Is it against the law for a 13 year old drive a registered car on a private property(farm/acreage) with owner's permission?
My understanding is that a private property not open to public is not classified as "road", therefore, traffic law doesn't apply here. However, is this against any other law?
13 Year Old Driving on Private Property in QLD
LMinuteRepeater on 26/09/2023 - 11:55
Comments
Normal car insurance will not apply though if it gets damaged.
Why not? Is a licensed driver a normal policy condition? I've heard of people claiming the vehicle was used without approval.
The driver would not hold a permit to drive as they are 13.
I've heard of people claiming the vehicle was used without approval
Well that would be a lie in OPs situation and classified as insurance fraud.
The kid would be charged with theft and the insurance company would go after them for the damages.
Who's gonna know…?
All OzBargainers now.
it will be copypasta all over ozbargain or reddit so everyone will know
QLD relevant question>
Who owns (a) the 13 YO (b) the car?Property owner owns both.
This is a very promising start.
Play safe
Private property, with permission - then all good.
Is it against the law for a 13 year old drive a registered car on a private property(farm/acreage) with owner's permission?
I attended boarding school with country boys. The sort of people who live on these properties don't give a shit about the law.
The sort of people who live on these properties…
What sort of people are you generalising about?
What sort of property are you generalising about?
Do you think the question posed by OP is against a law? If so, which law?Most farmers get away with stuff no-one else can. Classic is their ability to milk tax payer money, garner favourable laws,have authorities look the other way, and influence policies.
Protected species.
This is one topic where they don't rely on their teflon suit.
Per below, I doubt if workplace safety would have any success, because this sector has had family tragedies for years and law reform has been held back by gutless politicians too scared to upset the Nats /conservative parties voter baseIt’s the law of the land, and it’s their land.
A 13 year old driving a registered vehicle on private property that is not normally accessible to the public with the owner's permission is NOT illegal.
But if there is an incident involving potential or actual injury the workplace safety people may well get involved. That would be a case if a farmer had his kids, or anyone else's, driving tractors or bikes or trucks or forklifts or any work vehicle on the property. It becomes a workplace safety incident. If its machinery type that requires specific training and certification, no-one can use it without certification, anywhere, including on private property. Another example would be where the kids were on the property as part of the property renting holiday premises, and they used vehicles provided by the property.
And, note, while road laws like speeding and not being licenced don't apply on private property, some others do, depending on the jurisdiction. You can be booked for drink driving, and driving dangerously.
Don't listen to the people who say "when I went to school …". The laws have changed from anything goes on private property. When I went to school we hooned around in the warehouse in the forklift. Can't now.
Well… you can if you don't get caught.
It becomes a workplace safety incident.
Fairly sure this doesn't apply to self-employed in NSW.
It’s not a road or road related area.
I get my cat to park my car into the garage every day, and there is nothing to see here. Go wild, it's your private property, and ensure adequate supervision etc. is given.
My child started driving at around 10-11 and by 12 was happily working the Hilux on the property. He's probably got a better grasp of manuals and 4x4s than most. However, now we're in the city for uni and he has to get his licence the stupidity of city drivers is freaking him out.
So no, nothing illegal so long as safe. But doesn't always translate well.
You can have a racetrack on your private estate and go nuts like Goodwood.
https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazard… - have a read through that and make sure you're doing so safely.
My gut response was "back in my day…", but that was also a time of sitting in the back of the ute, doing doughies in the dirt and driving along roads because it was just driving between paddocks, what could happen? But kid deaths on farms are a real thing and gradually decreased a lot over time.
IMO these days I would teach a kid to drive normally on a farm. Wide open space, can't hit anything, can learn how it operates. Constant supervision, no other vehicles around, adult able to intervene if possible. Nothing should create excessive noise or dust because it just creates bad behaviours, that driving like an idiot is "fun".
If you want them to learn defensive driving, put them in a course. Don't try teach them yourself.
13yo could also drive an unregistered vehicle on private property.
You could ask the relevant Authorities…..after asking us here of course.
My kids were driving paddock bashers from 8 on private property.
It's fine as long as your neighbours are not being blasted with excessive noise or dust.
Normal car insurance will not apply though if it gets damaged.
It's the best way to learn donuts and burnouts before they hit the streets.