$5,000 fine for surprising road rule

We all know not to touch our phones or speed when we’re behind the wheel, but there’s one little-known road rule that could set you back thousands.

A Gold Coast woman has copped a $5,390 fine for failing to wear her seatbelt correctly.

A camera snapped the woman wearing her seatbelt tucked under her arm.

• Also read: Aussie commuter rages at detail in $277 fine: 'I wanna scream so loud'

• Also read: Millions of Aussies at risk of surprising $362 fine

• Also read: The $11,000 fine Aussies face from November

“What the actual f***,” she wrote on social media with a picture of the eye-watering fine.

“Because my seatbelt was under my arm, not on top. $5,390!”

In Queensland, the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt is ordinarily $1,078 and four demerit points for drivers and passengers who are aged 16 years and over.

But, because the woman was driving a business vehicle and businesses can’t get demerit points, the penalty was five times higher.

The Queensland government says seatbelts must be worn with the belt over your shoulder, running across your chest and be buckled low on your hip.

Wearing a seatbelt any other way will result in a fine.

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt correctly was increased from $413 to $1,087 on July 1.

It came after 50,000 fines were given to drivers caught using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt in just four months earlier in the year.

Queensland also gives double demerit points for drivers who are caught again within 12 months.

Little sympathy

There was little sympathy for the woman online.

“Babes, have you just considered wearing your seatbelt correctly?” one person said.

“Why would you wear a seat belt under your arm? Surely it would be very uncomfortable (in addition to not being good safety-wise),” another person said.

“It is not rocket science,” a Reddit user said.

“What an easy way to lose money, and lots of it,” another person added.

Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter.