Road rules refresher

Top 10 misunderstood
road rules

clarified...

Be
street
smart

Simple misunderstandings of road rules can cause a lot of grief from near misses and
minor bingles to serious injury.
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,2+'$,&*(#$<&"=$+.$www.tmr.qld.gov.au/roadrules.
>2&$)+3$+*#2$?"(:$23*"3($?"'(2#$:!")!$'(123#.,+.($12#.$27$.!(#($,&*(#$"3$+)."235

Merging

A
B

Vehicle A gives way to vehicle B.

A5$$@3$,2+'#$:!(,($.!(,($+,($32$*+3(#$
1+,9('$23$.!($,2+';$:!(3$*"3(#$27$
.,+7-)$1(,%(;$42&$1&#.$%"?($:+4$.2$
+34$?(!")*($.!+.$"#$+!(+'$27$42&5

Roundabouts

There are two different give way

rules for merging.
/5$$@3$,2+'#$:!(,($.!(,($+,($*+3(#$
1+,9('$23$.!($,2+';$"7$42&,$*+3($
)21(#$.2$+3$(3';$42&$1&#.$%"?($:+4$
.2$.,+7-)$+*,(+'4$"3$.!($*+3($42&$+,($
12?"3%$"3.25

Vehicle B gives way to vehicle A.

Keeping left

It is important to be in the correct

lane at multi-lane roundabouts.
Signs, lane markings and arrows
help you position your vehicle
correctly and guide you in the
direction you want to go.
C3*(##$+,,2:#$23$.!($,2+'$"3'")+.($
2.!(,:"#(;$,(1(1E(,$.!(#($,&*(#T

When the speed limit is 90 km/h

or more on multi-lane roads you
must not drive in the right hand
lane unless you are:

B$ 2$.&,3$,"%!.;$&#($.!($,"%!.$*+3(5

B$2?(,.+9"3%

Left turn

B$.&,3"3%$,"%!.$2,$1+9"3%$+$CD.&,3
B$+?2"'"3%$+3$2E#.+)*(

/5$$K2#"."23$42&,$?(!")*($"3$.!($*(7.$*+3($
:(**$"3$+'?+3)(;$&3*(##$+,,2:#$23$
.!($,2+'$2,$#"%3#$"3'")+.($2.!(,:"#(5

B$',"?"3%$"3$)23%(#.('$.,+7-)

A5$$O"%3+*$&#"3%$42&,$*(7.$"3'")+.2,5

B$',"?"3%$"3$+$#F()"+*$F&,F2#($*+3(5

U5$$S"?($:+4$.2$+**$?(!")*(#$+*,(+'4$23$
.!($,2&3'+E2&.5

!"#$#+1($,&*($+FF*"(#$.2$+$,2+'$:".!$+$
#F(('$*"1".$27$G0$91H!$2,$*(##$"7$.!(,($"#$+$
IJJK$LJM $CNLJOO$@PJQ RI6NS$#"%35

B$ 2$.&,3$*(7.;$&#($.!($*(7.$*+3(5

B$ 2$%2$#.,+"%!.$+!(+';$&#($(".!(,$*+3(5

V5$$Q(1+"3$"3$.!($*(7.$*+3($+#$42&$
)21F*(.($42&,$.&,35

Roundabouts continued
B!""C$('&(*-"'$"*%-")$*+"0-='"&(3&/1'$+"
1%")$*"-7&'"'.-"+$*(31:$*'!"A'$?"
&(3&/1'&(4"$(/-")$*".1,-"-7&'-3"
'.-"+$*(31:$*'!

Straight ahead
!""#$%&'&$(")$*+",-.&/0-"&("-&'.-+"01(-"
2-00"&("13,1(/-"*(0-%%"1++$2%"$("'.-"
+$13"$+"%&4(%"&(3&/1'-"$'.-+2&%-!
5!""6$"($'"*%-")$*+"&(3&/1'$+"*('&0")$*"
1+-"+-13)"'$"-7&'!
8!""9&,-"21)"'$"100",-.&/0-%"10+-13)"$("
'.-"+$*(31:$*'!
;!""<-=$+-"-7&'&(4")$*"%.$*03"*%-")$*+"
0-='"&(3&/1'$+">&="?+1/'&/10@!"A'$?"
&(3&/1'&(4"1%"%$$("1%")$*".1,-"
-7&'-3"'.-"+$*(31:$*'!"

!""#$%&'()*+%",-.&/

You must stop at a yellow light

unless it is unsafe to do so.
P")-00$2"0&4.'"&%"($'"1("-7'-(%&$("$="'.-"
4+--("0&4.'!"N'"&%"'.-":-4&((&(4"$="'.-"
+-3"0&4.'!
G.-("1??+$1/.&(4"'+1=I/"0&4.'%"
%.$2&(4"1"4+--("0&4.'")$*"%.$*03":-"
+-13)"'$"%'$?"&="'.-"0&4.'%"/.1(4-"'$"
)-00$2H"1(3"&=")$*"/1("3$"%$"%1=-0)"
:-=$+-"+-1/.&(4"'.-"%'$?"0&(-!"
P%")$*"1??+$1/."'.-"0&4.'%")$*"%.$*03"
10%$"/.-/L")$*+"F&++$+"'$"%--"&="'.-+-"
&%"1",-.&/0-"/0$%-":-.&(3"%$"'.1'")$*"
L($2"&="&'"2&00":-"%1=-"'$"%'$?"%*33-(0)!

Right turn or U-turns

!""#$%&'&$(")$*+",-.&/0-"&("'.-"+&4.'"01(-"
2-00"&("13,1(/-"*(0-%%"1++$2%"$("'.-"
+$13"$+"%&4(%"&(3&/1'-"$'.-+2&%-!
5!""A&4(10"*%&(4")$*+"+&4.'"&(3&/1'$+!
8!""9&,-"21)"'$"100",-.&/0-%"10+-13)"$("
'.-"+$*(31:$*'!
;!""<-=$+-"-7&'&(4")$*"%.$*03"*%-")$*+"
0-='"&(3&/1'$+">&="?+1/'&/10@!"A'$?"
&(3&/1'&(4"1%"%$$("1%")$*".1,-"
-7&'-3"'.-"+$*(31:$*'!"

Changing lanes

When you change lanes you

must give way to any vehicle in
the lane you are moving into.
This is the case even if your lane
is ending and you have to cross
a lane line.
G.-("3+&,&(4H":-=$+-")$*"/.1(4-"
3&+-/'&$(")$*"F*%'"&(3&/1'-"=$+"0$(4"
-($*4."'$"4&,-"%*=I/&-('"21+(&(4"'$"
$'.-+"3+&,-+%"1(3"?-3-%'+&1(%!"
C.$$%-"%1=-"41?%":-=$+-")$*"F$,-"J"
3$(K'"'1L-"+&%L%!"M-1,-"-($*4."%?1/-"
=$+"'.-",-.&/0-%":-.&(3")$*"1%"2-00"1%"
&("=+$('"$=")$*!

D$'-E"6$"($'"'*+("+&4.'"=+$F"'.-"0-='"
01(-"*(0-%%"1++$2%"$("'.-"+$13"&(3&/1'-"
'.1'")$*"/1(!

N="?$%%&:0-H"?01("1.-13"%$")$*"L($2"
2.-("0-='"1(3"+&4.'"'*+(%"1+-"/$F&(4"*?"
'.1'"2&00"+-O*&+-")$*"'$":-"&("1"/-+'1&("
01(-H"1(3"/.1(4-"01(-%"-1+0)!

Safe following
distances

#0%10/&%2',3!%(%/0)*+,!4&%
distance behind a vehicle
travelling in front of you so you
can stop safely to avoid
a collision.
A1=-"=$00$2&(4"3&%'1(/-%",1+)"
3-?-(3&(4"$("2.1'"%?--3")$*"1+-"
'+1,-00&(4H"2.1'"/$(3&'&$(%")$*"1+-"
3+&,&(4"&("1(3"2.1'"')?-"$=",-.&/0-"
)$*"1+-"3+&,&(4!"N("F$%'"/1%-%H"1"%1=-"
=$00$2&(4"3&%'1(/-"&%"F*/."4+-1'-+"'.1("
1"/1+"0-(4'.!
Q%-"'.-"'&F-R01?%-"F-'.$3":-0$2"'$"
L--?"1"%1=-"3&%'1(/-":-.&(3"'.-",-.&/0-"
&("=+$('E"

Safe following distances

continued
!!"!#$%&'$!%(!)!*)$!+,-./#!#$%&'!)0!/')+0!
01-!+'*-(#+!2',%(#!0,'!&',%*/'!%(!
3$-(0!%(!%#')/!*-(#%0%-(+4
!!"!&',%*/'!0-1%(5!)!0$)%/'$!-$!*)$)&)(!
+,-./#!)//-1!01-!+'*-(#+6!7/.+!-('!
+'*-(#!3-$!')*,!0,$''!8'0$'+!-3!0$)%/'$4

Crossing continuous
centre lines and islands
continued
8"(#9!"#$%&#$)!**#%#*+&,-.#$!&(+&"!"*#
$.&().#-+&.#:.1.&#+;#(<.).'*#%#=)!2.&#-+&.#
!&#(<.#!(<.)#*+4.>#(!#.&(.)#!)#-.%1.#%#
?)+1%(.#?)!?.)(9#!)#%&!(<.)#)!%47

!!9-.2/'!:-.$!3-//-1%(5!#%+0)(*'!%3!:-.!
)$'!#$%&%(5!)!,')&:!&',%*/'!-$!#$%&%(5!
%(!7--$!*-(#%0%-(+4

;4!!<%*=!)!8)$=!-(!0,'!$-)#!-$!)(!-2>'*0!
*/-+'!0-!0,'!/'30?,)(#!+%#'!-3!0,'!
$-)#6!+.*,!)+!)!7-1'$!-$!/%5,0!7-/'4

F4!!G3!0,'!3$-(0!-3!:-.$!&',%*/'!7)++'+!0,'!
-2>'*0!2'3-$'!:-.!H(%+,!*-.(0%(56!
:-.!)$'!0--!*/-+'6!+-!#$-7!2)*=4

Giving way

There are many situations other

than at GIVE WAY signs where you
have to give way. These include:
0#%(#AIJK#*+,&*
0##(")&+&,#%$)!**#(<.#?%(<#!;#%&#
!&$!@+&,#1.<+$-.#%(#%&#+&(.)*.$(+!&
0##(")&+&,#;)!@#%#(.)@+&%(+&,#)!%4#!&(!#
(<.#!&,!+&,#)!%4#%(#%#I6+&(.)*.$(+!&7
AIJK#-+&.*#%&4#LCMN#OP #-+&.*#!&#(<.#
)!%4#<%1.#(<.#*%@.#@.%&+&,#%*#AIJK#
*+,&*#%&4#LCMN#OP #*+,&*3#+&#$%*.#%#
*+,&#+*#@+**+&,3#;!)#.Q%@?-.3#*(!-.&#!)#
2&!$2.4#4!G&7

Time-lapse method

@4!!A,'(!0,'!$')$!-3!0,'!&',%*/'!),')#!
7)++'+!0,'!-2>'*06!*-.(0!B-('!
0,-.+)(#!-('6!-('!0,-.+)(#!01-C!
D0,%+!0)='+!)2-.0!01-!+'*-(#+E4!

8"(#).@.@=.)#+;#(<.).'*#%#4!"=-.#
$!&(+&"!"*#$.&().#-+&.3#9!"#%).#&!(#
?.)@+((.4#(!#$)!**#+(#%(#%--7
A+@+-%)#)"-.*#%??-9#(!#?%+&(.4#()%;B$#
+*-%&4*7#C;#(<.#+*-%&4#+*#*"))!"&4.4#=9#
!&.#$!&(+&"!"*#-+&.3#9!"#$%&#4)+1.#!&#!)#
!1.)#+(#;!)#"?#(!#DE#@.().*#+&#!)4.)#(!/#
0#.&(.)#!)#-.%1.#(<.#)!%43#!)#
0##.&(.)#%#(")&+&,#-%&.#(<%(#=.,+&*#
+@@.4+%(.-9#%;(.)#(<.#+*-%&47

R.@.@=.)3#+;#9!"#(")&#%(#%&#+&(.)*.$(+!&3#
9!"#@"*(#%-*!#,+1.#G%9#(!#?.4.*()+%&*#
$)!**+&,#(<.#)!%4#9!"#%).#.&(.)+&,7

Giving way at intersections with

two STOP or GIVE WAY signs
P#AIJK#*+,&#+*#&!(#S@!).#?!G.);"-'#
(<%&#%#LCMN#OP #*+,&7
J&$.#(<.#1.<+$-.*#=.-!G#<%1.#,+1.&#
G%9#(!#%--#!(<.)#1.<+$-.*3#(<.9#@"*(#
(<.&#%??-9#(<.#,+1.#G%9#)"-.*#(!#.%$<#
!(<.)7#M.<+$-.#P#@"*(#,+1.#G%9#(!#
1.<+$-.#8#=.$%"*.#+(#+*#(")&+&,#)+,<(#
%$)!**#(<.#?%(<#!;#1.<+$-.#87

2 seconds

There are different rules for

crossing continuous centre lines
depending on what type of centre
line it is, and what manoeuvre
you are performing.
!"#$%&'(#$)!**#%#*+&,-.#$!&(+&"!"*#
$.&().#-+&.#(!/
0#!1.)(%2.3#!)
0#4!#%#56(")&7#

8"(#+;#(<.#+*-%&4#+*#*"))!"&4.4#=9#4!"=-.#
$!&(+&"!"*#-+&.*3#!)#+;#+(#*.?%)%(.*#()%;B$#
F!G+&,#+&#(<.#*%@.#4+).$(+!&#H#*"$<#
%*#G<.).#%&#!&)%@?#@.),.*#!&#(!#%#
@!(!)G%9#H#9!"#@"*(#*(%9#!;;#+(7#

Crossing
continuous centre
lines and islands

Giving way at uncontrolled

crossroads
P&#"&$!&()!--.4#$)!**)!%4#+*#%&#
+&(.)*.$(+!&#G<+$<#<%*#&!#()%;B$#-+,<(*3#
AIJK#!)#LCMN#OP #*+,&*#!)#-+&.*7#P(#%&#
"&$!&()!--.4#$)!**)!%4#9!"#@"*(#,+1.#
G%9#(!#(<.#)+,<(7#

Giving way continued

Giving way continued

!"#$$"%&'('"()%*#%)+!(,"-'&).$'"/"0*(%"
1)-'"2#3"%+"-'&).$'"45

Giving way when turning right

6"3+*"#7'"%*7!)!1"7)1&%"#%"#!"
)!%'7('.%)+!,"3+*"0*(%"1)-'"2#3"%+"
-'&).$'(".+0)!1"67+0"%&'"+88+()%'"
9)7'.%)+!"%&#%"#7':

;""97)-)!1"(%7#)1&%"#&'#9"%&7+*1&"%&'"
)!%'7('.%)+!"
;"%*7!)!1"$'6%"#%"%&'")!%'7('.%)+!5
!"<+%&".#('(,"-'&).$'"4"0*(%"1)-'"2#3"
%+"-'&).$'"/5

A
A

Giving way at a T-intersection

!"#$%"&'(")'*+*,-"$,"&"'$&)"./&."(,)0"
&."&"12*,.('0(3.*$,4"#$%"5%0."-*+("6&#"
.$"&77"+(/*37(0".'&+(77*,-"$,"./("'$&)"
3$,.*,%*,-"./'$%-/"./("*,.('0(3.*$,8
,"./("9(7$6"0*.%&.*$,4"+(/*37(":"5%0."
-*+("6&#".$"+(/*37(";8

The signage indicating whether

or not U-turns are allowed
changes depending on if you are
!"!# $%&"'()*!+,"-.+(). '(+/0"
intersections or breaks in the
centre island of the road.
1!"!# $%&"'()*!+
=+*"#7'"!+%"#$$+2'9"%+"0#>'"#"?@%*7!"
#%"%7#6A."$)1&%("*!$'(("%&'7'")("#"()1!"
(%#%)!1"?@B?CD"EFCG BBFH5
23!" !"!# $%&"'()*!+
I6+7"'J#08$',"#%"#"<7'#>")!"%&'".'!%7'")($#!9"
+7"#%"#!")!%'7('.%)+!"2)%&"!+"$)1&%(K
=+*"0*(%"!+%"9+"#"?@%*7!:"
;"")6"%&'7'")("#"()1!"(%#%)!1"
DL"?@B?CD
;""#.7+(("#"()!1$'"+7"9+*<$'".+!%)!*+*("
.'!%7'"$)!'"+7"#".+!%)!*+*(".'!%7'"$)!'"
%+"%&'"$'6%"+6"#"<7+>'!"$)!'5
M&'!"3+*"#7'"9+)!1"#"?@%*7!,"3+*"
0*(%"1)-'"2#3"%+"#$$"+%&'7"-'&).$'("#!9"
8'9'(%7)#!("'-'!")6"+%&'7"-'&).$'("#7'"
6#.)!1"#"N OF"M/="+7"PBLE"()1!5

10

<$6(+('4"#$%")$,=."/&+(".$"-*+("6&#".$"
&"+(/*37("*!"*."*0")'*+*,-"$,".$"./("'$&)"
!'$5"&"07*>"7&,(8
:"07*>"7&,("*0"&,"&'(&"$!"'$&)"!$'"
+(/*37(0".%',*,-"7(!."./&."*0"0(>&'&.()"
!'$5"$./('">&'.0"$!"./("'$&)"9#"&"
>&*,.()"*07&,)"$'".'&!?3"*07&,)8

U-turns

Overtaking

There are three situations where

a driver may overtake to the left
of another driver:

Q5"+!"#"0*$%)@$#!'"7+#9
R5"")6"%&'"-'&).$'")!"67+!%"()1!#$("%+"0#>'"
#"7)1&%"%*7!"+7"#"?@%*7!
S5"")6"%&'"%7#6A."+!"3+*7"7)1&%")("
(%#%)+!#735
L-'7%#>)!1"+!"%&'"$'6%")("!+%"#$$+2'9")!"
#!3"+%&'7"()%*#%)+!"#8#7%"67+0"%&'"%&7''"
$)(%'9"#<+-'5
C'0'0<'7,"2&'%&'7"3+*T7'"+-'7%#>)!1"
+!"%&'"7)1&%"+7"$'6%,")%T("!'-'7"$'1#$"%+"
'J.''9"%&'"(8''9"$)0)%5

More information
H'8#7%0'!%"+6"B7#!(8+7%"#!9"G#)!"C+#9(
Sl
ip

la
ne

www.tmr.qld.gov.au/roadrules
I7+#9"7*$'("U*)V"#!9"+!$)!'"-)9'+(K
13 23 80*

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