Rules of the Road · Northern Territory

Northern Territory road rules to know

Most road rules are the same across Australia, but these are specific to Northern Territory.

  • NT Class C graduated scheme has four stages: pass DKT/learner, 6+ months supervised practice, pass driving test/provisional, then full licence. There is no P1/P2 split and no hazard perception test.
  • DKT: 30 multiple-choice questions from a bank of 300+; pass mark 26/30; unlimited re-sits with a different question set; cheating = automatic fail and 2-week ban; pass valid 12 months. (source)
  • Learner speed cap 80 km/h; provisional speed cap 100 km/h, regardless of posted limit.
  • Learners and provisional drivers: zero BAC; no use of ANY phone function including hands-free; learners must display L plates front and rear (and trailer), provisional P plates front and rear (and trailer).
  • Supervisor of an NT learner must hold a full Australian licence and sit next to the learner; supervising drivers must have BAC below 0.05.
  • No minimum supervised hours in the NT; learner period minimum is 6 consecutive months. Provisional period is 2 years (under 25) or 1 year (25+).
  • Z condition: zero BAC for a further 12 months after provisional period or until age 25, whichever sooner.
  • Automatic-test-only provisional drivers: manual cars only when supervised by a full licence holder for the first 12 months.
  • Demerit suspension thresholds: learner and provisional 5+ points in 12 months or 12 in 3 years; unrestricted and visiting drivers 12 in 3 years.
  • Default speed limits: 60 km/h in built-up areas unless the town has gazetted a lower limit (many use 50 or less); 110 km/h on rural roads and highways; 130 km/h only where signposted on sections of the Stuart, Barkly, Arnhem and Victoria highways.
  • School zone limit is 40 km/h, applying only on gazetted school days within the times on the sign. Local traffic area 40 km/h; shared zone usually 10 km/h with priority to pedestrians.
  • School bus flashing orange lights begin when the doors open and keep flashing about 30 seconds after they close; recommended not to exceed 40 km/h passing; if the bus shows a speed sign you must not pass faster than that.
  • Passing a cyclist: at least 1 m in zones of 60 km/h or less; at least 1.5 m when the limit is over 60 km/h. Cyclists may ride two abreast. Lane splitting is illegal; lane filtering (30 km/h or less) only for unrestricted R licence holders.
  • Headlights required between sunset and sunrise and whenever a person in dark clothing cannot be seen from 100 m; dip to low beam within 200 m of an oncoming vehicle or when 200 m or less behind another vehicle.
  • Child restraints: all children under 7 must use an approved restraint or booster; under 4 must not travel in the front row of a vehicle with 2+ rows; 4 to under 7 only in the front row if all other seats are taken by children in restraints; babies under 6 months rear-facing.
  • Fully licensed drivers may use a phone only for an audio call or as a driver's aid (e.g. navigation) and only if it is in a fixed commercial mount or can be used without touching it; texting, email and video are not permitted.
  • Following distance guide is about 3 seconds (double to at least 6 seconds in the wet or on slippery roads).
  • Road trains: do not cut in front when they slow; when being overtaken keep speed and stay on the road until it pulls out; after overtaking, do not return to your lane until both headlights are in your mirror.
  • Wildlife and stock: do not swerve at speed; brake and hold steering straight (swerving is a common cause of rollovers). Many NT roads are unfenced.
  • Floodwater: check depth, never cross at speed, do not cross if in doubt or if 'road closed' signs are up; crocodiles inhabit many northern waterways; check brakes after crossing.
  • Bushfire smoke (dry season May to October): slow down, headlights on, stay left, never overtake, do not stop unnecessarily.
  • Long-distance fatigue: avoid driving more than 10 hours a day; stop and rest at least every two hours (15 minutes); fatal fatigue crash risk is four times greater between 10 pm and 6 am; rest areas every 80-120 km and, unless signposted, cannot be used to stay longer than 24 hours.
  • Crash reporting: stop and help; give particulars; if police do not attend and a vehicle is towed, property/animals damaged or details not exchanged, report to police as soon as possible and within 24 hours.
  • No-one may ride in a trailer or caravan being towed; only one trailer or one other vehicle may be towed; dogs on or in a vehicle (including ute trays) must be restrained or enclosed.
  • Hooning (street racing, burnouts, damaging road surface): police can take possession of the vehicle on the spot for up to 48 hours. Alcohol Ignition Lock program applies to repeat drink-driving offenders.
  • NT-specific signs: grid, causeway, wig wag early-warning lights, bus (B) signals, red 'children crossing' flags; more than 200 level crossings in the NT.