Your caravan’s hitched to the four-wheel-drive and you’re heading off on a long-awaited road trip.

Your friends live on the way, and they’ve offered their driveway for the night to break up the journey. But can you camp there legally?

When you’re caravanning or camping on a person’s private property, you’re generally governed by your agreement with the owner, rather than the law.

Is it legal to camp in a driveway?

Yes, if it’s for a short time and you have the owner’s permission. There’s no specific South Australian law that prohibits camping on a person’s private property.

What are some general rules?

If you’re staying in someone’s driveway for a night or two, be considerate and make sure your vehicle isn’t blocking the footpath, impeding pedestrian access or obstructing access for emergency vehicles and workers. Your vehicle also mustn’t obstruct neighbouring properties or create a nuisance.

Is it ever illegal?

Without permission it’s a different story; turning up uninvited and setting up camp could result in a visit from police.

In some residential zones, using a caravan or motorhome as a permanent or semi-permanent dwelling – even on private property – may be considered a change of use that requires development approval. This is more relevant for longer-term stays than a night or two.

What about camping on public property?

Parking a caravan or motorhome on public property, like a residential street, is generally allowed, subject to local parking rules. The vehicle must be registered and roadworthy, and legally parked. If the caravan is hitched to a tow vehicle and the combined length is 7.5 metres or more, it’s classed as a ‘long vehicle’ under the Australian Road Rules and can only be parked for one hour in a built-up area unless signage says otherwise.

However, in most areas you’re not allowed to sleep or live in the vehicle while it’s parked. Pull your Kombi up to a car park near the Adelaide Parklands and sleep the night and you’re breaking the law.

Parking a caravan or motorhome on the verge – the strip of land between private land and the road – is also generally not allowed in SA. It can damage infrastructure such as irrigation and underground cables, and most councils prohibit you from doing this.

The short answer

A short stay in a friend’s driveway with their permission is generally fine in practice. But if you’re planning on staying for the long term, check with the local council to make sure you’re obeying the rules.

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Giving way to pedestrians is a given, but is there ever a time when people on foot have to wait for drivers? Surprisingly, there are some scenarios where pedestrians must stop for motorists.

1. When walking across the road without a crossing

It’s not often you see a pedestrian casually walking across a road expecting drivers to stop for them (it’s rare but unfortunately not unheard of).  

Here, the pedestrian waiting to cross the road must give way to a driver travelling straight along the road they’re waiting to cross. It goes back to basics: stop, look, listen and think. However, a driver must give way to any pedestrians attempting to cross the road the driver is about to turn either left or right into. 

The rules change when there’s a crossing; in this case, the driver must then give way to the pedestrian.

2. When at a roundabout

Roundabout road rules can send anyone’s head into a spin. That’s why it’s important for all road users to be across the rules, including pedestrians. 

Under the Australian Road Rules, pedestrians and bicycle riders should give way to any vehicle or bicycle rider entering or exiting a roundabout. In this scenario, pedestrians should wait for a safe gap in traffic before crossing and never step into the path of vehicles navigating the roundabout.   

According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, pedestrians should also never stand on the roundabout island.

“This can be extremely dangerous and shouldn’t be used as a space to seek refuge,” Charles says.

Instead, he urges pedestrians to always cross the road outside of a roundabout and use the designated pedestrian path and ramps, where provided. 

“The safest option is to use these crossing points which are generally located a few metres away from the roundabout roadway at the intersection,” Charles says. 

“If there’s a marked crossing nearby, use that as an even safer route.”

Motorists are only required to give way to pedestrians at a roundabout when there’s a marked pedestrian crossing. These ‘pedestrian priority’ roundabouts typically have zebra crossings at one or more legs; you may have spotted a couple at Henley Beach on Military Road at its intersections with North Street and South Street.

3. When pedestrian crossing signals show a red person

The red person starts flashing. When this happens, pedestrians need to wait and shouldn’t start to cross the road, unless they’re already in the process of crossing. 

Unfortunately, some pedestrians think they’re faster on their feet than they really are. Quick dashes across the road before the light goes green for vehicles are never a good idea. 

“There are no medals for making it across the road in the most dangerous way possible,” Charles says. There are fines though (keep reading for more on that).

According to Charles, pedestrians shouldn’t start to cross once the red symbol appears; instead, should wait for the next green pedestrian light, even if it costs you a few seconds.

Bonus: T-junction

We’ve thrown in this give way scenario (pictured above) as a bonus because it recently tripped one in three of you up in our ‘Who goes first?’ quiz last month.

In this scene, the red and green cars must give way to the pedestrian, but surprisingly, the blue vehicle isn’t legally required to give way to the person on foot. In this example, the pedestrian must in fact give way to the blue car.

“The safest option is for the person on foot to wait until all traffic clears. Once the intersection is completely empty, the pedestrian can safely cross,” Charles says. 

“The drivers of all cars should be aware of the pedestrian and not proceed until making eye contact with the pedestrian to ensure their intent to wait for traffic to clear.”

Can a pedestrian be fined for not giving way?

Caught failing to give way or obstructing the path of vehicles in any of these three scenarios? Don’t be surprised if you walk straight into a $63 fine, plus don’t forget the $108 Victims of Crime Levy. This is the penalty pedestrians face by causing potential traffic hazards, like stepping out in front of a car at a roundabout, crossing on a solid red pedestrian light or failing to cross a road by the shortest safe route.

Final word

While vehicles don’t typically have to give way in any of these situations, Charles says drivers shouldn’t be complacent and always look out for pedestrians.

“A driver’s duty of care remains, whether there are pedestrians around or not,” Charles says.

“Motorists must always drive with due attention and take all necessary steps to avoid colliding with a pedestrian if they have already stepped onto the road.”

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You’re peacefully asleep, tucked up in bed, until a mosquito-thin whine grows into a swarming, full-throttle roar as a souped-up car tears past, rattling the windowpanes and jolting you unceremoniously awake.

Now you’re wide awake, grumbling about some hooligan’s desperate bid for attention.

The catch? SA Police can pull over a vehicle they suspect to be above legal noise limits and test it, but only while the car is stationary or under controlled conditions.

There are rules for how loud a car can be sitting still. But for actual on-road, drive-by noise, SA Police – like the rest of Australia – currently have to go with their instincts to pull over a vehicle and test if it exceeds the stationary noise limits.

However, all that may be about to change. With the help of new technology, some Australian states, including South Australia, are starting to target local hoon drivers in action, and the unreasonably loud noise that tends to accompany them.

Hoon: Australian and New Zealand slang for a person who drives a vehicle recklessly, aggressively or at dangerously high speeds. As a verb, the act of hooning describes such actions as performing burnouts, street racing and speeding.

Trialling noise detection technology

Earlier this year, the Victorian Government announced plans to trial seven new roadside acoustic cameras that record both images and sound. This follows a completed 12-month New South Wales trial. Meanwhile, Adelaide City Council announced in August it was considering installing the technology on city streets, including on O’Connell Street and Hutt Street.

The cameras are mounted roadside or on transportable poles and are triggered when a passing vehicle exceeds mandated noise limits. Why cameras and not just microphones? Once triggered, these cameras capture images of the offending car’s registration plates for easy identification.

NSW ran the first version of this from December 2024 to late 2025. As the trial was purely about gathering data, no automatic fines were issued. Surprisingly, motorcycles accounted for roughly 55 per cent of the noise events despite being only about four per cent of registered vehicles.

Knowledge of the camera locations and supposed lack of enforcement also added fuel to the fire, as a small, repeat-offending cohort of hoons targeting the area were behind a disproportionate share of the noise. Despite no fines, the data gathered allowed police to coordinate on-road blitzes, resulting in defect notices for modified vehicles.

Victoria won’t wait until the end of the two-year trial to fine noisy motorists. Once the cameras are in place later in 2026, the owners of offending vehicles will be sent a compliance testing notice.

South Australia has no camera trial of its own (yet). SA, like the other states, already has some rules: if your vehicle is found to ‘make unnecessary noise or smoke’, you face a $264 fine plus $108 Victims of Crime Levy.

But how loud is too loud?

SA’s stationary noise limits, with a few exceptions, are:

• 90 decibels for cars built after 1982 (96 decibels for older vehicles)
• 94 decibels for motorcycles and motor trikes built after February 1985 (100 decibels for older vehicles).

For context, sustained exposure to volumes 85 decibels or more starts to risk hearing damage, and every three-decibel increase roughly doubles the sound intensity.

Ninety decibels is about the same volume experienced when pushing a lawnmower.

One hundred decibels, the maximum for an older motorcycle, is about the same as using a chainsaw without ear protection, making it about 10 times more intense than a modern car at its limit.

The problem is, these are the limits for a parked, stationary car, and not one tearing past your window at midnight. There are no rules putting a decibel figure on how loud is too loud while a car or motorcycle is moving.

But this is the gap the noise cameras are aiming to fill and reduce the disturbance caused by passing traffic.

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You peer through the curtain and see Barry’s vehicle parked out the front of your house. You need the kerbside clear for when you’re mowing the nature strip later that day.

If you remember our recent story about whether you can park in front of your neighbour’s house, you’d know it’s totally fine for Barry to be parked here.

In fact, most of you are polite parkers with close to four in five respondents in a recent sa move poll saying they’d only park in front of their neighbour’s house if there was no other choice.

So, when someone does park in front of your house, is it ever okay to ask them to move their vehicle?

What the law says

You can politely ask, but don’t expect the driver of the vehicle to follow your request as it’s not legally required. Why? If it’s a public street, anyone can park in front of your house provided there are no signposted restrictions (i.e. parking limits, clearways and no-standing zones), and the vehicle isn’t blocking your driveway.

Obstructing access to and from a driveway is an offence, and you can be fined $100 and receive a $108 Victims of Crime Levy.

If someone who shouldn’t be there has parked on your property, that’s a different story. In this case, you can ask the driver of the vehicle to move.

What you can do

In the words of Gandhi: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, there’s nothing wrong with asking someone to consider moving their vehicle if you have a genuine reason, but you should avoid confrontation wherever possible.

“It’s not uncommon for parking disputes of this nature to unnecessarily escalate,” Charles says.

“If you urgently need a vehicle moved from the front of your house, and you know the vehicle’s owner, ask respectfully.

“But remember, they’re not legally required to move, even if you say please.”

The post Is it okay to ask someone to move their car? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Maybe you’re frustrated by inconsiderate parkers and take matters into your own hands, installing your own ‘no parking’ sign.

Perhaps putting up a sign is a noble gesture to warn drivers to slow down by your house when children are present.

Despite your good intentions, putting up your own signs sends mixed signals.

As road users, we’re trained to recognise, comprehend and trust road signs, and make split second decisions based on colour, shape, icon, digit or word.

We expect these signs to be in predictable places like intersections and roundabouts. But a stop sign, speed limit or no-parking warning popping up somewhere unexpected causes confusion and distraction.

 As Ace of Base sang, “I saw the sign, And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign…but where do you belong?”.

So, is DIY signage a ‘Proceed with caution’ or ‘Wrong way go back’?

‘Stop’ in the name of the Australian Road Rules

Putting up a road sign on your own property isn’t banned. However, signs that could be mistaken for an official traffic control device aren’t allowed near to and visible from a road. If you want to buy a ‘Stop’ sign from Bunnings and hang it out of public sight as a feature in your backyard then go for it.

But a genuine-looking ‘Stop’ sign or reflective ‘No Parking’ sign attached to a street-facing fence, gate or driveway visible from the road isn’t allowed. The sign sits too close to real traffic and has the potential to confuse drivers.

This is where distance makes a difference. If signs are placed along a long rural driveway to manage traffic on private property, for instance, away from and out of sight of the public road, then that’s generally acceptable. Attach them to a public-road-facing gate though or within eyeshot of the road, and the ‘false traffic control device’ rules may apply.

Can you ‘Give way’ to your own designs?

Crafty people might consider designing or drawing a sign for their fence. If your sign uses different colours, shapes and wording, and is clearly not trying to mimic an official Australian road sign, then it’s less likely that you’ll be found to be breaking the law. However, your council may not be so pleased to see your artwork.

There’s another layer to this: South Australian planning laws state that any sign visible from a street, road, public place or by passengers on public transport can be seen as an ‘advertisement’ and would need council approval. Many councils have their own rules around the size and shape of advertising and signage. Distance matters here, too. For those with long, rural driveways, go your hardest. As long as it’s invisible from a public road, you can help visitors navigate your property using any materials you like. Just make sure it’s for your visitors’ eyes only.

‘Keep clear’ of trouble with unauthorised signs

What happens if you put up your own signs and get found out? First, it depends on whether the sign is on your fence (private property) or if you’ve placed it on the road or footpath itself, like an A-frame out the front.

Let’s start with public spaces. If the offending sign is on the footpath, verge or road, your local road authority (be it the Commissioner of Highways or the relevant council) has the power to ‘remove and dispose of the sign Typically, that’s the end of it – no fines or warnings.

In some situations, you could be fined for ‘using a public road without a permit’ or ‘obstructing a public road’. You could even get in trouble for endangering drivers if the sign becomes a physical hazard. For example, if a motorist swerves to avoid the sign or it obscures a give-way sign.

Turning to private property. Yes, your fence isn’t the road, but it’s still not a billboard. You’ll receive a notice from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), requesting you remove, modify or screen the sign by a certain date. If you do as you’re asked, nothing further happens and you’re free to get on with your life. Perhaps put those signs up in your backyard, away from prying eyes.

If you don’t comply, DIT can remove the sign for you and recover the cost from you as a debt. You could even receive a fine of up to $2500.

On top of that, your local council can get shirty under its own advertising rules if your sign is considered to harm the visual character of the area.

Of course, this all pertains to residential, suburban locales, as businesses have their own set of rules.

In short, only DIT, councils and their authorised officers and contractors can install traffic and parking signs in public. Contact your local council, DIT or RAA’s Report a Road service if you spot an unauthorised sign in the wild.

Consider this your sign to skip the warnings and notices on your fence and let the real ones stand tall on the roadside where they belong.

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We need to know when to give way to drivers, pedestrians and other road users.

It isn’t always straightforward though, with many intersections – such as modified T-junctions and double-lane roundabouts – coming with their own specific rules.

So, do you know who goes first in these scenarios from across Adelaide?

1. The hilltop shuffle

On Main South Road at O’Halloran Hill, you’ll find this tricky intersection that can baffle even the best drivers. Take a few moments to look at the diagram of the intersection below then answer the question: which order do these cars go?

A. Yellow, red, green, blue

B. Green, blue, yellow, red

C. Red, blue, yellow, green

D. Blue, red, yellow, green

2. The T-junction twist

You’ve probably encountered thousands of these T-junctions while driving, but this scenario might be unfamiliar. What’s the safest order for these road users to go?

A. Red, green, blue, pedestrian

B. Pedestrian, red, green, blue

C. Pedestrian, green, red, blue

D. Blue, pedestrian, red, green

3. The Port Road puzzler

Port Road – with its giant median strip that was originally supposed to be a canal – can cause some confusion. In what order do the cars go in this scenario at Beverley?

A. Blue, yellow, red

B. Blue, red, yellow

C. Red, blue, yellow

Submit

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They say distance makes the heart grow fonder.

It also makes slamming on the brakes less necessary, saves you from receiving some hefty fines and keeps everyone on the road just that little bit safer.

Take our quiz, then press ‘submit’ to find out if you’re playing it safe or playing with fate.

Quiz: Are you keeping your distance?

1. You’re driving at 60km/h when you glance down for two seconds to change the radio station. What distance have you travelled in the time you looked away?

A. Three metres

B. 13 metres

C. 23 metres

D. 33 metres

2. You’re driving along the Northern Connector at 100km/h. The sun has come out, but it’s been raining heavily and the road is wet. When braking suddenly, the stopping distance in the dry is about 90 metres, but what’s your stopping distance in the wet?

A. There’s no difference, so 90 metres

B. 102 metres

C. 127 metres

D. 178 metres

3. What's the 'three-second rule'?

A. When driving, count three seconds between you and the car ahead to maintain a safe distance

B. The length of time dropped food can stay on the floor before being eaten

C. How long you should signal before pulling away from the kerb

4. You’re driving along Marion Road at 60km/h and approach a 40km/h roadworks ahead sign. When does your speed need to be at or below 40km/h?

A. Within 20 metres of passing the sign

B. As soon as you reach the sign

C. It depends on whether there’s a lot of traffic

D. The distance you travel as your car slows naturally without braking

5. You’ve found street parking on a narrow street divided by a solid white centre line and you can’t see any parking signs. How far must the driver’s side of your car be from the centre line to park legally?

A. It doesn’t matter

B. One metre

C. Two metres

D. Three metres

6. You must reduce your speed from 40km/h to 25km/h when driving on a beach when you’re within how many metres of a person?

A. 20 metres

B. 50 metres

C. 100 metres

D. You don’t need to slow down

7. When riding two abreast when there isn’t a designated bike lane, what’s the maximum distance cyclists are permitted to ride apart?

A. 0.5 metres

B. One metre

C. 1.5 metres

D. Cyclists aren’t allowed to ride two abreast

8. When you’re walking and see a junction or intersection with a pedestrian crossing nearby (with or without traffic lights), within what distance are you required to use the crossing rather than crossing somewhere else?

A. 10 metres at all times

B. 20 metres at all times

C. 25 metres but only during peak traffic times

D. 50 metres but only during peak traffic times

9. You’re driving late at night on a rural highway with your headlights on high beam. What’s the minimum distance there needs to be between your car and the vehicle in front?

A. 50 metres

B. 100 metres

C. 150 metres

D. 200 metres

10. You’re heading north-east along North Terrace and want to turn left onto Hackney Road. A dedicated 24/7 bus lane stretches for 250 metres. What’s the maximum distance you can drive in the bus lane before turning?

A. 50 metres

B. 100 metres

C. 200 metres

D. You aren’t allowed to drive in the bus lane at any time

11. How close can you park before – and after – a pedestrian crossing?

A. 10 metres before, 10 metres after

B. 10 metres before, 20 metres after

C. 20 metres before, 10 metres after

D. 20 metres before, 20 metres after

12. When parking behind another car on the side of the road, how much space must you leave between your bumper and the car in front?

A. It doesn’t matter, as long as you aren’t over the yellow street parking lines

B. Enough that the other car can get out

C. 0.5 metres

D. One metre

13. When overtaking a cyclist on a road with a speed limit of 60km/h or less, what’s the minimum legal passing distance?

A. 0.5 metres

B. One metre

C. 1.5 metres

D. No specific distance, as long as you pass them safely

Submit

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Chances are you know vehicles must have a current registration to be driven or ridden legally on roads in Australia. But is there ever a time when you can drive unregistered, like in an emergency?

Forget trips to the emergency department. Unfortunately, you’ll need to make alternative transport arrangements. There are, however, three other situations where you can drive unregistered, but you’ll have to apply for a special temporary permit through Service SA.

So, when can I drive unregistered?

Under the Unregistered Vehicle Permit, you can drive unregistered for up to three days, subject to meeting all the conditions of the permit. Keep in mind you’ll need to reapply for another permit to use the vehicle for longer than this period.

We’ve listed below the three situations where motorists can drive an unregistered vehicle on roads in South Australia but remember, the driver must have a current temporary permit and, of course, the vehicle must be roadworthy.

1. If the driver needs to take the vehicle in for repairs.

2. The vehicle is in a car rally.

3. The vehicle needs to be moved to a different location for storage.

There are a few important things to remember before driving unregistered with the temporary permit. For instance, if you must drive an unregistered vehicle for the purpose of placing it in storage, make sure you’re relocating it to private property, as it’s an offence to park an unregistered vehicle on a public road.

Owners of vintage and classic vehicles driving in a car rally, like RAA Bay to Birdwood in October, can register their vehicle as part of the Conditional Registration Scheme, which allows owners to drive their vehicles for 90 days in a calendar year. So, technically these cars are still registered, but not for everyday use.

According to RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain, strict rego rules don’t apply in these situations, but it’s strongly advised that motorists always keep on top of their vehicle’s registration schedule.

“Any vehicle driven on the road, whether registered or not, must also be roadworthy and not be a hazard to others,” Charles says.

Permit parameters  

Always carry the Unregistered Vehicle Permit while you’re driving.

“This is your proof of legal exemption should you be stopped or caught by a safety camera on the road,” Charles says.

Forget quick dashes to the shops or stopping at a mate’s house. The permit requires you to drive directly to your destination. For example, if you’re headed to the repairers, you must drive straight there and not stop. Remember, the permit only covers the direct trip you’ve specified to Service SA.

Final word

If you don’t have an Unregistered Vehicle Permit and you’re caught driving unregistered, you may be fined $502 and receive a $108 Victims of Crime Levy.

Remember, if the vehicle has been unregistered for more than 30 days, you no longer have Compulsory Third Party insurance, which means you’ll be fined an additional $927 and the $108 Victims of Crime Levy if you’re caught driving the vehicle on the road unregistered and uninsured.

While the good old days of rego stickers have passed, you don’t need a sticker to stick to your rego schedule. Depending on your preferences, you can receive reminders via mail or visit mySAGOV and sign up for digital renewal notices to receive reminders via email or SMS.

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