In 2020 In The Cove published an article about the top 10 Most Misunderstood Road Rules. The article generated numerous comments.
In 2022 Transport for NSW updated its Top Ten Misunderstood Road Rules Guide (the Guide). A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, prompted ITC to go back and have a look at our 2020 article and see if any of the misunderstood rules had changed – they have not.
The Guide is available at every Service NSW office as well as online.
Number One Misunderstood Rule – Roundabouts
The Guide has a plain English explanation on:
- approaching a roundabout
- entering a roundabout
- turning left
- going straight ahead
- turning right
- making a U-Turn
- Changing Lanes in a roundabout
- exiting a roundabout
Number Two Misunderstood Rule – Giving Way to a Pedestrian When Turning
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 rule applies to intersections with and without traffic lights. However, this rule does NOT apply at a roundabout.
Although not in the Guide, all pedestrian crossings should be approached with caution.
Drivers should approach, with caution, the three pedestrian crossings in the Lane Cove Village. The pedestrian crossing near Harris Farm Markets is not well-lit at night. ITC’s driving instructor always said, when approaching a pedestrian crossing, have your foot resting on the brake, not the accelerator.
Number Three Misunderstood Rule – Mobile Phone Use
If you wish to take a phone call, you must pull over into an authorised parking stop and turn off the engine before you take the phone call (unless you have blue tooth technology).
Have you seen the little white cameras on Traffic Lights in Lane Cove? They are mobile phone cameras, and you will be fined if you touch your phone, have your phone in your lap or use your phone (unless you can use your phone via Bluetooth without touching the phone).
Drivers on restricted licences are not allowed to use any function of a phone (including listing to music via car play). ITC has spoken to a few L and P Platers and they were not aware they are not permitted to use Apply Car Play.
The following is an extract from Transport for NSW’s website:
“Learner, P1 and P2 drivers
You must not use a mobile phone while driving, even when you’re stationary, for example, stopped at lights or stuck in traffic. This includes:
- texting
- phone calls
- music
- emailing
- social media
- using the internet
- maps and navigation
- photography.
This applies to mobile phones that are handheld, in a phone holder or hands-free, for example, via Bluetooth.”
Number Four Misunderstood Rule – Merging
There are some drivers on River Road West who need to know this merging rule. A few years ago, a merge lane was created on River Road West. When a driver 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.
Number Five Misunderstood Rule – Keeping Left
On multi-lane roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, motorists 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
• 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.
Number Six Misunderstood Rule – Using Head Lights and Fog Lights
It is an offence to flash the vehicle’s headlights unless the vehicle is being used to respond to an emergency. Sometimes on a cold winter morning, there can be a fog hanging around Lane Cove, a driver is only permitted to use fog lights if driving in fog, mist or other atmospheric condition that restricts visibility.
Number Seven Misunderstood Rule – U-Turns
Drivers 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.
Number Eight Misunderstood Rule – Safe Following Distances
As a general rule, when following a vehicle, the driver should travel three seconds behind the vehicle in front to provide sufficient time to avoid a crash.
Number Nine Misunderstood Rule – School Zones
Probably the biggest trap relating to School Zones is a pupil-free day. Even though kids are not at school, this is considered a gazetted day, and drivers must comply with the 40 km/h speed limit. Remember, there are three schools on Longueville Road.
Number Ten Misunderstood Rule – Amber/Yellow Traffic Lights
An amber traffic light or arrow means stop.
A driver approaching traffic lights showing an amber traffic light must stop if the driver can stop safely before reaching the stop line or traffic lights. People should bear this in mind when travelling along Centennial Avenue and Epping Road. Penalties apply for drivers who fail to stop at an amber light unless it is unsafe to do so.
What do you think is the road rule that Lane Cove motorists ignore the most?
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