Nine most misunderstood road rules
The NSW government's refresher guide for riders and drivers, as there's no doubt we all become a little vague on things as times passes – roundabouts anyone?This is something most riders are guilty of. Passing all the tests and acquiring a licence for the first time is fraught with a mix of anxiety, excitement and eager anticipation. Just to get over the line for your learner’s licence requires a good knowledge of the road rules, as well as basic bike-handling skills.
And that’s all fine, but what happens maybe a decade down the track, when some of what has been learned is forgotten and/or supplanted by new rules that have come into effect in the meantime?
For many of us, that’s a loaded question: We may have, over the years, honed our riding skills and have a good general knowledge of the rules, but how comprehensive is this knowledge? If you don’t get to put every rule into practice regularly, it’s no surprise that some may become a little vague.
To help answer this, the NSW Roads minister Duncan Gay earlier this year launched a new handbook listing the top 10 misunderstood road rules. The idea is to give riders (and drivers) a chance to quickly refresh vital knowledge on what can and can’t be done on the road.
The guide covers roundabouts, giving way to pedestrians when turning, merging, keeping left, using headlights and fog lights, U-turns, safe following distances, school zones, and yellow traffic lights.
Developed with input from the community, including that received after changes were made to NSW Road Rules in November 2012 to bring the state in line with the Australian Road Rules, the Top 10 guide (nine for motorcyclists, as we’ve deleted the bit about using mobile phones...) is available in every RMS Registry in NSW, as well as online.
1. Roundabouts
Approaching a roundabout
Riders approaching a roundabout must use their indicator if they intend to turn left or right, or make a U-turn at the roundabout. They must give other road users sufficient notice of their intent to turn.
Entering a roundabout
Riders must slow or stop to give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout. Riders must also continue to use their indicator if they intend to turn left, right or make a U-turn.
Turning left
Riders must indicate left on approach and be travelling in the left-hand lane (unless there are road markings with other instructions), stay in the left lane and exit in the left lane.
Going straight ahead
There is no requirement for riders to signal when approaching the roundabout, if they are going straight ahead. Riders may approach the roundabout from either the left or right lane (unless there are road markings with other instructions).
Turning right
Riders must indicate right on approach and be travelling in the right-hand lane (unless there are road markings with other instructions).
Making a U-turn
When using a roundabout to make a U-turn, riders must approach in the right lane and signal right.
Changing lanes in a roundabout
Riders may change lanes in a roundabout if they wish. The usual road rules for changing lanes apply. Drivers must use their indicator and give way to any vehicle in the lane they are entering.
Exiting a roundabout
Just like exiting any road, riders must signal left when leaving a roundabout, if it is practical to do so, and stop indicating as soon as they have exited the roundabout. When travelling straight ahead on a small single lane roundabout, it may be impractical to indicate left when exiting. All drivers are required to drive carefully and slow down or stop when there is a chance of a crash with another vehicle.
2. Giving way to pedestrians when turning
If a rider is turning left or right at an intersection, he or she must give way to any pedestrian crossing the road the driver is entering. This applies to intersections with and without traffic lights. For their own safety, pedestrians should always check their surroundings before crossing the road.
3. Merging
Merging when the number of lanes is reduced
When a rider is travelling on a road without lane markings and the number of lanes or lines of traffic is reduced, they must merge by giving way to any vehicle that is ahead of them. This is often called a zipper merge.
Changing lanes when a marked lane ends
When a rider is travelling in a marked lane which is ending and is required to cross a broken painted line to enter the adjacent lane, the driver must give way to the traffic travelling in the lane being entered.
4. Keeping left
On multi-lane roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, riders must not drive in the right-hand lane unless they are:
- Overtaking;
- Turning right or making a U-turn;
- Avoiding an obstacle;
- Driving in congested traffic; or
- Driving in a special purpose lane or if there is a Left Lane Must Turn Left sign or a left traffic arrow and the driver is not turning left.
If a Keep Left Unless Overtaking sign is displayed, the requirement applies regardless of the speed limit.
High beam
A rider must not use their headlights on high beam if travelling:
• Less than 200m behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction
• Less than 200m 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.
Must not dazzle
A rider must not use any light fitted to their vehicle that may ‘dazzle’ another road user.
Lights
When driving at night, or in conditions where there is insufficient daylight to render a person dressed in dark clothing discernible at a distance of 100m, a rider’s vehicle must have clearly visible:
- Headlights
- Tail lights
- Number plate lights
6. U-turns
Making a U-turn
When making a U-turn a rider must:
- Have a clear view of any approaching traffic
- Be able to make the turn without unreasonably obstructing the free movement of traffic
- Give way to all vehicles and pedestrians.
Riders are not allowed to make a U-turn:
- At an intersection without traffic lights, where a ‘no U-turn’ sign is displayed
- At a break in a driving strip where a ‘no U-turn’ sign is displayed
- Across any of the following:
– a single continuous dividing line
– a single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line
– two parallel continuous dividing lines.
At traffic lights
Riders are not permitted to make a U-turn at traffic lights unless there is a U-Turn Permitted sign displayed or a green U-turn traffic light is displayed.
7. Safe following distances
Riders must keep sufficient distance behind a vehicle travelling in front of them to safely avoid a collision.
Safe following distances may vary depending on the conditions, the type of vehicle and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling. As a general rule, when following a vehicle, the rider should travel three seconds behind the vehicle in front to provide sufficient time to avoid a crash.
To calculate a three-second space when following another vehicle, riders can use the basic time-lapse method technique:
- Riders should select a mark or object on the left hand side of the road, for example a sign or a power pole
- As the rear of the vehicle ahead passes the chosen object, the rider counts ‘one thousand one, two thousand two, three thousand three’. This should take about three seconds
- If the rider’s bike passes the chosen object before finishing the three second count, then they are travelling too close to the vehicle in front. There is not enough crash avoidance space so the rider should slow down and repeat the exercise to ensure the three second gap is achieved
- 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.
8. School zones
A school zone is the area around a school with a speed limit of 40km/h.
Between the School Zone and End School Zone signs, riders must obey the school zone speed limit.
The school zone speed limit applies on NSW gazetted school days and during the times detailed on the school zone sign. School zone hours are normally 8:00–9.30am and 2.30–4:00pm.
Pupil free days fall within the gazetted school days, thus school zones are operating and enforceable.
Details on NSW gazetted school days can be located at the website, http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/events/vacations.html. Some non-government schools do not operate on gazetted school days. Motorists should be aware that school zones still operate and are enforceable on these days.
There are a small number of schools with different school zone times – these will be detailed on the school zone sign
9. Yellow traffic lights
A yellow (amber) traffic light or arrow means stop. A rider approaching traffic lights showing a yellow traffic light must stop if the rider can stop safely before reaching the stop line or traffic lights.
Penalties apply for riders who fail to stop at a yellow light, unless it is unsafe to do so.
Can you think of any more?
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