Driving in Rain, Fog and Floods in Australia

Photo: Kate Trifo, Pexels

Bad weather in Australia means more than rain: fog, bushfire smoke, dust, floodwater and, around Canberra and the alpine areas, ice and snow. This guide is for learners and P platers. It gives the legal rules on fog lights and headlights in each state, then the practical steps for each type of weather. The short version: slow down, double your gap, get your lights on, and never drive into floodwater.

Key facts

Fog lights are legal only when fog, heavy rain, smoke, dust or similar conditions cut visibility. Switch them off when visibility improves (all states).
In WA, you must not have front fog lamps and headlights on at the same time.
Headlights must be on when rain, dust or fog reduce visibility (SA, VIC). SA counts visibility as poor when you cannot clearly see people or vehicles about 100 metres away.
Wet roads: at least double your following distance (WA, NT, ACT).
Floodwater: “It’s safer to turn around than to drive in floodwater” (NSW). Queensland’s campaign line is “If it’s flooded, forget it”.

Fog light rules in each state

State or territory	What the handbook says
NSW	Only in fog or heavy rain, or when smoke or dust limits vision. Switch off when you can see more clearly. No fog lights? Use low beam
Victoria	Must not use front or rear fog lights unless driving in fog or hazardous weather. They can dazzle other drivers
Queensland	Only when poor weather such as heavy rain or fog makes other vehicles hard to see. Never in clear weather, day or night
WA	Only in fog or other hazardous weather that reduces visibility. Front fog lamps and headlights must not be on together
SA	Only in fog or other hazardous weather causing reduced visibility. Switch off when visibility improves
Tasmania	The handbook does not cover fog lights. Hazard lights may be used in dangerous weather such as fog or smoke
ACT	Front and rear only when fog, rain, snow or other hazards reduce visibility. No rear fog light? Use your hazard lights instead, and switch them off when visibility improves
NT	Only in fog or rain, or when smoke and dust limit vision. Switching them off once you can see clearly is a legal requirement

Why it matters: a rear fog light is about 20 times brighter than a normal tail light (ACT), so leaving it on in clear weather dazzles drivers behind you.

How to drive in heavy rain

Turn your headlights on, low beam (NSW, WA, NT).
Slow down. Water, oil and grime make the road surface very slippery (NT).
Leave at least double your normal following distance (WA, NT). NSW says 4 seconds or more in poor conditions.
Brake gently. Jamming on the brakes can cause a skid (NT, ACT).
Use the air conditioner or demister to stop the windscreen fogging up (WA).
Watch for pedestrians and cyclists, who are harder to see in rain (WA, NSW).
If the rain is too heavy to see, pull over somewhere safe, put your hazard lights on and wait (NT).

NSW allows hazard lights while driving only in hazardous conditions such as thick fog or very heavy rain.

Aquaplaning on puddles

Driving fast through standing water can make the car aquaplane and slide out of control. Slow down before the puddle, not in it (SA). Check your brakes afterwards (below).

Driving in fog

Use low beam. High beam reflects off the fog and makes it harder to see (WA, ACT).
Drive slowly and do not follow closely (WA).
Use fog lights if you have them, and turn them off when the fog clears.
Take care whenever mist or fog affects visibility (VIC).

Driving through bushfire smoke or dust

The NT handbook notes bushfires are common in the dry season, May to October. In smoke:

slow down and turn your headlights on
never overtake in smoke
do not stop unless you have to, because a car may be behind you
keep left and stay alert for animals and other hazards

Before any trip, check for storms, bushfires, hail, snow, dust storms and heavy fog, and change your route if needed (NSW). If conditions get worse while driving, pull over somewhere safe and wait.

Floodwater: why you should never drive in

Water over a road hides how deep and fast it is, whether the road underneath is washed out, and what debris is in it. The water may also be rising (NSW). The NT handbook says fast-flowing water can make a car float, and hitting it at speed can be like hitting wet concrete. Queensland Government campaign material says a car can be swept away in as little as 15 cm of floodwater.

What each handbook tells you to do:

NSW: find another way or wait until the road is clear.
Queensland: turn around, obey closure signs, and check road conditions before you leave. Police say driving through flood water can bring fines or prosecution.
NT: never cross where road closed signs are up. If in doubt, do not cross. Watch for crocodiles in northern waterways, and wait for the water to drop.
WA: inexperienced drivers should take another route. If there is none, walk the crossing first if safe. Do not cross if the water is flowing and deeper than the bottom of the car.
SA: if the water could be too deep, stop and check the depth before going on.

More on floodways and causeways in remote areas: outback and remote driving.

After driving through water

Test your brakes straight away. Wet brakes may not work well. To dry them, drive a short distance pressing the brake pedal gently (NT, SA, ACT).

Ice, frost and snow

The ACT handbook covers winter driving:

Leave at least twice the normal stopping distance on wet or icy roads.
Watch for icy patches in shaded areas, on timber bridges and on exposed windy stretches.
Do not drive with dirty or fogged-up windows.
For alpine trips, carry warm clothing, a tool kit, a tow rope and a shovel. Snow chains must be carried in some Snowy Mountains areas, such as Kosciuszko National Park. Fit them in a safe place before you get stuck, never in the middle of the road.

Victoria says heavy rain, frost or snow can make it necessary to slow right down or pull off the road and wait.

Sun glare

Driving into low sun at dawn or dusk can blind you for a moment. Slow down, wear sunglasses and use the sun visor (VIC).

Common questions

Can I leave my fog lights on all the time?

No. In every state they are only legal when visibility is reduced, and you must switch them off once you can see clearly.

Should I use high beam in fog?

No. High beam bounces off fog and smoke. Use low beam and fog lights.

Can I put my hazard lights on in heavy rain?

In thick fog or very heavy rain, yes, in NSW, VIC, SA and the NT, which allow hazard lights in hazardous weather. Pulling over is often safer.

How deep is too deep to drive through?

There is no safe rule for floodwater, so do not drive into it. For still water on WA floodways, the handbook limit for a normal two-wheel-drive car is the bottom of the vehicle.

How much following distance do I need in the wet?

At least double your normal gap. The NT recommends about 3 seconds normally and at least 6 seconds when the road is wet. NSW says 4 seconds or more in poor conditions.

Can learners drive in bad weather?

Yes. No handbook bans learners from driving in bad weather. Practising in rain with your supervisor is the safest way to learn it before you drive solo.

Sources

Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” (transport.vic.gov.au)
Queensland Government, “Other common road rules” and “Road safety during flooding and fire” (qld.gov.au)
Queensland Reconstruction Authority, “If It’s Flooded, Forget It” (getready.qld.gov.au)
Queensland Police Service, “If it’s flooded, forget it!” (mypolice.qld.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook”, February 2026 (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)

Driving in Rain, Fog, Smoke and Floods in Australia