Tag Archives: nsw roads

Using snow chains in NSW Alpine Regions

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As winter approaches and holiday-makers begin to make their way to the state’s Alpine Regions, it is important to know the rules for driving in ‘snow and ice’ risk sections.

The RTA recommends the use of snow chains when driving in snowy conditions. They have also identified dangerous sections of road in Alpine Regions with yellow lane line markings and signposting.

National Park regulations state that all vehicles must carry chains if driving through a National Park’s designated ‘snow and ice’ risk sections.

Note that 4WDs are exempt from this regulation (’4WD’ includes SUVs and vehicles with all-wheel drive).

The current designated National Park ‘snow and ice’ risk sections are:

  • Alpine Way - Thredbo to Tom Grogin
  • Kosciuszko Road within the National Park boundary
  • Guthega Road within the National Park boundary

If directed by signs or an authorised officer, chains must be fitted to the vehicle’s driving wheels. This should be done at chain fitting bays located along the route.

The RTA advises that it will carry out random chain inspections along these sections of road during the ski season. Fines of over $300 will be issued to drivers who fail to comply with National Park regulations.

Of course, snow chains must not be relied upon to guarantee safety when driving in snowy conditions. Sensible driving practices appropriate for the conditions must be used.

Visit Stay safe on the road this season for driving tips and information.

Have you had difficulty driving in the snow? Should snow chains be mandatory in snowy conditions?

Road rules in shopping centres

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Road rules don’t only cover the roads we drive on – they also cover road related areas that are open to or used by the public for driving, riding or parking and this includes shopping centres.

Consequently these road related areas are covered by parking, speed limit, overtaking and signage rules.

It also means you can be penalised for breaking them. For example, driving over the speed limit could result in being fined and losing demerit points. So, if you are doing 40km/h in a 20km/h zone, you will be eligible for a $197 fine and the loss of 3 demerit points.

You will also be penalised accordingly for not giving way where appropriate, for double-parking and for driving against the direction indicated on a one-way sign.

Shopping centres can enforce parking infringements, however all other rules must be enforced by the police.

View Rule 13 from Road Rules 2008 for more information.

What do you think of driver behaviour in shopping centre car parks? Should there be stronger enforcement of the road rules in ‘road related areas’ like car parks?

The lost art of indicating

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Indicating is the act of using your blinker to show other motorists that you intend to change your course of direction. It is not a courtesy, it is the law. Despite this, road users are being surprised by the movements of motorists who did not indicate.

The Road Rules 2008 states that before changing directions, a driver must give a change of direction signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians.

Rule 45, ‘What is changing direction’, of the Road Rules 2008 reads:

(1) A driver changes direction if the driver changes direction to the left or the driver changes direction to the right.

A driver changes direction by doing any of the following:

(a) turning
(b) changing marked lanes
(c) diverging
(d) entering a marked lane, or a line of traffic
(e) moving to the right or left from a stationary position
(f) turning into a marked lane, or a line of traffic, from a median strip parking area
(g) making a U-turn
(h) at a T-intersection where the continuing road curves—leaving the continuing road to proceed straight ahead onto the terminating road.

Read the full rule here.

Failing to indicate can result in a maximum $2,200 fine at court and the loss of two demerit points. The severity of the fine is indicative of the seriousness of not using your blinker to warn other road users of your movements. Not indicating is dangerous not only at high speeds on motorways but at all times on all roads.

Have you encountered the problem of motorists not indicating? Do you think it is becoming more of an issue on our roads?

Roundabout rules

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The rules for using a roundabout are quite simple. But, as common as roundabouts are, the number of crashes at intersections with roundabouts suggests that when we approach one, we still aren’t quite clear on the rules.

Part 9 of the Road Rules 2008 details the legislation that covers roundabouts. Motorists should know what a roundabout is and what they’re for. It is the way they should be approached and used that seems to be causing the confusion.

Rule 114 explains how to give way when entering or driving in a roundabout:

Giving way when entering or driving in a roundabout

A driver entering a roundabout must give way to:

(a)  any vehicle in the roundabout, and
(b)  a tram that is entering or approaching the roundabout.

For this rule, give way means the driver must slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision.

There is no specific legislation stating one must give way to the other if entering the roundabout at the same time, only that you must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.

However, common sense must prevail. As the rule states, a driver must slow down enough to be able to stop to avoid a collision if necessary.

Many drivers enter/approach roundabouts too fast and if there was a collision and it was a result of them not slowing to be able to avoid a collision, then they may face penalties from the authorities.

These are the rules and you can be fined for not abiding by them. If involved in a crash, you might be liable when you thought you weren’t.

View the full road rules for roundabouts.

Have you had problems at roundabouts? Are the rules clear enough and easy to follow?

Motorists say time-of-day tolling has not worked

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A survey of 1,800 motorists in north and north-west Sydney has found that motorists believe the time-of-day tolling system on the Harbour Bridge is a failure.

The NRMA survey found 91 per cent believe the new tax has failed, NRMA Group CEO Tony Stuart said.

“Eleven per cent of motorists are using alternative routes to get to work, while 90-odd per cent are paying more for the privilege of just getting to and from work,” Mr Stuart said.

“All that so a mere 560 cars can travel before peak-hour per day. That’s not a solution to the problem and at best is moving the problem to another congested road.”

The release of the survey results coincided with the launch of RoadTube.com.au, a new site that gives motorists a place to air their frustrations and offer solutions to the state’s growing transport problems.

“RoadTube is part of NRMA’s campaign to Get NSW Moving Again,” Mr Stuart said.

“We are urging motorists to join the NRMA for this all-important campaign to fix the mess – we want to hear your views on issues such as the quality of roads and public transport, fuels, demerits, licensing and road safety.

NRMA President Wendy Machin said Get NSW Moving Again was borne of frustration among our members about the massive backlog of capital works needed across NSW.

“More than three-quarters [of those surveyed] believe they are being forced to pay for the mistakes of successive State Governments,” Ms Machin said.

“The Government is trying to fight congestion by raising taxes, but the solution is to upgrade our roads, improve public transport and build more parking to get people out of their cars and on to buses and trains.”

Has time of day tolling reduced congestion or made you rethink how you travel across the Harbour Bridge?