The road rule recently scrapped in Australia was NSW’s requirement for drivers to slow down around roadworks or construction sites after hours. From July 1, temporary 40 km/h limits no longer apply when the site is not active, though normal signposted limits still must be followed.

What changed

  • The rule was abolished in New South Wales.
  • It had required drivers to reduce speed near roadworks even when no workers were present.
  • Temporary roadwork speed signs now need to be removed outside work hours when it is safe to do so.

Why it was dropped

The change was part of an election promise, and NSW said the old rule was causing unnecessary delays, especially in regional areas.

Related changes

Other road-rule changes were also being introduced around the same time across Australia, including stricter enforcement around phones, seatbelts, and roadside assistance vehicles.

TL;DR: the scrapped rule was the after-hours slowdown requirement at roadworks in NSW.