Too confusing? Aussie road signs blamed for this bad habit
A number of Australian drivers caught speeding say they simply didn't notice the limit change – so, do our road signs need to be clearer?
Are Australia's road signs too confusing? New data has found more than half of Australian drivers caught speeding simply weren't paying attention to changing limits.
According to dash-cam manufacturer Navman, 26 per cent of Australian drivers who received a speeding fine said they weren't paying attention, while an additional 19 per cent said they didn't seen the speed signs because they were small, confusing or poorly positioned.
The survey of 1005 Australian drivers was conducted in December 2025, and found the majority of speeding behaviours were not intentional, with only 12 per cent of those surveyed admitting they were consciously driving above the limit.
“Our research highlights how easy it can be to simply lose track of changing speed limits with nearly half of Australian drivers receiving a fine because they weren’t paying attention, didn’t notice the speed limit signs or were driving in an unfamiliar area," said Wendy Hammond, General Manager at Navman.
"While life can be busy and distractions can arise, it's important for drivers to remain attentive and avoid slipping into 'autopilot' mode behind the wheel."
The problem is particularly heightened in school zones or construction areas, where speed limits can change several times along a single stretch of road.
For example, a recent report from ABC News found changes to school zone speed limit rules in South Australia has resulted in "some arterial roads having upwards of six speed limit changes within a kilometre or less".
Police data analysed by the Royal Automobile Association of SA found an average of 24 drivers per day had been caught exceeding the speed limit at two fixed camera sites, totalling $694,037 of fines over 11 weeks of school.
Earlier this month, the New South Wales government moved to reduce driver confusion and frustration by implementing a new rule for speed limit signs in construction zones.
From 3 July 2026, speed limit signs in roadworks zones must be removed when there are no workers on site and it is outside of construction hours.
However, just to complicate matters, the Australian Capital Territory followed this NSW rule change by doubling down on its own work zone speed limits.
"Did you know that reduced speed limit through the work zone are in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week?" ACT Government City Services shared in a Facebook post.
"The lower limit is there for a reason. Road conditions have changed, and even outside construction hours you’ll still be travelling through temporary traffic arrangements, barriers and a work environment with less room for error.
"Speed enforcement can happen anywhere, anytime, including mobile speed cameras, to help keep drivers, road workers and the surrounding environment safe during this major upgrade."
