TEST-TIME: Use this list to cross your Ls and dot your Ps.
Should slow cars keep left? Do you need to indicate at roundabouts? Are you allowed to drive through a yellow light?
“The community told us they didn’t understand some of the changes we made last
year and they also told us they were not sure about many other existing rules,” said NSW Roads Minister Mr Duncan Gay in a press release.
“To address this issue we have developed a guide answering many of the unknowns
about road rules in a simple way.”
These are the 10 most misunderstood road rules in the state, according to Transport for NSW.
1. ROUNDABOUTS: Drivers approaching a roundabout must use their indicators when turning or making a U-turn. There is no requirement for drivers to signal when approaching the roundabout, if they are going straight ahead.
2. GIVING WAY TO PEDESTRIANS: If a driver is turning left or right at an intersection, the driver must give way to any pedestrian crossing the road the driver is entering. This applies to intersections with and without traffic lights.
3. MOBILE PHONES: A mobile phone can only be used while driving if it’s secured in a commercially designed and manufactured mounting fixed to the vehicle or operated by Bluetooth technology or voice activation. This includes the navigational or GPS function and audio functions of the device.
4. MERGING: When a driver is travelling on a road without lane markings and the number of lanes is reduced, they must merge by giving way to any vehicle that is ahead of them. However a driver who is moving from one lane, marked by broken lines (whether or not the lane is ending) to another must give way to any vehicle already travelling in the same direction.
5. KEEPING LEFT: On roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, motorists must not drive in the right-hand lane unless overtaking, turning right or making a U-turn, avoiding an obstacle or driving in congested traffic. If a ‘Keep Left Unless Overtaking’ sign is displayed, then you must keep left regardless of the speed limit.
6. HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHT USE: High beam is not permitted if travelling less than 200 metres behind a car going in the same direction or less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle. It is an offence to flash the vehicle’s headlights unless the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency. A driver is only permitted to use fog lights if driving in fog, mist or other atmospheric condition that restricts visibility.
7. U-TURNS: When making a U-turn a driver must have a clear view of any approaching traffic and give way to all vehicles and pedestrians. Drivers are not allowed to make a U-turn across: a) a single continuous dividing line; b) a single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line; c) two parallel continuous dividing lines.
8. SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE: Drivers should stay three seconds behind vehicles in front of them. In poor conditions such as rain, gravel roads or dim light, it may be necessary to increase the travelling distance to four seconds to increase the crash avoidance space.
9. SCHOOL ZONES: A school zone is the area around a school with a speed limit of 40km/h normally from 8am to 9.30am and between 2.30pm and 4pm on school days. Details on NSW gazetted school days can be located here. There are a small number of non-standard school zone times in NSW. These zones are identified by red/orange school zone signs which indicate non-standard times. Signs at these schools display the times which apply.
10. YELLOW TRAFFIC LIGHTS: A driver approaching traffic lights showing a yellow traffic light must stop if they can do so safely. Penalties apply for drivers who fail to stop at a yellow light, unless it is unsafe to do so.
How did you go? Do many NSW drivers misunderstand these rules?
When I was watching the news or a Current Affair I am sure they were saying you must use your indicator whether you are turning left, right, u turn and driving through a roundabout. They were commenting on the number of people being booked for not using right and left indicators when going through the roundabout. Now I am really confused!!!
if you are going straight ahead you must turn your left blinker on when exiting the roundabout or for that matter anytime you are exiting the round about
What the hell you people talking about??? The instructions are pretty clear about Roundabouts… It says:
” a) Drivers approaching a roundabout must use their indicators when turning or making a U-turn.
b) There is no requirement for drivers to signal when approaching the roundabout, if they are going straight ahead.”
It means IF YOU ARE TURNING ANY SIDE (left or right) OR MAKING A U-TURN, give indicator………….. IF YOU ARE GOING STRAIGHT, there is no need of the indicator.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
That’s right TM, if you are going straight ahead there is no need to indicate when APPROACHING the roundabout. You ARE required to indicate a left turn when you are about to EXIT the roundabout. Time to get off your high horse.
What about double laned roundabouts and you are in the inside lane going straight on (I think you should indicate then) but other wise if you go straight no you shouldn’t as it would get confusing.
Maybe in NSW there are no double laned roundabouts but in Victoria there are and I think what I stated above is the convention.
Charles, there are many 2 laned roundabouts, and many near accidents because of that fact! Drivers on the outside lane should (in my opinion) be in that lane ONLY to turn left or drive straight through, NOT turn right like many that I have encountered!! So annoying!
Confusion upon confusion! When I was learning to drive, the ‘outside’ lane was the overtaking lane, and the ‘inside’ lane was the one closest to the road edge as it was said that you pulled ‘in’ to the gutter. This was before the introduction of round-abouts which now makes these expressions redundent. Perhaps the description: ‘overtaking lane’ and hence ‘undertaking lane’ are more graphic. Comments?
Inside and Outside lane aren’t really used any more. The lanes are numbered from the gutter with lane 1 being the gutter lane, lane 2 the centre lane and lane 3 being the overtaking/fast lane on a 3 lane road. Same thing lane 1 & 2 on 2 lane roads. Much easier. Inside/Outside and Nearside/offside – too confusing.
Graham has hit the nail on the head, correct and simple if you look at the key wording.
Graham is correct- the road rules state that a vehicle must indicate left when exiting a roundabout. (i.e. as soon as you have passed the previous exit)
A Current Affair not only got the round-a-bout rule wrong, they also got the rules for pedestrians wrong. They said pedestriains are allowed to enter the intersection while the lights are flashing red and they must stop entering the intersection when the lights stop flashing. The law actually says that pedestrain are not to enter the intersection as soon as the light turns red. The flashing light is to warn pedestrians on the intersection that they must clear the intersection as quickly as possible. This is to ensure that the intersection clears to allow vehicles to turn left or right.
This is one of the biggest restrictions to traffic flow in the CBD, pedestrains entering intersection after the lights have turned red and not clearing the intersection quickly.
All this says is that Current Affair is unreliable and you should take advice from either the Police or the RMS. My concern is the 3 second rule. Try leaving 3 seconds between you and the car in front and there’ll soon be 4 cars in the gap! Who is the “offender” in such a situation, me or the person who shaved my 3 seconds down to one?
The “Three Second Rule” is there for the driver that will look and count three seconds then either slow down or move up depending on the “Distance” between you and the car in front.
My concern is how long is three seconds when counting as you cant look at your watch?
When I drive, I consider actual distance between cars, depending on speed, traffic flow and road conditions.
Eveyone should know what is a “safe distance” travelling and leave that little extra for emergencies.
My view and thanks for reading.
The prescribed method (by the police, the [former] RTA and most if not all professional driving instructors) of determining 3 seconds is to count ‘one thousand, two thousand, three thousand’ at normal speaking speed (not racing). I was taught to count seconds this way when I learned to drive 30 years ago, so it’s not new or radical. First aid training bodies like St John Ambulance and Red Cross have used similar methods for at least that long to teach people how to pace their chest compressions for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if you were wondering).
Thanks Melissa.
It was my sarcasm writing that blog as I too know the three second rule. My message was how many drivers take the time to count three seconds between vehicles. Judging safe distances is certainly quicker and more effective to a driver than trying to count each time they sit behind a vehicle.
Actually, I think the point most people are missing is WHY indicate left off a roundabout. Seems obvious to me that there are two reasons, the main one is that the poor sod who has been waiting to turn onto the roundabout can, if they know you are turning off, actually enter the roundabout in the space you are vacating. No doubt it also helps the bloke behind to know you are exiting. I hate when folk exit without indicating and traffic flow is slowed because the nex person entering misses the chance to do so.
Of course, this also presumes we are travelling around the roundabout at a reasonable speed, hopefully less than say 20k when traffic is heavy. (Another hate is folk who approach the roundabout at 40-50k so you can’t enter even if they are yet to actually enter said roundabout.)
You now have it in writing so Current Affair have it wrong !!!!!
Its simple, you want to go left use left blinker, straight no blinker however if its a large roundabout just use left blinker when you want to exit, if you are turning right use right blinker but change it to left just before you exit the roundabout, changing it from right to left allows others in the roundabout to know you are exiting so then they can enter it without having to guess if you are exiting or doing a complete u-turn. Most common misconception is having to give way to your right, while this is in most cases the case anyway the law is you give way to anybody who is already in the roundabout. Hope this helps, i am a police officer by the way.
The law is quite clear about giving way to the person that is past the dotted line at aroundabout but unfortunately very few drivers understand this rule and you are taking a risk if you try to inforce this rule. Do you have any idea how we could educate the drivers regarding this rule as on many occasions one can sit at a arondabout waiting for all the cars on your right to pass through before you proceed.
My recollection about giving way on roundabouts was that you had to give way to any other vehicle already on the roundabout, IF there was a danger of a collision. So in fact you don’t have to give way to a cars that may be already be on the roundabout if there is no danger. Otherwise we’d all be waiting for ever and causing a giant traffic jam!
Good one Doug,
Agree and also add a momentum rule to keep the traffic flowing. If you slow to almost a stop it’s harder to enter the roundabout at a similar speed to that of the vehicle on the roundabout.
No, James, we should ALWAYS indicate left before coming out of a roundabout.
Any size of roundabout!
There may also be some confusion between roundabout sizes? I go through 5 small ones everyday, I don’t have time at 50km to turn my indicator either on when entering or on left when I exit in a straight line, when doing a 90deg turn there is time for both..also learnt the hard way not to drive straight over them!! … wasn’t you was it james??..lol..still as MY dad taught me..som 40 years ago…better to alive wrong than DEAD right..just take care out there!!
Alive wrong: you? Dead right: others? What a selfish thought! Remember, that dead right person could be one of your friends!!!
It means that it is better to be wrong and wait untill it is clear/safe to enter than to be right have the law on your side and drive high speed into it and end up dead..how many times have we all seen someone speed up to get into the roundabout to be the FIRST into it..especially from the right? At the end of the day the rules are to try and make it safer and more efficient for ALL of us.
A roundabout is simply an intersection so the rules and logic apply as with any intersection. When approaching the roundabout “slow down”, the roundabout is there because the intersection is a busy place, and /or probably a particularly hazardous one for some reason. The indicator is a communication device to “indicate” your intentions at the intersection. So tell everyone around the area, INCLUDING PEDESTRIANS what you are intending to do, by using the indicator properly. On approach, if turning left, indicate left; if turning right or doing a u-turn at the roundabout (which is legal), indicate right; if going straight ahead do NOT indicate on approach, as this is confusing.
Give way to any vehicle in the roundabout if there is likely to be a collision. Remember you have slowed down already I hope, so that you can make the correct decision in time to act appropriately. That is what the roundabout is intended to achieve. Some give way to a vehicle close on the right, because that is the one you would most likely collide with if you enter the roundabout. Simple logic, but not the way a roundabout is intended to operate.
The law requires you to indicate left “when leaving the roundabout”, in other words you are communicating your intentions to those around you, likely to be affected, including pedestrians. Straight forward logic.
If you don’t have time to indicate left when leaving the roundabout, you are probably travelling too fast. The roundabout is there to remind all that it is an intersection that deserves careful driving, so speak to those around you with the indicator to let them know what you are doing. Don’t forget, cyclists, motor cyclistes and PEDESTRIANS share the roundabout. A roundabout is not a grand prix circuit, in which to compete with others for priority. Courtesy counts.
While signaling left when exiting a roundabout when driving straight through it is
a. the law and
b. a good idea
I have in mind a very small single lane roundabout (which I use often) in a residential area. I would estimate that it is not more than two and a half (commodore) car lengths in diameter and has been constructed with a relative large centre section with a height less than a ‘speed hump’, so that emergency vehicles and school buses can drive straight across it – and it is almost impossible not to drive across it oneself.
In this instance, when driving through it, it is quite impractical to signal left on exit after even the nose of the vehicle has passed the centre point of the ‘first’ exit, since the vehicle is then almost into the road opposite the entry point. The roundabout has only three entrances/exits so there is no left hand exit to pass when crossing in the opposite direction!
I often wonder why it was not left as the T intersection that it really is.
Thank you John:)
Singalling at a roundabout is no different to signalling at an indentical intersection without a roundabout, except for signalling left when you exit to your chosen road. Signalling left and right turns is MANDATORY (ie. the law) every time you wish to turn from one road into another, from a road into a driveway or parking spot, or from a driveway or parking spot into a road. EVERY TIME. There is almost no excuse for not signalling left and right turns, whether for a roundabout or a normal intersection. Turn signals are supposed to be given at least 30 metres before the intersection. This is not difficult, every learner going for their P plates manages it – if they want to actually get their Ps. Also you should be slowing down as you approach intersections anyway, to check that it is safe to proceed – another little remembered road law: the speed limit in any and all intersections is in fact 30km per hour.
I see you dont drive through many roundabouts. If you did you would realise that not all roundabouts are the same. some are too small to be able to indicate both entry and exit with 30 meters ahead of your turn.
Aberford my old brain was finally enlightened when the “Clarification” of rules came out – you must indicate left when exiting any roundabout “if possible”. This to me means those pissy little roundabouts that got squeezed into the road or the dogbone roundabouts both of which you are still trying to turn the car when the exit comes are exempt as the indicator will not stay on while you are still turn the steering wheel.
What confuses everyone is the “unless it is unpracticable” part of the rule. You do not have enough time to put your left blinker on half way around small roundabouts. I think the left blinker rule works on large roundabouts ONLY !
BADLY interpreted by many drivers. Now I see left and right blinkers from drivers going straight ahead BEFORE the roundabout…….
Thanks, you did not mention while exiting small round about, so far I know, in case of small round about while exiting give left signal if it is convenient, otherwise exit left without giving signal.
Headlights/Foglights get it right you lot,tell the knobs in car land that it is illegal to run with them on unless they are in low vis/smoke or fog conditions.
When I first learned to drive, my Father impressed upon me that as well as thoroughly knowing all the road rules, I should always use common sense when driving. Things like anticipating that some drivers will turn or change lanes without signaling or looking, not giving right-of-way or just generally driving dangerously.
This additional (unspoken) road rule has served me well for quite a few decades on both two and four wheels and is one I would recommend to all.
That is the way that my father taught me to drive and it to has served me well on four, three and two wheels.
when approaching a round-about with a left handed sweep on the approach and you intend to go right the is a good chance that doing this constantly will break your blinker mechanism . they are ment to turn off when the wheel goes in the opposite direction…i think this rule needs to be looked at
I have also long been aware of the danger to the blinker stalk from trying to put on right blinker when there is a left kick before a roundabout (or the necessity to reapply if it cancels because of the kick). So my policy is to not apply blinker until I have made the left kick and pretty well straightened up to enter the roundabout.
Why is it that there is always a “good” excuse for not doing it and never one for doing it from a lot of people. This is complete rot what you are saying about breaking your indicator stalk on a “sweeper”. I have done what has now been put into law for many years, well for at least 5, as a common courtesy to other drivers and surprisingly having travelled many tens of thousands of kilometres in numerous models of cars and trucks have not broken one indicator stalk. Cant see what your whinging about, try and let commonsense prevail!!
3 seconds! in Sydney traffic!
How about rules like Green Means Go!
Or. Drive for others as well as yourself.
Drive with purpose, because you are more likely to have an accident the longer you are on the road (note that does not mean speed) Plus it will mean you are paying attention.
Honestly Sydney roads are so congested all day that Sydney drivers need to learn advanced driving methods.
OK; I’ll accept left blinker to exit roundabout, but I’m finding it hard to accept that we are NOT to give way to our right, but to give way to whoever is currently on the roundabout; as I understand it, that is the road ruling.
Today, I thought I’d try this out. I approached one empty roundabout but there were three vehicles approaching the roundabout on my right. I could see by the manner in which they were approaching the roundabout, it was apparent that the leading vehicle had every intention of entering the roundabout and cruising straight through, in front of me, and expecting me to give way. I could have legally proceeded to enter the roundabout, but I think the consequences might have been sad.
On another occasion, I approached a roundabout where a vehicle was waiting on my right for a vehicle to pass in front of it and continue down the way I had just come, so I took my opportunity and proceeded straight through the roundabout to the other side, remembering of course to put my left blinker on as I was exiting.
Had I chosen to obey the rules of the roundabout, I would have had to wait for the vehicle to leave the roundabout, then allowed the vehicle on my right to continue, by which time someone else will have likely entered the roundabout, and so on. I thought these things were meant to assist traffic flow at intersections?
It seems to me that the rule states one thing, but the general driver attitude is to yield to the give way to the right ruling, which has worked well in Australia for decades – long before roundabouts were ever thought of. Who follows the ruling, and who follows the give way to the right?
I usually assume that any driver on my right when I am approaching a roundabout is ignorant of the rule to give way to those already in the roundabout. Therefore, even if I get to the roundabout first, I give way to him/her if there is any danger that he/she will hit me!
that’s the problem with roundabouts, nobody slows down when approaching it. Most drivers believe that everyboby has to give way to the right, so the plough through and on these stupid small roundabouts, you could be waiting for ages, or you can push in and get honked at. I hate ignorant “roundabout drivers”
Nothing was written about fog lights or are the rules the same for high beam ??
Hi Shaun, sorry for the confusion. The rule about Fog Lights is quite simple and it should have been included above: “A driver is only permitted to use fog lights if driving in fog, mist or other atmospheric condition that restricts visibility.” For more info on the different types of lights on a vehicle, check out this page: http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/road-safety/safer-driving/country/fog.htm. Hope this helps, Daniel
What about Overtaking on the Left? I have had some scares on the F3 in recent years with other drivers weaving in and out of the left lane to overtake vehicles in the centre lane. If I overtake on the right and return to the centre lane, do I have to yield to another vehicle overtaking on the left at the same time? Who’s at fault when we collide?
I had an incident turning left into my own driveway where an RX-7 that was tailgating me up the street accelerated up the inside as I swung out (slowly with left indicator flashing) from the chicane to enter my driveway. Fortunately she only hit the front wheel of my car, but on my questioning her judgement she explained vigorously with a unique collection of 4-letter adjectives why I shouldn’t have a license – then screeched off at high speed down our 50km/h street…
I checked the rules about overtaking on the left, but there’s no clear indication whether it’s allowed or not.
If someone is able to overtake you on the left and the speed is over 80 km/h i.e. on a freeway then I believe YOU are at fault. So if 2 cars are merging from left and right into the centre then it would seem the car on the right is at fault. I don’t know of any rules where the limit is 80 km/h or below.
Robbo,
if two cars are merging from left and right into the centre, the leading vehicle has right of way just like merging. If the vehicle on the right hand side has his car’s front say 300 mm for example ahead of the car merging from left then the right hand car has right of way, if this scenario is reversed left hand car ahead then the left hand car has right of way.
Unless there are marked traffic lanes it is illegal to overtake on the left.
Unless the vehicle being overtaken is turning right.
There’s also the fact that any vehicle being overtaken has the right of way. ie if someone is overtaking you on the right as you make a right hand turn and you collide, they are at fault. Likewise to the left. This is the same for boats an planes.
However, if there are marked traffic lanes one may not change lanes unless it is safe to do so. Therefore, one may not move into a left hand lane if someone is attempting to overtake in that lane at that time.
Mate, in Nowra the princes Highway goes right through town in dual carriageways. Speed limit 60/70 km/hour, everybody sits in the right hand lane going both directions, even coming out of side streets directly across one lane to drive in the right hand lane. Their speeds vary so often there is literally a stream of slow traffic going bumper to bumper in the right lane. Guess I am breaking the law by travelling at the speed limit and passing these folk by driving in the left hand lane. It seems illogical in these conditions not to pass them!
Road rules are just “plain common sense !”….trouble is……too many drivers out there don’t have it !!!!.
Common sense mostly, but as far as a policeman is concerned common sense is irelevant. The law is to be obeyed to the letter.
My problem is that you still need a law degree to work out what the rules say. Take the roundabout rules. This explanation is very careful to say that it relates to the situation APPROACHING a roundabout; we have recently been told though that you must ALWAYS signal that you intend to turn left when you are LEAVING a roundabout. Simple? Try explaining to a couple of people I know that you have to signal LEFT when you are completing a RIGHT turn and leaving a roundabout.
Chris, if you are on F3 and are overtaken on the left then you are not obeying the keep left rule.. it is not Keep in the Centre lane rule!
Thing is, I always try to avoid overtaking on the left myself, so if I’m on cruise control at 110km/h (sometimes a few k higher) and come up to a car in the centre lane doing a few km/h less, I look for a chance to overtake on the right. Problem is when some other car doing 120 gets frustrated and overtakes us both on the left – it’s not always easy to keep an eye on that guy 2 lanes over when you’re changing back into centre lane.
In heavy traffic passing on the left happens a lot, and is not necessarily illegal. You are not obliged to move out of the centre lane if you deem that the available space is not sufficient for safety.
We live in a nanny state!
Actually, no we don’t. If we did, these laws would be enforced, which they are shamefully not.
It was only on my way to work tonight when I had two idiots wanting to run into me – the first came into my lane cornering, the second came into my lane in front of me, without signalling (until I blew the horn at the idiot to say “I’m here”). Only then did I see an indicator used – when the lane change was nearly complete. Then on top of all this, this same idiot proceeded to turn right, right in front of me !!!
Good thing I’ve got a cam in my car, to catch these idiots’ behaviour if I ever need to show it to the authorities. I’ve also started uploading them to youtube. No one is exempt.
U-turns are not permitted at traffic lights. This was omitted from the U-turn section above.
Sorry but u-turns are permitted at traffic lights WHEN there is a sign saying that you can. We have those signs here in the ACT. We also have a plethora of roundabouts, big and small, and the use/non-use of indicators is enough to send most sane people crazy. Remember to give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, enter if it is safe and indicate when coming off – I don’t think the rules can be any clearer.
Interestingly,
in NSW, U-turns are NOT permitted at traffic light – unless there is a sign permitting this.
In Victoria, U-turns ARE permitted at traffic lights – unless there is a sign prohibiting this.
I know not the situation in other States!
Break the blinker mechanism, what a load of codswallop, driving around roundabout’s in Australia and Europe/UK for 20 years in a multitude of passenger vehicles new and old, and have never broken one yet. Certainly have a problem on some small single lane roundabouts where one road is major or busier dominating the traffic flow. This can be controlled by engineering to slow the traffic speed and or angle of approach, slow in – faster out. Not enough thought or design goes into all roundabouts.
Does “a speed limit of more than 80km/h” mean “80 and above” (which makes sense given the sort of road that has a limit of exactly 80), or is it to be taken literally as MORE than 80 (which in practice means “90 and above”, given there are no roads with a limit of 81 or 85)?
I saw a reference from a senior policeman once saying “80 and above”, but the words are “above 80″. So you do NOT have to keep left in an 80k zone.
But there are many multilane roads with 80kph speed limits, and signs “KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING”!
…unless it’s sign posted “Keep Left Unless Overtaking” – even then people don’t obey this, so they deserve to be booked….shame I’m not in the Highway Patrol – I’d book every selfish idiot for not changing lanes without indicating,not changing lanes safely, not keeping left unless overtaking, tailgating, speeding (of course)…and generally having no idea what they’re doing on the road in the first place.
Yes 80 or above. Common sense is to keep left all the time….
Joe you obviously don’t live or drive through Nowra.
What are trucks doing on the inner lanes? M5 4 lanes its the trucks holding up the traffic (specialy container and car freighters) NOTE in ie Holland ALL trucks must stay in the outer lane No if or buts
Can you see how our Ozzie freeway mentality works on the German autobann What are L platers doing on the 2nd or 3rd lane????? Its slow traffic KEEP tou the outer lane unless you are fed up with life…….COMMON SENCE
Common Sense, Indicate when leaving a roundabout only in multi lane roundabouts.
Keep left if not overtaking, I am 65 and been driving for many years now,
And give way to everyone if necessary.
On reading this survey, There are a lot of people there who should not be driving.
If in doubt of the rules ask the NRMA or similar.
Paul,
Indicating left to exit single lane roundabouts is still required as it gives other road users your intended movement. I would like to see your left indicator if I was waiting to enter a small roundabout opposite you, if only to reassure me that you are not continuing to turn right (across my nose) while ignoring the right hand indicator rule.
What about the other road rules that everyone seems to follow but aren’t in any of the books?
1 No matter what speed you are doing when driving in a single lane, always increase it by 10-15kph when you get to a double lane.
Don’t forget to slow down to your previous speed as soon as the double lanes end.
2 Always accelerate if another vehicle indicates or begins to overtake you.
Follow them after they have passed for the next 2-3 minutes before settling back to your preferred speed.
3 No matter how easy the corner you are approaching, always brake or at least slow down as you approach it.
4 If you are driving a large 4WD and towing a large caravan, horse float etc., always use your headlights to make sure oncoming traffic can see you coming.
Make sure you have not adjusted your lights so that the weight of your load tips them up directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers.
5 When you are being followed by numbers of other vehicles and passing a slower vehicle on a short length of double lane road, always pass at no more than the posted speed limit, or at least stop travelling faster than the slow vehicle, once you have pulled alongside the other vehicle.
This will ensure that all those other drivers the slow vehicle has been holding up till now are not able to pass it with you.
6 When turning onto a major road from a side road or driveway pull out in front of any approaching vehicle and travel at least 20kph less than the speed limit.
This only applies if you are going to turn off in the next half to one kilometre down the road.
7 When travelling on a double lane road and passing a slower vehicle, always drive right up behind them and pull out to overtake at the last moment to make sure your vehicle has filled their mirrors.
Cut back in as soon as possible, especially if it is raining and you are able to douse them in your spray.
EXACTLY! Why do many drivers annoy others ??? Ignorance ?
Haha Lee. So freakin true!!!!
Here here, Lee. I agree with every point you have made. Don’t you hate it when the majority of drivers speed up when getting to overtaking lanes on single lane roads, only to slow down again at the end of the overtaking lanes. Northern rivers Pacific highway comes to mind…
too true on all points Lee
pity the police cant police the idiots who drive by these rules
i’ve had trucks pull out from side streets.
am i invisible or do they need their eyes tested ?
I’m not sure if I should tell you this, but no one is ever going to get booked for failing to indicate left when leaving a roundabout. Why not? Because the policeman who books you has to prove that it was practicable for you to do so – you do not have to prove it wasn’t. How would they do that?
I really have difficulty with some of these rules, or at least the way they are explained in the article above.
Rule 2 -Giving Way to pedestrians when turning at an intersection: This implies, but does not state, that there is an authorised pedestrian crossing place at the intersection! Most times, if the intersection is controlled by traffic lights, there is such a crossing and giving way to pedestrians is required (even those who start off after the red “don’t cross” light is on!).
Rule 10 – Yellow traffic lights – who determines when it is safe to stop? Taking a clue from Rule 8, if you are within 2 seconds’ travel time (at the local max legal road speed) and the green light changes to amber, then you should proceed through the amber. Even at or just beyond 2 seconds, if you have 40 or 50 tonnes of semi-trailer close behind (and, yes, that happens too often for comfort!), it is a good idea to keep going through the amber! T o stay safe, you should always drive within the limits imposed by traffic rules, within your own capabilities, the capabilities of the vehicle you are driving and the prevailing weather/road/day/night conditions. All this, and consider and allow for every other driver and pedestrian to be a complete idiot!!
The whole point of the rule being re-explained (it has existed for years – see below) is that pedestrians have right of way even if there is NO crossing:
Road Rules 2008 Rule 67
Part 7 Giving way
(4) If the driver is turning left or right or making a U-turn, the driver must also give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection on the road, or part of the road, the driver is entering.
#2 above is indeed poorly worded.
Lee clarifies it.
3 seconds – what a joke. At 60km/h that’s 50 metres. Leave that much space and 5 cars will pull in front. Then what? Are you supposed to slow and drop back another 50 metres so 5 more can pull in? In a busy 60km zone, you may as well just pull over and stop.
I was taught 1 car length for every 10mph ie 16km/h. That means at 60k, it’s about 4 car lengths which is around 20 metres.
P Chin You have made a mistake. At 60 km/h, 3 secs = 5 metres. not 50 metres!
Actually he was right. 60km/h equals 16.666 metres/sec so 3 seconds IS about 50 metres
The mathematicians won’t like your scale, but it is much more practical.
3 seconds means less than 20 cars a minute when the car length is added. Won’t move much traffic.
Totally missing from the list is the rule about intersections becoming four-way stops if the traffic lights don’t work. Australians don’t seem to understand the concept of a 4-way stop, and hardly slow down, let alone STOP.
Item 5 – The wording does not address those ignorants who occupy the centre lane of the Freeways and drive at less than the speed limit. Keep Left means left not centre.
From the comments about it is perfectly clear that the Road Rules are anything but clear. A great job for the NRMA to get its teeth into to rectify the problem.
I think the title shouldn’t be “Top 10 Most Misunderstood Road Rules” – it should be changed to “Top 10 Most Broken Road Rules Which Police Do Not Care To Enforce / Book You For”…
oh, and btw, I think those big RMS signs should just read “POLICE NOW TARGETING YOU” …see how that changes people’s driving habits.
Greg, I am a NSW Highway Patrol officer of some 20 plus years experience and so I can comment on what police choose to enforce and what not to. Some are difficult to enforce like correct roundabout use and so prevalent its amost a case of not knowing with which vehicle to start with. Its unfortunate that much of the public see HWP police quite the other way-as people who book motorists for anything they can find but in the main we do exercise a lot of discretion. Sometimes leniency can be counter productive, such as in the case of foglight use where it was not enforced and now every man and his dog drives around with them permanently on, even as a replacement for headlights at night, blinding everyone, yet not sufficiently illuminating the road ahead. Roundabouts are treated as some sort of high speed chicane by many and I go a long time between seeing anyone make correct use of indicators in one, but would be the worst person in the world if I pulled someone up for it. Sadly, roundabouts only function properly when care, and importantly courtesy is used and mostly thats a thing of the past on the roads. To clarify, keep left when speed limits are ABOVE 80 km/h OR Keep left unless overtaking signs are displayed, indicate left when leaving a roundabout when able to, leave or try to leave a 2 second gap (3 is ridiculously impractical), and respect the driver in front-tailgating is dangerous and disrespectful, an amber light means you must stop if you can safely and if you turn your foglights on in reduced visibility you have the responsibility to turn them off when things clear (and if you cant see without them maybe you need to see an optometrist, and no your car does not look cooler with them on)
David, why do they put warning signs on speed cameras?
The only conceivable reason I can think of is that withuot them too many politicians and officials would get lumbered.
They render the speed cameras a waste of money.
Years ago I did an Advanced Driving Course and i was taught to count ‘ one hippopotamus, two hippopotamus( es) . That is the safe distance between you and the car in front.
4 MERGING – Could someone please explain how , if you are travelling on a road without lane markings, the number of lanes can be reduced.
Yes.
It is quite clear from the comments made that this “clarification” has not clarified the road rules at all! I am appalled at the way the media, the NRMA, and even the RMS paraphrase the “Road Rules”, and in the process, alter the meaning.
What are the rules regarding the use of the driving lights now installed at bumper bar level for using them during daylight time. ( I know they call them all fancy names but they are driving lights and as such must be off when approaching another vehicle, the same as headlights need to be dimmed). Can anything be done against those who instal stronger globes in these driving lights? These driving lights are never switched off when approaching another vehicle especially at night. I find no use whatsoever to even switch them on except maybe on a dark country road at night, but must switch off when approaching another vehicle. DO NOT bother saying they are a safety device to have them on during the day! They are a pain in the eyes!
Firstly, let me start by saying, that these oversized silent cops they call round-a-bouts, they put in at back street intersections, should never have been built. They cause more confusion then they’re worth and it is virtually impossible to indicate your intentions because, you are either to busy turning your steering wheel, unless you are turning left at the first (so called) exit or 9 times out of 10, you simply haven’t got time to indicate because the size of the insection doesn’t allow it. (For the young ones out there; Silent cops were those little round raised yellow dics that were onced placed in the dead center of an intersection and they measured approx. 12″ to 18″ [300mm to 450mm] in diameter) that they used to control traffic behaviour at some intersections.
Secondly: Round-a-bouts are built (or rather designed) wrongly. They are currently designed (and built) in most cases (where room permits) with slip lane style approaches and exits. While this is to (supposedly) allow free flow around/through the round-a-bout, it also incites some motorists to race through the intersection(s) of the round-a-bout at all cost. This means that the motorists doing this are NOT slowing down enough (or in some cases, not at all) when approaching the round-a-bout. This senario has happened to me several times and has caused so many near misses (and I would asume most of the collisions) that it would be impssible to count. The law states that you must give way to any vehicle IN the round-a-bout (if there is danger of a collision). It does not say give way to any vehicle approaching the round-a-bout, But, if you don’t keep an extra eye out for the hoons, speedsters and lazy drivers who don’t want to slow down (and give way where nessecary), you could become one of the statistics.
I have mentioned all this because, if the powers that be design these things correctly, it would virtually eliminate the chance of anyone racing through the round-about. They (the hirarchy) simply need to eliminate the slip lane policy on the approach to a round-a-bout and design the approach so that the street butts to the round-a-bout, forcing drivers slow down and turn left, not veer left to enter the round-a-bout.
P.S. One never turns right into a round-a-bout (unless you are in a left hand drive country) you only travel in a right direction once you are in the round-a-bout. This is why I never use a right hand indicator unless it is one of those confusing/ dangerous oversized silent cops.
And one last thing. Except for those stupid oversized silent cops they call round-a-bouts, round-a-bouts are not an interesection. The interesection is the area where a street/road meets (or buts to) a round-a-bout. In other words, where two (or more) roads meet, that is an intersection. In the case of two roads meeting, that is a four way intersection, but if they then covert that intersection into a round-a-bout, it now becomes four (4) intersections. So all you people that park across the round-a-bout, stopping drivers from proceding through, are blocking the insection and therefor are subject for a fine, as blocking an intersection is illegal and is punishable by a fine and the gaining of demerit points.
In #2 in the article above – agree with Paul Bowler’s point. Also, does this include the exit points of roundabouts? I go through a number of roundabouts that have these pedestrian islands where I see pedestrians waiting to cross the second half of the road at the point where vehicles are exiting the roundabout. If I were to give way, I would have to stop *in* the roundabout. #3 (mobile use): people now use the mobile to send text messages while it is mounted in the holder – even worse! #8 (safe distan e): try keeping a 3 second gap on the M2 motorway, at 20 kph! You’ll never reach your destination and enrage the driver behind you! I thought the rule was 80 kph and above, keep left unless overtaking. This article hasn’t made things any more clear! What about those cars that switch to the left lane, which they *know* ends, only so that they can get ahead? Shouldn’t they be giving way when attempting to merge back when the lane ends? Are cars in the inside lane obliged to let them in?
most of the road rules are COMMON SENSE, but I think the rule of giving way to pedestrians when turning right can be dangerous especially if you are half way across oncoming traffic and the pedestrian then decides to cross in front of you… Wouldn’t it be more sensible if the pedestrian gave way to traffic? I also think the new law for roundabouts having to indicate even when going straight ahead is stupid. I indicate only when turning left, right or doing a u turn as I’m busy trying to negotiate the roundabout, without having to remember to keep changing the direction of my indicators. . Isn’t it time people NOT INDICATING when changing lanes on multi lane roads were booked? It really annoys me when a vehicle comes up beside me and then suddenly cuts across in front of me and continues across to the the other lane not indicating at any time where he/she is going!
Merging translates to “pushing in”. So many self absorbed drivers zoom up the inside lane whilst the rest of us wait our turn in traffic queues. They then proceed to push you out of your lane so they can get back in to the traffic. This I thought was illegal. It is actually “overtaking on the left”, not “merging” . Often the offender is also breaking the law by using the bus lane as their own private lane. If someone in the supermarket pushed in front of 20 people in a queue, all hell would break loose. No wonder we have road rage…
Which may be why the signs recently seem to be changing to “change lanes”, not merge. So merging now really only applies once the lines separating the lanes end. If someone on the left has to change lanes they are obliged to give way, but as you say, they just push in. And, I have noticed, you can’t stop someone doing it in stop-start traffic – it is impossible to keep them out!
Re Merging: The road rules states in section 5, page 121:
“Where the lane you are driving in ends and you have to cross lane lines to merge with the traffic in another lane, give way to traffic in the other lane.” There is also a diagram that indicates that even if you are in the lane that ends and you are in front, that you should give way to the vehicle that is in the outer lane.
Re Roundabouts” In section 5, page 96, there is a diagram showing when you should signal when negotiating a two lane roundabout.
Another dangerous habit in driving, is driving with your arm hanging out the window of the car. Section 3, page 49 states “KeePINg INSIDe A vehICLe
A person must not travel with any part of their body outside a window or door of
the vehicle, unless the person is the driver and is giving a hand signal for changing
direction, stopping or slowing.
The driver must not drive with a passenger on the vehicle or with any part of the
passenger’s body outside the vehicle.” This also applies to animals.
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/road_users_handbook.pdf
Absolutely agree with Irene regarding the “giving way to pedestrians” rule. Isn’t it easier for a pedestrian to stop quickly than it is for a car? Yes! Do pedestrians have someone tailgating them ready to run into their back? No!! Make pedestrians responsible for their own actions to stop and look and check the traffic situation before stopping off the kerb. I believe most pedestrians who are also drivers are more aware of the traffic and more willing to stop and let a car pass, even at a pedestrian crossing. It’s the non-drivers who blindly cross the road without a consideration for the poor driver who has to slam on his brakes and risk a rear-end collision. Take off those headphones, stop looking down at your phone and be aware of the traffic.
This is very interesting. Before the National Road Rules the NSW road rule was that pedestrians always had right of way. However, some of you are now complaining because you need to give way to pedestrians only at certain occasions.
Only those people who have shown that they are responsible enough to drive a potential murder weapon (a vehicle) are given a license to drive. Not all pedestrains are as responsible as those lucky drivers. Some are children or have a physical or mental disability and can’t make the responsible decisions whether it is safe to cross the road or not.
A driver is in control of a deadly weapon and that driver should drive safely for the conditions in his or her vacinity. The allocation of your licene has supposedly proven that you are responsible enough to drive a vehicle. Have some consideration, compassion and respect and stop winging about being inconvenienced by other road users. Next you’ll be complaining that you have to stop at red lights because it’s too hard to stop the car.
so no U turns across any continuous unbroken line. But what about people who make a right hand turn across a continuous unbroken line. I always thought the continuous unbroken line meant you can’t cross it all. It’s not the U turn that people misunderstand its the crossing of the line surely.
Turning right is not a U-turn. You are allowed to turn right across unbroken lines but can’t cross them for any other reason. How else would you get into your driveway if you couldn’t turn right, drive up the road a few kilometres & do a u-turn when the lines are broken or go around a block or 2 until you are on the right side of the road to turn left into your driveway?
You also can not make ‘U’ Turns at Traffic Control Lights unless authorized by a sign.
This they did not mention regarding ‘U’ Turns.
A bit of common sense, a bit of courtesy towards all other drivers and being less selfish would go a long way to make driving a pleasure for all.
What happen to the happy Aussie, why so much complaining and so little tolerance.
Common Sense doesn’t count but the road rules are LAW . Please read my comments above.
This is hilarious! The next roundabout I come to I’m going to close my eyes, put on my emergency blinkers, fog lights AND high beam, blast my horn all the way through. Then after exiting the roundabout, and only then, I’ll open my eyes to see how I went.
Regarding Roundabout, I am totally confused with so many different views.
What I would like is specific examples from the RTA with clear diagrams for:
(1) 1 lane roundabout
(2) 2 lane roundabout
(3) 3 lane roundabout (if they exist at all)
(4) Multi-exit roundabouts (I have seen some roundabouts in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney having more than 4 exits re: from Anzac Parade).
The diagrams should clearly show when cars can EXIT, when they CANNOT exit
etc.
To me , it seems best if there are painted arrows on approaching the roundabout lane(s) as well as well as inside the round about lanes (especially if it is big roundabout and/or has multiple exits), which shows what you are allowed to do. For example, we all know if there is a straight arrow, you can only go straight and CANNOT turn. I
Please read my comments above.
Aren’t you suppose to indicate left when exiting the roundabout too?
Yes. Please read my comments above.
Aren’t we supposed to indicate left when we exit the roundabout too?
Also, when we are in the very left lane & need to merge into the right lane & we are safely ahead of the car on the right to make the merge, we have the right of way?
But I have experiences, as I’m sure others have had, where the car in the right lane purposes speeds up. If I find that the margin between us, in terms of speed & distance, is safe, I’ll speed up too to make that merge. But sometimes the car speeds up even more! Whats the hurry?!
Having read the comments, firstly out of curiosity, then slack-jawed amazement, I now completely understand why it’s such a nightmare to drive on Australian roads…
Yes you are
To all above go to this website: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/downloads/road_users_handbook.pdf
and keep a copy on your Smartphone or Tablet for handy reference for when you are walking across the road at the intersection & a driver runs you over or you are on the roundabout first & get t-boned by the bloke entering from the right at double the speed limit etc etc
I feel that after driving continuously for 53 years as a rep, in both city and country, and looking outside the square, a simple rule which should be introduced and enforced is, ” If there’s a car behind you,you must do the speed limit or keep left if there is more than 2 lanes” This will reduce frustration which leads to road rage!!!! Amen.
Guys,
I have some rules that seem to work for me and my family:
1. Keep left
2. Give way to your right, it just seems smart to…
3. Be courteous. it does get repaid to you by others if you do it long enough
4. Leave plenty of room from the car in front to allow a safe stop gap
I do about 47000km pa. I tend to try and travel as close to the posted limit as I can on trips too, subject to conditions. I don’t have a clean driving record either, having bought more than my share of tickets to the secret policemans ball over the years.
Did you know that the average driver considers themselves an above average driver? Every time I muck up a Reverse Parallel Park I reset my ego
The silliest rule is the one allowing motorists to drive over painted traffic islands (p105 of the NSW road users handbook, 2nd picture). If car B is doing approx 80 km/h over the traffic island it is not going to easily be able to give way to car A turning left in front of it.
The ‘Keep left rule’ on roads with a limit of above 80 kmph should read ‘from 80 and above’. This rule should also be a compulsory question for L and P plate drivers on the tests as they all seem to have no idea of this requirement that is so frustrating for other drivers.
I disagree. If a driver is travelling in an 80kph speed limit zone then he or she doesn’t have to keep left. However, if they are travelling in a speed limit zone of more than 80kph, eg. 90, 100, 110, 120, then the driver must keep to the left unless overtaking.
I seems very clear to me.
John
I know and obey all of these rules. As Irene mentioned, they are common sense. The main problem is that not every Australian driver knows or obeys the Australian National Road Rules (NRR).
When I was a child there used to be animated ads on TV that started with an Owl saying “So you think you’re a good driver. Try this quick quiz.” and then one would be questioned about a road rule (the black car was always in the wrong). They were very short but I knew the road rules before I was old enough to drive because of these ads.
Now that the NRR are supposed to be similar thoughout all states and territories (except maybe one?), by pooling their resources, it would be much cheaper for the motoring associations and traffic authorities to produce and air ads similar to theose previously mentioned. There would only have to be one ad for all states and territories. In this way, no-one could claim ignorance of the road rules as these previous posts have demonstrated.
Come on NRMA. Do something that is useful for all Australian drivers, even if it is seen as saving the NRMA members lives and frustrations. Produce yourself, or lobby for all the motoring associations and traffic authorities to produce and air NRR educations ads. Starting with these top 10 misunderstood road rules would be a good start.
Why are these rules misunderstood ?
They have been that way since the year dot.
All it means is that most of the current crop of drivers shouldn’t be driving.
Full stop.
End of story.
Forgot to add that there should have been an extra rule added to this list……………..
4a. When a driver is travelling on a road WITH lane markings, the
number of lanes is reduced, and they have to cross a broken line,
they MUST merge by giving way to any vehicle that is ALREADY IN
the lane they are merging eith
I see roundabouts as an opportunity for users to use as much bluff as possible. Who wants to damage their cars to comply with the first on the roudabout rule. BRING BACK THE GIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT
what is the law concering those who drive really slow, then move in to the left lane when overtaking lanes come up-THEN speed up as fast as they can in the left lane #*&$@*#@ !!!
Surely the purpose of the ‘keep left unless overtaking’ rule on multi-lane 80+kph roads is to stop slow cars from impeding the flow of faster ones. One thing that doesn’t seem to make sense, however – if that is truly the reason for the rule – is why someone should be booked if travelling in the ‘overtaking’ lane at the speed limit. After all, the only person that vehicle would be impeding is someone who was breaking the law by travelling over the speed-limit. This means that while the LAW states that we must obey the speed limit, it is also designed to encourage drivers to exceed the speed limit, by punishing a driver for driving at the limit and impeding the speeder.
Anyone else see this as inconsistent?
I will accept the argument that preventing these faster vehicles from exceeding the speed limit will actually slow down all the traffic and increase frustration, but in that case, perhaps there needs to be consideration given to:
a) allowing for an increase in speed (to say 20% above the limit) purely for the purpose of overtaking.
b) a variable speed limit, where the left-hand lane is limited to vehicles travelling (say) below 90 kph on a 110kph road, the middle lane 90 – 100 kph and the right lane 100 – 110 kph.
Whatever model you choose, the fact is, to book someone in the right lane for travelling at the speed limit (overtaking, or not) makes no sense, unless you are tacitly accepting that at least 60% of the driving population are going to break the law – and expect to be encouraged to do so.