FACTS & FIGURES:
- History timeline
- The land
- Population
- State symbols
- Time zone

WEATHER:
- Forecasts
- Current conditions
- Live web cams

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
- Airports
- Land transport
- Water transport

DRIVING:
- Using the roads
- Fruit fly exclusion zone

VISITOR INFO:
- Information centres
- Your safety
- Overseas visitors

COMMUNICATIONS:
- Telephone
- Post
- Radio
- Television

SHOPPING:
- Shopping
- Money & banking
- Public holidays

EDUCATION:
- Education system
- School holidays

GOVERNMENT:
- State government
- Local government

General road rules

• Default speed limit in built-up areas: 50 km/h
• Default speed limit outside of built-up areas: 100 km/h
• Maximum road speed: 110 km/h (only on selected rural highways and freeways)

Mobile phone use:

• It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving or when not parked
• Pull over safely and park when you need to operate a hand-held mobile phone
• Hands-free mobiles can be used while driving, but not by learner or P1 drivers

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits when driving:

• Zero BAC applies for professional drivers (truck, bus or taxi), learner or probationary drivers
• BAC limit of 0.05% applies for all other drivers
• BAC limit of 0.05% applies to a licenced driver accompanying a learner driver

When driving in Victoria, the road rules and regulations are strictly enforced. Learn more about Victoria's road rules.

For information about road and parking signs on Victorian roads, see Road signs in Victoria.

Road rules in Victoria which differ from elsewhere in Australia

• U-turns are permitted at traffic lights unless signs advise otherwise
• Hook turns are required when turning right at designated intersections in the Melbourne CBD and South Melbourne (their purpose is to improve traffic flow by removing turning traffic from the right-hand lane where dedicated turning lanes can't be provided due to tram lines)
• There are specific rules in regards to sharing the roads with trams

For further details of road rules unique to Victoria including those in relation to trams on Melbourne's streets, see information for tourists about Victoria's road rules.

Road classification

Metropolitan routes These roads are located within Melbourne's metropolitan area and generally define major transport routes to the city and through the suburbs. These routes may vary in standard from single carriageway roads to multi-lane arterials and highways.

"M" roads These roads are duplicated (dual carriageway) roadways with at least two lanes in each direction. The majority of these roadways are built to freeway standard. In rural areas, they provide high standard links between Melbourne, other capital cities and major regional centres. Within Melbourne, they are urban freeways or tollways.

"M" roads in Victoria:

• M1 - Princes Highway/Freeway, Monash Freeway (including CityLink), Westgate Freeway
• M2 - Tullamarine Freeway (including CityLink)
• M3 - Eastern Freeway, EastLink
• M8 - Western Highway/Freeway
• M31 - Hume Freeway
• M39 - Goulburn Valley Freeway
• M79 - Calder Freeway
• M80 - Western Ring Road, Metropolitan Ring Road
• M420 - South Gippsland Highway/Freeway, Bass Highway
• M780 - Western Port Highway

"A" roads These roads are generally single carriageway roadways. The majority of them have sealed shoulders and overtaking lanes in some sections. They have a similar function to "M" standard roads, but generally carry less traffic. They provide high standard links between Melbourne, other capital cities and between regional centres.

"A" roads in Victoria:

• A1 - Princes Highway
• A8 - Western Highway
• A10 - Princes Highway
• A20 - Sturt Highway
• A39 - Goulburn Valley Highway
• A79 - Calder Highway
• A200 - Henty Highway
• A300 - Midland Highway
• A420 - Bass Highway
• A440 - South Gippsland Highway
• A780 - Western Port Highway
• A790 - Calder Alternative Highway

"B" roads These roads are generally single carriageway roadways. They are sealed and are of a good standard. They function as primary links between regions not served by "A" roads. They also include highly significant tourist routes such as the Great Ocean Road (B100) and the Great Alpine Road (B500).

"C" roads These roads are generally single carriageway roadways. Almost all of them are sealed and their standard is determined by usage and terrain. They function as important links between population centres and also provide access links to the primary road network.

Toll roads

Collection of tolls on all of Melbourne's toll roads is done automatically, without slowing down or stopping. At each toll point, vehicles pass under a gantry which communicates with a small electronic tag that motorists have installed in their vehicles. If a vehicle doesn't have an electronic tag installed, overhead cameras can use number plate recognition technology to identify the vehicle for billing purposes.

Electronic tags issued by any toll roads operator in Australia will automatically work on all Melbourne's toll roads.

CityLink Tolled sections: Southern Link: Monash Freeway between Power Street (Southbank) and Toorak Road (Malvern) Western Link: Tullamarine Freeway between West Gate Freeway (Port Melbourne) and Bell Street (Strathmore) Batman Avenue (Melbourne) between Flinders Street and Olympic Boulevard (excluding drivers entering car parks at Melbourne Park) See the CityLink web site for further information. EastLink Tolled sections: EastLink between Springvale Road (Nunawading) and the Frankston Freeway (Seaford) See the EastLink web site for further information.

Traffic reports

Go to the latest travel times & conditions web site, provided by VicRoads.

In addition, the CityLink traffic webcam provides real-time views of traffic conditions at various locations within the CityLink tollway network in Melbourne.

Breakdowns

Help phones (emergency phones) are installed on urban and rural freeways throughout Victoria which connect to the VicRoads traffic control centre from where help can be organised.

Safe motoring

Driving while under the influence of drugs has also been found to be a contributing factor to a number of road accidents. It is illegal to drive while affected by an illicit drug, such as cannabis, ecstasy, ice or speed, as well as legal drugs which impair a person's ability to drive. Police conduct random drug tests of drivers throughout the state.

Driver fatigue is responsible for a significant number of accidents on Victoria's roads. To help combat fatigue on long trips, start a trip after a good night's sleep, drive at times you are normally awake, and take regular breaks. The only cure for fatigue is sleep, so even a 15 minute "powernap" offers safety benefits.

Try to avoid driving between dusk and dawn through rural areas populated by native wildlife. Many native animals are nocturnal, so it's during that time they are actively searching for food and may wander onto roads and cause an accident. If driving during that time, slow down, keep an eye out for animals, and if any cross in front of your vehicle, dip your headlights so as not to dazzle them. If you injure wildlife while driving, call the RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) on 13 11 11 and they will connect you to the wildlife carer network.

Driver licencing

Victoria has a graduated licensing system in place. In very simple terms, a learner's permit can be obtained by a person who is 16 years or older, which enables them to drive when accompanied by a fully licenced driver. A P1 (red) probationary licence can be applied for once a learner reaches 18 years of age. After one year as a P1 probationary licence holder, drivers can upgrade to a P2 (green) probationary licence which has less restrictions. P2 probationary licences last for 3 years. Progressing through each step of the graduated licensing system requires tests and/or certain conditions to be satisfied. For full details and rules, go to Victoria's graduated licensing system web site.

Number plates

Number plates are required to be displayed on a registered vehicle in order for it to be driven on public roads in Victoria. An example of the current standard issue number plates for vehicles in Victoria is shown on the right. Further details about number plates, including special interest and personalised versions, are available from the VicRoads number plate page.

Fuel

Fuel is sold at a variety of outlets including service stations which are part of branded groups such as Ampol, APCO, BP, Caltex, Liberty, Mobil, Shell and United. There are also a number of unbranded independent petrol stations. Some convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven and Quix, offer petrol at selected outlets. Supermarket chain Woolworths/Safeway has a group of co-branded Caltex Woolworths and Caltex Safeway petrol stations, while rival Coles has a network of Coles Express petrol stations which are supplied by Shell. Fuel discounts for customers of those supermarkets are offered.

Most service stations sell:

• Unleaded petrol of various octane levels - regular (91), premium (95), ultra (98)
• E10 (regular unleaded petrol blended with 10% ethanol)
• LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
• Diesel