Three hundred and eight people died on Queensland roads in 2025. The response has been a wave of rule changes rolling out across 2026, but keeping track of what's already law, what kicks in mid-year, and what's still being debated is difficult.
The timeline:
What's already in force
Phone detection cameras are catching thousands
Queensland's mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras have been operating statewide since 2024, and the numbers are stark. In the first 12 months of enforcement, more than 170,000 drivers and passengers were caught, according to a Queensland Government statement. That included 119,862 drivers using their phones and 52,542 people not wearing seatbelts correctly.
The penalty in Queensland is $1,251 and four demerit points for illegal phone use while driving.
The cameras use AI to filter images and detect phone use or missing seatbelts. A mix of fixed and mobile units operates around the clock, and unlike speed cameras, their locations are not published.
Distraction remains one of the contributing factors in serious and fatal crashes on Queensland roads.
Medical certificates for drivers 75 and over
Queensland now requires drivers aged 75 and over to hold a current annual medical certificate and carry it whenever they drive.
This is not new to 2026, but enforcement has tightened. According to the National Road Safety Data Hub, the number of deaths in this group has risen by 9.3% over the past decade as the population ages.
The rules vary by state. NSW requires annual medical checks from 70 and adds on-road assessments at 85. Victoria has no mandatory age-based medicals but requires three-yearly renewals from 75. Western Australia mandates annual assessments for those aged 80+.
There is no mandatory retirement age for driving in Australia. Failure to carry the required medical certificate in Queensland can result in fines.
Lower speed limits in high-pedestrian areas
Parts of the Cairns CBD and the Hervey Bay Esplanade have already moved to 40 km/h, with further urban reductions expected across Queensland in 2026.
Research cited by Transport for NSW shows a pedestrian hit at 30 km/h has a 90% chance of survival. At 40 km/h, that drops to around 60%. At 50 km/h, it falls to just 10%.
The difference in stopping distance tells the same story: 19 metres at 30 km/h, compared to 27 metres at 40 km/h. Those 8 metres can be the gap between a near-miss and a fatality.
What's coming on 1 July 2026
"Slow Down, Move Over" expands to roadside assistance vehicles
Since September 2022, Queensland drivers have been legally required to slow to 40 km/h and move over when passing stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. The penalty is $500 and 3 demerit points. From 1 July 2026, that protection extends to roadside assistance vehicles and similar services with visible markings and flashing lights.
The expansion was driven by incidents involving roadside workers struck while attending breakdowns. Under the current law, a breakdown mechanic changing a tyre on the Bruce Highway has no legal protection beyond standard traffic rules, while a police officer parked behind them does.
From July, both are covered.
E-mobility licensing: a learner's licence to ride a scooter
On 25 March 2026, Queensland announced sweeping reforms to e-mobility laws following a year in which 12 people died in e-mobility incidents across the state.
Subject to parliamentary approval, from 1 July 2026:
- E-scooter and e-bike riders must hold at least a learner's licence (cost: $77.55 for three years)
- Riders must be 16 or older
- Footpath speed limit drops to 10 km/h
- Maximum unassisted speed capped at 25 km/h
- Police gain new powers to seize and destroy illegal devices
- Random breath testing extends to riders
Fines reform
The Fines Reform Regulations 2026, also commencing 1 July, overhaul how penalties are calculated and collected for fine defaulters across Queensland. The detail is administrative rather than road-rule-specific, but drivers with outstanding fines should expect changes to payment timelines and enforcement processes.
What's still in pilot or consultation
30 km/h zones
Queensland is considering reducing speed limits from 40 km/h to 30 km/h in school zones and high-pedestrian areas. The proposal is before Parliament but has not been legislated.
Several other countries also want to reduce speed limits. The United Kingdom is looking to introduce a default 20 mph (32 km/h) limit in many urban areas. In Australia, 40 km/h school zones are standard, but the push to go lower reflects growing evidence that 40 km/h is still too fast where children and elderly pedestrians are present.
What's happening in other states
While Queensland leads several of these changes, other states are moving too.
NSW upgraded its phone detection cameras in March 2026 to monitor vehicles travelling in both directions on single-lane roads. The state also runs double demerit periods over Easter (2-6 April) and ANZAC Day (24-27 April), doubling the penalty for speeding, phone use, seatbelt and helmet offences.
Victoria has no mandatory age-based medical testing for drivers but is under pressure to introduce it as older driver fatalities rise. In 2024, drivers aged 70 and over made up 22% of driver fatalities despite holding just 14% of licences, according to the Transport Accident Commission.
Australia's National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 targets a 50% reduction in fatalities and a 30% reduction in serious injuries by 2030. As of 2026, the country is not on track. The 2026 rule changes represent an acceleration of effort, but the gap between ambition and reality remains significant.
Read our article on how distracted driving fines compare across QLD, NSW and VIC.
What drivers should actually do
These changes carry real fines, real demerit points and real consequences for anyone caught out.
The practical steps:
- Know the July dates. The "Slow Down, Move Over" expansion and e-mobility licensing both commence on 1 July 2026. If you ride an e-scooter or e-bike in Queensland, get a learner's licence before then.
- Check your medical certificate. If you are 75 or older, confirm your annual medical certificate is current and keep it in the car.
- Assume you are being watched. Phone detection cameras operate 24/7 at unpublished locations. The fine is over $1,000.
- Watch for new speed signs. Lower speed limits are being introduced progressively in pedestrian-heavy areas. The signs may have changed since you last drove through.
Whether every change will reduce the country’s high statistics is a question the data will answer over the next few years. But the direction of travel is clear: stricter enforcement, broader coverage and less tolerance for the behaviours that kill.
