suspension adds time.

Do I need a logbook if I am over 25?

No. The 100 hour logbook only applies if you are under 25. You still need 1 year on your Ls, the hazard perception test and the practical test.

I have a licence from another state. Do I start again?

No. Interstate licences transfer, but you must swap within 3 months of moving. See moving to Queensland.

Can I drive in another state on Queensland L or P plates?

Generally yes, but check the rules first. See driving interstate on L or P plates.

How does Queensland compare with other states?

See learner licence rules compared and P plate rules compared.

Sources

• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, current as at 21 September 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Enrol in PrepL” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Bookings online: book a driving test” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Enrol in hazard perception test” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Driver tests: written and online” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Licence fees” (qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland” (publications.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Learner logbook” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Car hazard perception test” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Evidence (proof) of identity for individuals” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Reporting your medical condition” (qld.gov.au)

Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Your keys to driving in Queensland is the official handbook from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). It is what PrepL, the written road rules test and the Q-Safe test are based on. This study guide walks through every section in plain English, flags what matters most for each test, and links to our detailed Queensland pages.

About the current edition

• The handbook is free on the Queensland Government publications portal as one complete PDF or as separate section PDFs.
• The complete PDF on the portal is marked No. 19, November 2022, on its cover and says its information is current as at July 2022. Rules made since then are not in it.
• TMR has flagged that the guide is under review and does not yet reflect the e-scooter and e-bike rules that started on 1 July 2026. Check qld.gov.au for those rules.
• Where the handbook and current law differ, the law applies. Licensing rules in this guide were checked against the Driver Licensing Regulation current at 21 September 2026.

How to use the handbook for each test

Test	Sections to focus on
PrepL or written road rules test	Road rules (especially Giving way), Queensland licensing
Hazard perception test	Safe road use: Hazards, Stopping, Sharing with other road users
Q-Safe practical test	Queensland licensing: Ready to drive and Q-Safe practical driving test; Road rules

Section 1: Introduction

Explains what the handbook covers and how to use it. Read it once, then move on.

Section 2: Queensland licensing

The longest and most practical section for new drivers. It covers:

• Driver licence, applying for a card, licence types and classes: what each licence allows and what to bring. See learning to drive in Queensland.
• Graduated licensing: learner at 16, P1 at 17, P2 at 18, open from 20.
• Eyesight and medical conditions: you must tell TMR about conditions likely to affect safe driving.
• PrepL and the road rules test: see PrepL and the Queensland road rules test.
• Learning to drive, L plates and mobile phones: see Queensland learner rules.
• The compulsory learner logbook: see the Queensland learner logbook.
• Hazard perception test: see the Queensland hazard perception test.
• Ready to drive and the Q-Safe test: see the Q-Safe practical driving test and Q-Safe manoeuvres and re-sit rules.
• Provisional, open, probationary and restricted licences: see Queensland P1 and P2 rules.
• Motorbikes and heavy vehicles: separate licence classes with their own tests.
• General provisions and non-Queensland licences: address changes, transfers and upgrades. See moving to Queensland.

Section 3: Road rules

This is where most PrepL questions come from. Queensland’s road rules follow the Australian Road Rules, so most topics match other states; see the Australian Road Rules explained.

Handbook topic	Key point to learn	Read next
Signs and signals	Regulatory signs are law; warning signs tell you what is ahead	Road signs, traffic lights and arrows
Speed limits	Default 50 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h elsewhere, unless signed	Hazardous localities
Making turns, roundabouts, indicating	Correct lane, signal in time, give way	Roundabout rules
Giving way	10 of the 30 questions in the written test and practice test format	Giving way
Road markings	What each line means for overtaking and changing lanes	Road markings
Hazardous localities	School zones, crossings, level crossings, roadworks	Hazardous localities in Queensland
Alcohol and drugs	Zero alcohol on L and P plates	Zero alcohol
Heavy vehicles	Give trucks and buses room	Trucks and buses
Parking	Signs, distances and parallel parking	Parking rules
Rules for other road users	Cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and personal mobility devices	Passing cyclists
Other rules and responsibilities	Lights, horn, seatbelts and other everyday rules	Headlights and horn

Note: rules for e-scooters, e-bikes and other personal mobility devices changed from 1 July 2026 and are not yet in the handbook.

Section 4: Safe road use

• Sharing with other road users: see motorcyclists and lane filtering.
• Driving safely in tunnels: see Brisbane tunnels and Queensland motorways.
• Stopping and hazards: following distance, braking and spotting danger early. See car emergencies and driving in rain, fog and floods.
• Driver fatigue: see driver fatigue.
• Seatbelts and child restraints: see seatbelts and child car seats.
• Towing a trailer or caravan: see towing on L or P plates.
• What to do at a crash: see what to do after a crash.

Section 5: Offences and penalties

Covers enforcement, licence sanctions, and disqualified and unlicensed driving. The key number for new drivers is 4 demerit points in a year. See Queensland demerit points and licence sanctions and double demerit points.

Section 6: Your vehicle

Covers safety features to look for when buying a car and how to register it. If you are under 25 on Ps, check the car is not a high-powered vehicle before you buy; see Queensland P1 and P2 rules. For registration details and costs, check TMR before you buy.

Routine car checks before practice

A safety certificate when a car is sold does not keep it in good order afterwards. Before you practise, check the tyres for damage and pressure; TMR’s learner tips say tyres need at least 1.5 mm of tread. Check you have enough fuel, and that the oil and water are topped up. Ask your supervisor to check the indicators and brake lights while you work the controls, and make sure the wipers, demister and horn work.

Set your seat, headrest, steering wheel and mirrors before every drive, and find the handbrake, demister, wipers, indicators and horn. If you learn in more than one car, give yourself time to adjust: the brakes, steering and mirrors may feel different. New warning lights, leaks, odd braking or steering, or a damaged tyre are reasons to stop and get the car checked by a qualified repairer. The car must also be registered and roadworthy.

Section 7: Organ donation

Explains how to record your organ donation decision. It is not tested.

A 2-week study plan

1. Days 1 to 3: Queensland licensing section.
2. Days 4 to 8: Road rules, with Giving way twice.
3. Days 9 to 11: Safe road use.
4. Days 12 to 14: TMR’s free practice road rules test, then go back over any weak topic before you start PrepL. PrepL needs 27 out of 30. The written road rules test is marked in two parts instead: at least 9 out of 10 on giving way and 18 out of 20 on the other road rules and licence questions.

Common questions

Where can I get Your keys to driving in Queensland?

Free as PDFs from the Queensland Government publications portal (publications.qld.gov.au).

Is the handbook up to date?

Mostly, but TMR says it is under review for the 1 July 2026 e-scooter and e-bike rules. Licensing details in our Queensland pages were checked against current legislation.

Are PrepL questions taken from the handbook?

The tests are based on the road rules and licensing information in it. TMR tells you to read it before the practice test.

Do I need to read the motorcycle sections?

Not for a car licence.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland”, No. 19, November 2022, complete PDF (186 pages) and table of contents (publications.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Practice road rules test” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, current as at 21 September 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Road Rules) Regulation 2009”, current as at 31 August 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Driving tips for learner drivers” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Driver tests: written and online” (qld.gov.au)

Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Hazardous localities” is a section of the road rules part of Your keys to driving in Queensland. This guide covers the places where Queensland’s road rules ask more of you: school zones, children’s and pedestrian crossings, railway level crossings, shared zones and roadworks. These rules come up in PrepL and in your Q-Safe test, and each one below is taken from Queensland’s Road Rules Regulation.

Quick reference

Place	The rule
School zone	The speed on the school zone sign applies during the signed times
Children’s crossing	Stop at the stop line if a hand-held stop sign is shown or anyone is on or entering it
Pedestrian (zebra) crossing	Give way to anyone on or entering it
Any crossing	Do not overtake a vehicle stopping or stopped for someone crossing
Level crossing	Do not enter if lights flash, bells ring, booms are moving or down, or a train is close
Shared zone	Speed on the sign; give way to pedestrians
Roadworks	Obey the roadworks speed sign and any traffic controller

School zones in Queensland

The speed limit in a school zone is the number on the school zone sign, from that sign to the end school zone sign. TMR says most Queensland school zones operate from 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm on school days, but some use other times and some run all day, so always read the times on the sign. Compare other states at school zones in every Australian state.

Children’s crossings

A children’s crossing has stop lines plus children crossing flags, or children’s crossing signs and twin yellow lights, and is marked by red and white posts or parallel lines.

1. Approach at a speed that lets you stop safely.
2. Stop before the stop line if a crossing supervisor shows a hand-held stop sign, or if a pedestrian or rider is on or entering the crossing.
3. Wait until no one is on or entering the crossing and the supervisor lowers the sign or signals you on.

If the crossing spans a road with a dividing strip, each side counts as a separate crossing.

Pedestrian crossings

At a pedestrian crossing (white stripes across the road, sometimes with a sign or flashing yellow lights) you must approach at a speed that lets you stop, and give way to any pedestrian, cyclist or personal mobility device rider on or entering it. You must never overtake or pass a vehicle that is stopping or has stopped at a crossing. See pedestrian, school and wombat crossings.

Railway level crossings

A level crossing is where a road and railway meet at the same level, signed or not, and includes any cross-hatched area next to it.

• Stop sign: stop at the stop line (or sign) and give way to any train.
• Give way sign: give way to any train on, approaching or entering the crossing.
• Do not enter if warning lights are operating, bells are ringing, a boom or gate is closed or moving, a train is on the crossing or close enough to be a danger, or the road beyond is blocked so you cannot get all the way across.
• Once on it, leave as soon as you safely can.

Most level crossing offences, such as disobeying the warning lights or entering when a train is approaching, carry 3 demerit points. Causing an obstruction at a level crossing, or damage to railway crossing infrastructure, carries 4. See railway level crossings in Australia.

Shared zones

The speed limit in a shared zone is the number on the shared zone sign. You must give way to pedestrians in a shared zone.

Roadworks

Roadworks cover road construction and maintenance, road cleaning, installing traffic signals or signs, and road surface surveys. Obey roadworks speed limit signs and directions from traffic controllers. Road workers can be exempt from some road rules where it is impractical to follow them and warning has been given, so expect vehicles and people in unusual positions. Motorcycle edge filtering is banned through roadworks.

Stopped emergency and breakdown vehicles

When you approach a parked emergency response vehicle showing flashing lights on a multi-lane road, leave a clear lane between you and it if it is safe and practical to change lanes. You do not have to move over where there are roadworks, when following a police or enforcement officer’s direction, or when turning left or right. If you cannot move over, keep as far from the vehicle as you can within your lane and slow to a safe speed. On a single-lane road, pass at a safe distance and a speed that does not put people at risk. See emergency vehicles and slow down rules.

Default speed limits

Where no sign applies, the limit is 50 km/h in a built-up area and 100 km/h outside one.

Common questions

What are Queensland school zone times?

Most run 7am to 9am and 2pm to 4pm on school days, but the times on the sign are the ones that apply.

Can I cross a level crossing if the lights are flashing but I see no train?

No. You must not enter while warning lights operate or bells ring.

What if traffic stops while I am on a level crossing?

Do not enter unless you can get all the way across. If you are already on it, leave as soon as it is safe.

Can I overtake at a pedestrian crossing?

Not past a vehicle that is stopping or has stopped for someone crossing.

Related: Your keys to driving in Queensland study guide, PrepL and learning to drive in Queensland.

Sources

• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Road Rules) Regulation 2009”, current as at 31 August 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, schedule 5 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “School zones” (tmr.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland”, Road rules section (publications.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Parked emergency response vehicles with flashing lights” (qld.gov.au)

Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brisbane’s motorway tunnels, including CLEM7, AirportlinkM7 and Legacy Way, are open to learner and P plate drivers, but a breakdown or crash underground needs a different response from one on an open road. This guide covers the Queensland rules that apply in tunnels, what TMR says to do if you break down or there is a fire, and how to handle motorways as a new driver.

Key facts

• Stopping: you must not stop in a tunnel or underpass unless the road is as wide as on the approaches, or you are in a signed parking or stopping area.
• Breakdown: drive out if you can. If not, stop in a breakdown bay or at the side of the lane, turn on hazard lights and wait for the incident response team.
• Emergency phones: connect you to the tunnel control room.
• Your car catches fire: pull over to the left, stop, turn off the engine and get everyone out, watching for traffic. Do not open the bonnet of an engine fire. Call 000 from an emergency phone or your mobile.
• Traffic help line: 13 19 40 for incidents and breakdowns on major Queensland roads, 24/7. Call 000 in an emergency.

Before you enter a tunnel

• Check your fuel or charge before you go. Breaking down underground blocks a lane.
• Know your exit. Lane changes inside are harder, so pick your lane on the approach.
• Read the overhead signs at the entry. Overhead lane control signals can close lanes; ignoring them carries demerit points.
• Take off sunglasses (unless they are prescription lenses) and turn your headlights on so other drivers can see you.
• Turn your radio on. Tunnels rebroadcast safety and traffic messages over the radio as well as the public address system.

Reading overhead lane control signals

• Red cross over your lane: do not drive in that lane or past the sign.
• Flashing red cross: the lane is closing or closed ahead. Check mirrors, signal and move out as soon as it is safe, rather than swerving into a vehicle beside you.
• Speed sign or white, green or yellow arrow over the lane: you may use the lane, at the speed shown.

A car ahead carrying on under a red cross does not make the lane open. Keep reading the signs, because they can change during an incident.

Driving through the tunnel

1. Keep to the speed limit shown on the signs, which can change for incidents.
2. Keep a safe following distance. Queensland law requires enough distance to stop safely; the Q-Safe test checks for at least 2 seconds.
3. Stay in your lane. Do not cross continuous lane lines. See road markings and lane lines.
4. No stopping except in an emergency, in a signed bay or when the tunnel controller directs you. Never reverse in a tunnel.
5. Avoid changing lanes and overtaking. If you must pass a broken-down vehicle, check it is clear and signal first.

Motorcyclists cannot ride on the road shoulder (edge filter) in a tunnel, but an open-licence rider may still lane filter between slow or stopped vehicles at 30 km/h or less, so check your mirrors before moving within your lane in queued traffic. See motorcyclists and lane filtering.

If you break down or crash in a Brisbane tunnel

1. If the car can move, drive out of the tunnel.
2. If not, pull into a breakdown bay or as far to the side of the lane as you can.
3. Turn on your hazard lights.
4. Stay in the car, or wait safely in front of it, unless there is a fire or you are told to evacuate.
5. Use the nearest emergency phone to reach the tunnel control room. Watch for traffic when you get out.
6. Wait for the incident response unit.

Learner? Your supervisor should take the lead, but practise the steps together so you both know them. After any crash, follow what to do after a crash in Australia.

If you are stuck in tunnel traffic

• Follow overhead signs and radio traffic updates.
• Keep windows closed and set the air conditioning to recirculate.
• Use an emergency phone if you need urgent help.

If there is a fire

• Do not enter a tunnel if you see smoke ahead or have been warned of a fire inside.
• If you are in the tunnel and see smoke or fire ahead, pull over, turn off the engine and wait for instructions by radio, public address or the incident response team.
• If your own car catches fire, pull over to the left, stop, turn off the engine and get out, watching for passing traffic. Do not open the bonnet of an engine fire, as the extra air feeds it. Do not stay in a burning car waiting for an announcement.
• If you cannot put the fire out, leave the keys in the ignition and call 000 from an emergency phone or mobile. Follow any instructions you are given.
• If you are told to evacuate, leave your keys in the ignition in the off position and follow the running man symbols and flashing lights to the nearest safe exit, on foot.

Queensland motorways on L and P plates

• Learners may drive on motorways with their supervisor; Queensland sets no separate learner speed limit, so the posted limit applies.
• Merge by matching the speed of traffic and finding a gap; give way to traffic already in the lane you are joining.
• Obey any “keep left unless overtaking” signs.
• If you break down on a motorway, use your hazard lights, get as far left as possible (onto the shoulder or an exit) and call 13 19 40, or 000 if anyone is in danger.
• When passing a stopped emergency or breakdown vehicle with flashing lights on a multi-lane road, leave a clear lane between you and it if it is safe and practical. If you cannot change lanes, keep as far away as you can within your lane and slow to a safe speed. See emergency vehicles and slow down rules.

More: learners on motorways and freeways and overtaking, merging and changing lanes.

Common questions

Can learners drive through Brisbane tunnels?

Queensland’s rules do not ban learners from tunnels. Build up to it on motorways first with your supervisor.

Can I stop in a tunnel if I miss my exit?

No. Keep going and take the next exit.

Should I get out of my car if it breaks down in a tunnel?

Stay in the car or wait safely in front of it, unless there is a fire or you are told to evacuate. Watch for traffic if you go to an emergency phone.

What number do I call for a breakdown on a Queensland motorway?

13 19 40 for minor incidents and breakdowns on major roads, or 000 in an emergency.

Are tunnels part of the Q-Safe test?

The test route is chosen by the examiner. Practise tunnel and motorway driving anyway so you are ready to drive them alone on Ps.

Related: Your keys to driving in Queensland study guide, Queensland learner rules and learning to drive in Queensland.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Tunnel safety” (tmr.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Breakdown safety on motorways and freeways” (qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “QLDTraffic: Contact us” (qldtraffic.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Road Rules) Regulation 2009”, current as at 31 August 2026 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, schedule 5 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Your keys to driving in Queensland”, No. 19, November 2022, complete PDF, Safe road use: Driving safely in tunnels (p. 146) and Safe following distance (p. 147) (publications.qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Traffic lights, U-turns and overhead lane controls” (qld.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Parked emergency response vehicles with flashing lights” (qld.gov.au)