Traffic in Australia drives on the left side of the road and highways are numbered, although they are more commonly known by name. By law, drivers and passengers must wear seat belts or incur a fine. Unless otherwise indicated, the speed limit in Western Australia for metropolitan areas is 50kph (31mph), while on motorways the speed limit is 110kph (68mph). The maximum legal blood to alcohol ratio for driving is 0.05%, which is enforced with random breath tests.

The minimum age for driving is 16 years. Foreign driving licences are valid for up to one year - an International Driving Permit is recommended for longer visits. Insurance for temporarily imported overseas motor vehicles is generally not available, although RACWA does offer a tourist insurance policy (excluding left-hand drive vehicles). Outback Western Australia is extremely dry and hot for most of the year and drivers planning to cross desert areas are advised to travel in convoy and take a large supply of drinking water, in addition to fuel, spare tyres and an emergency kit.

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RACWA) (tel: (08) 131 703; www.rac.com.au) provides further information.

Emergency breakdown service: Royal Automobile Club (tel: 131 111).

Routes to the city: The main routes into Perth are the Great Eastern Highway 94 (from Fremantle and Kalgoorlie-Boulder), Wanneroo Road (from Geraldton), the Southwestern Highway 20 (from Bunbury) and the Albany Highway 30 (from Albany). People driving direct from Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney travel via Kalgoorie on the Great Eastern Highway.

Approximate driving times to Perth: From Geraldton - 4 hours 30 minutes; from Kalgoorlie - 6 hours; from Adelaide - 24 hours; Melbourne - 31 hours; from Bunbury - 1 hour 30 minutes; from Albany - 4 hours; from Sydney - 37 hours 30 minutes.

Long journeys should be broken up and it is not advised to drive outside daylight hours when help may be harder to reach.

Coach services: The main coach operators are Greyhound (tel: 131 499; www.greyhound.com.au) and the Transwa (tel: (08) 9326 2000; www.transwa.wa.gov.au). Destinations are varied and include Esperance, Geraldton, Mukinbudin, Albany, Bunbury and Collie. Services arrive at the East Perth Terminal, Summers Street, East Perth. South West Coach Lines (tel: (08) 9754 1666) depart from the Perth City Busport, 3 Mounts Bay Road, to Bunbury and Margaret River.