Road Rules in Queensland

Are you a driver and think you know the road rules in Queensland? If so, as with any state, there are rules of the road that apply to you.

Road rules are integral to preventing any accident on the road and keeping yourself and all other road users safe.

This article will explain the road rules when driving on the roads in Queensland.

Been involved is a traffic offence? Be referred to the best criminal and traffic lawyers on the Sunshine Coast

Road Rules – Changing Lane or Merging

Changing lanes and merging is an important parts of driving. If you are changing lanes or merging into another, it is vital that you avoid risk-taking activity and follow the rules of the road!

If you are changing lanes, you must give way to the car in the lane you are changing to, even if your lane is about to end!

Merging, however, is a little more complicated and depending’s on the marking on the road between the two lanes. If there are marks on the road and you are the merger, you must give way to the cars already on the lane into which you are merging.

However, if there are no road markings, the cars in the lane must give way to your car. As aforementioned, it is important to not take risks and keep yourself, your passengers, and other cars on the road safe.

Do not merge at the spur of the moment, make sure you have planned the merge and are properly prepared.

Make sure that you have also built up enough speed in the on-ramp to join the lane at the speed limit the other drivers are abiding by to avoid an accident taking place.

Road Rules – Giving Way

Giving way is another important part of keeping the roads safe for yourself and all other drivers.

Giving way is the process of slowing down your vehicle, in some circumstances to a complete halt, in order to prevent the occurrence of an accident.

Of course, you must give way at a give-way sign, a sign that simply states “give way” in large lettering. However, there are various circumstances in which you will be required to give way even without the presence of a sign.

If you are turning right onto oncoming traffic at an intersection, you must give way.

If you are turning either way at a T-intersection, a piece of road on which your car is coming up to a piece of the straight road directly horizontal from the road on which you are travelling on, you also must give way.

If you have been stopped or are moving onto the road from a driveway or the side of the road, you must give way. Other scenarios where you must give way include:

• You’re doing a U-turn; or
• You’re turning left at an intersection with a ‘left turn on red after stopping’ sign.

Keeping Left and Overtaking

When driving, it is generally required in Australia that you keep to the left side of the road, or as close to the left as possible, at all times.

You may think, surely this does not apply when driving on a road with multiple lanes.

Well, although not to the same extent as on a single lane road, it does indeed still apply.

When driving on a multi-lane road, there are certain circumstances where it is deemed appropriate to drive on the right side of the road.

If you are overtaking another vehicle, taking a right turn, making a U-turn, avoiding an obstruction on the road (such as a large tree branch), driving on a congested/busy road, or using a lane for a special purpose that applies to you, you may drive on the right side of the road.

You may only overtake a vehicle if you are adequately prepared to do so safely.

You must ensure that all of the markings and road signs allow you to overtake in that particular section of the road.

It is also important to remember that when approaching a pedestrian crossing, you may never overtake a vehicle driving in the same direction that is slowing down or has stopped to leave a way for said pedestrians to cross.

Been involved is a traffic offence? Be referred to the best criminal and traffic lawyers on the Sunshine Coast

Road Rules – Roundabouts

Roundabouts can be a controversial section of the road.

Many road violations will unknowingly take place while using a roundabout.

This is due to the various actions that may be undertaken through the use of a roundabout, and the many rules that apply if one wishes to undertake said action.

If you wish to turn left on a roundabout you must use the left lane, if you wish to turn right you must use the right, and if you wish to continue straight ahead you may use either, generally the one most convenient to the driver.

When turning left, begin by turning on your left indicator when approaching and entering the roundabout, ensuring that you are giving way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.

Continue to use the left indicator on your vehicle until you have made a safe exit to the left of the roundabout.

When turning right, practically undergo the same procedure but with the right instead of the left (right indicator, right turn, etc).

Road Rules – Traffic Lights

Traffic lights are common on roads, and it is important that you obey their directions in order to keep yourself and other road users safe.

If you proceed through a red or yellow traffic light, you may receive a penalty in the form of an officer of the law handing it to you or a postal notice if detected by road cameras.

Red lights, or stop lights, are, as the name implies, the signal to come to a complete halt when approached. You must not proceed through a stop sign or risk a fine, other penalty or, more importantly, an accident or crash.

There will generally be a stop line at a traffic light, and an unbroken horizontal line across the road, but if not, you must stop in front of the traffic light when the light is red.

A yellow light, or a stop if it is safe to light, is another form of a traffic light that requires a driver to stop unless it is unsafe to do so.

A common misconception is that a yellow light is the end of a green light, and one may pass through provided it is safe. This is incorrect as one is required to stop at a yellow light in most circumstances.

A circumstance where it may be deemed unsafe to stop is if you have already accelerated onto a green light and it switches to yellow just when you are about to pass through.

Stopping in this circumstance may result in a rear collision, so you may proceed through the light.

A green light is a proceed or drive with caution light. This light allows all vehicles to continue driving unless it is unsafe to do so like, for example, there is an obstruction on the road that will prevent the driver from safely passing.

A traffic light may also be a line pointing in the direction of a turn one may make at a traffic light and the aforementioned rules for the coloured lights apply when making said turn.

Key Takeaways

It is very important that you follow the road rules or there is a chance that you could be stopped by the police.

If you are stopped by the police, then you may need to speak to a criminal lawyer.

Been involved is a traffic offence? Be referred to the best criminal and traffic lawyers on the Sunshine Coast