Fluffy dice, or fuzzy dice. We’ve all seen them hanging from car rearview mirrors in the past, and you might have even had them in your own car at some point.
- If you can be distracted by it, you could get in trouble for it
- Fines apply for multiple states in Australia
- The rules apply to other items in your field of view, too
But if you were to have a set of these ornamental six-spots in your car, you could be in line for a fine.
You may choose to roll the dice, but the smart money is on removing the fuzzy number blocks from your car, as there may be back-pocket ramifications. You could even cop some demerit points.
The rulings vary between jurisdictions, but the notion is the same; those dice might be a distraction when you’re driving, so you shouldn’t have them in your car.
Parents out there might be thinking, “well, shouldn’t it be illegal to drive with kids in the car?”. Or maybe you’re thinking, “well, shouldn’t billboards on the sides of the road be banned, too?”. Those are fair points.
Look, you’re probably more likely to cop a fine if you’re driving erratically and happen to have fluffy dice hanging from your mirror. But if the police think you are driving that way because you have those there, then you could be in line for a financial penalty.
The National Transport Commission has endorsed recommendations that “seek to address all sources of distraction while driving”. Principally, the 2020 publication by that group focused primarily on the digital distractions that are now heavily penalised, such as smartphone and touchscreen devices.
However, an officer could see your having fluffy dice or any other decorative items – such as stickers on the front or rear windscreen – as distractions that obscure your view of the road.
Australian Road Rules 297 (2) states that: “A driver must not drive a motor vehicle unless the driver has a clear view of the road, and traffic, ahead, behind and to each side of the driver.”
If enforced, it could cost you almost $350 in NSW and possibly three demerit points. For Queensland, the fine is similar, but no demerit points.
Victoria’s Infringement Code 2088 states a driver may be committing an offence if they “Fail to have full control, uninterrupted view…” It doesn’t attract any demerit points, but a fine close to $250 could eventuate.
The WA Road Safety Commission’s mobile phones and distractions guidelines put forward some ways to ensure you can “Avoid All Distractions” when you’re behind the wheel:
- Turn off your mobile phone when driving.
- Adjust all vehicle controls before setting off.
- Turn off your MP3 player when driving.
- Take a break rather than eat, drink, smoke or groom yourself while driving.
- Check a map before starting the journey to know what lies ahead.
- Ask passengers to be quiet if you are having difficulty concentrating while driving.
- Ensure pets are properly restrained in the vehicle.
- Recognise what makes you distracted and avoid that activity when driving.
- Make sure the vehicle’s windscreens and mirrors are clean and unobstructed.
So, better to keep those snake-eyes of yours on the road, hey?
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.
