Australian motorists have been warned to catch up with the latest road rules in effect across the country or unknowingly risk major fines.

New road rules in different states attract higher penalties and registration-related changes from July 1, with reforms ranging from motorcycle safety gear requirements to e-scooter crackdowns and new speed limits.

Here’s what you need to know.

NSW

In NSW, tougher safety requirements are in force for Learner, P1 and P2 cladded motorcyclists under changes to the Motorcycle Graduated Licensing Scheme.

Riders on L or P plates must wear approved protective gloves whenever riding, while learner riders must also wear an approved high-visibility vest or jacket.

Long-promised changes to roadwork speed limits have also been introduced in NSW.

A new Traffic Control at Work Sites standard dictates that  temporary reduced speed limits must be removed outside construction hours whenever it is safe to do so.

Where there are no workers on site and conditions allow, speed limits will return to normal rather than remain unnecessarily reduced.

From July 6, the NSW weekly cap for toll fees is reduced from $60 to $50 for 12 months.

From September, eligible vehicle owners will automatically receive a one-off registration discount worth $100 for passenger vehicles and $80 for motorcycles.

Victoria

Victoria has changed its infringement enforcement system to increase penalties for motorists who fail to pay infringement notices by their due date.

The changes primarily affect unpaid fines rather than introducing new traffic offences.

Consumer group Choice has warned that thousands of Victorian residents could soon receive “an unexpected knock on the door from a state sheriff, or at least a bombshell of a debt collection notice in the mail”.

It said the Victorian government was trying to collect unpaid road toll fines dating back a decade or more, and threatening jail for defaulters.

Presently there is a moratorium on prison for unpaid fines in Victoria. It has been extended for a further two months.

Queensland

Queensland has introduced tough reforms targeting electric bikes, scooters and other personal mobility devices.

Police are able to seize and destroy illegal e-bikes and e-scooters, and riders are subject to random breath testing and a 0.05 blood alcohol limit.

E-bikes and e-scooters are also limited to riding on roads that have a speed limit of 60km/h and lower, or in bike lanes.

The vehicles are to travel at a maximum speed limit of 25km/h on roads and a maximum of 12km/h on footpaths and shared paths.

Speeding, failing to wear a helmet, careless riding, illegally carrying passengers and riding on prohibited roads now attract higher penalties.

From August 31, e-bike riders will also need to be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s licence, including a learner’s permit.

Parents of offending youths will be liable for fines if their children are caught breaking the road rules.

South Australia

Fines for many common driving offences – including speeding and drink-driving – have been increased in South Australia.

Updated speeding fines are now:

• Less than 10km/h over the limit – $215
• 10-20km/h over the limit – $484
• 20-30km/h over the limit – $998
• 30-45km/h over the limit – $1793
• More than 45km/h over the limit – $2018

Penalties for drink-driving have also increased, with drivers testing with a blood alcohol concentration below 0.08 liable for fines of $904.

Western Australia

While Western Australia has not introduced any major changes, it is considering significant reforms for learner and provisional drivers.

Proposals include doubling the minimum learner period from six to 12 months, extending the provisional licence period from two years to three, and increasing supervised learner driving requirements from 50 to 80 hours (including 10 hours of night driving).

The Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania have introduced no significant new road rules, although some penalties have increased through inflation indexation.