Five more

misunderstood
road rules

Part 2 of our road

safety series
This document does not constitute legal advice and is
provided only as a guide to a subset of the Road Rules 2009.
Road users must ensure they are familiar with the Road
Rules and comply with the requirements of the law.

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Contents
Introduction............................................................................ 4

1. Using intersections........................................................... 5

Stop signs..............................................................................................6

Give Way signs..................................................................................8

T-intersections................................................................................ 10

Slip lanes..............................................................................................11

Roundabouts................................................................................... 12

2. Speed limits...................................................................... 14

3. Yellow traffic lights......................................................... 16

Flashing yellow lights................................................................... 17

4. When to cross unbroken white dividing lines.........20

5. Use of indicators.............................................................22

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Introduction
Road rules are a hot topic for Tasmanian drivers. Our first
brochure covers the Top 10 misunderstood road rules in
Tasmania, and this pamphlet highlights another five commonly
misunderstood rules.
We strongly recommend reading both of them together, in
order to stay safe on our roads.
How did we decide on these five? We looked at: discussions
on the Tasmania Police Facebook page; responses on the
learner driver knowledge test; and feedback from driver
licence assessors.
Thinking and talking about road rules is important.
The road rules are to keep people safe – motorists,
cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists.
By being patient, respectful of others and sticking to the
rules, we can make our communities safer, and reduce
the terrible and long-lasting impact that death and injury
from road crashes can have.

Useful references
• Tasmanian Road Rules 2009
www.legislation.tas.gov.au
• Tasmanian Road Rules Booklet
www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/publications/
tasmanian_road_rules
• Road Safety Advisory Council, including
Top 10 misunderstood road rules
www.rsac.tas.gov.au
• Department of State Growth (transport)
www.transport.tas.gov.au
www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing (licensing)
www.transport.tas.gov.au/registration (registration)

Feedback
Send your feedback or comments to
[email protected].

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1. Using intersections
The rules for giving way at intersections are among the
most misunderstood.
Tasmanian intersections are controlled by:
• Stop signs
• Give Way signs
• traffic lights
• T-intersections
• slip lanes
• roundabouts.
These controls make the roads safer and reduce the
likelihood of crashes.
For instance some intersections are very busy and traffic
lights are needed to manage traffic flow. While other
intersections have poor sight lines, where slowing down
and stopping is important to safely use the intersection.
Remember, when giving way at an intersection it applies
to all road users, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists,
not just other motor vehicles.

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Stop signs
Road Rules – 67 and 68
A Stop sign means stop,
regardless of whether or
not there is other traffic
nearby or approaching.
Stopping is not optional.
Stop signs make intersections
safer. They are at intersections
where there are reduced lines of sight for drivers.
Slowing down and stopping provides time to look
carefully and assess when it is safe to enter or move
through the intersection.
Drivers must remain stationary and give way to a vehicle
which is in, entering or approaching the intersection.
Move only when it is safe to do so.
As well as other motor vehicles, drivers must give way to
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Drivers must also
give way to pedestrians crossing the road into which they
are turning. This rule applies wherever there is a Stop sign,
including slip lanes, children’s crossings, carpark exits, level
crossings and T-intersections.

Exceptions
Drivers at a Stop sign do not have to give way to:
• an oncoming vehicle turning right at the intersection,
if a Stop sign or Give Way sign applies to the
oncoming vehicle
• a vehicle turning left at the intersection using a slip lane
• a vehicle making a U-turn.

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Both cars must stop, then Car A must give way to Car B.

Car B must stop and give way to Car A.

Both cars must stop, then Car A (turning right) must give
way to Car B (turning left)
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Give Way signs
Road Rules – 69, 70 and 71
At Give Way signs drivers must slow down and be
prepared to give way to other traffic entering or
approaching the intersection.
As well as other motor vehicles, drivers must give way to
pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Drivers must give
way to any pedestrians crossing the road into which the
driver is turning.
Give Way signs are at intersections and other places
where other vehicles have priority.
Slowing down enables time to check if it is safe to enter or
move through the intersection.

Exceptions
Give Way signs do not apply to roundabouts.
As with Stop signs, a driver at a Give Way sign does not
have to give way to:
• an oncoming vehicle turning right at the intersection,
if a Stop sign or Give Way sign applies to the
oncoming vehicle
• a vehicle turning left at the intersection using a
slip lane
• a vehicle making a U-turn.

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Both cars slow down and approach the intersection
with caution, Car B (turning right) then must give way
to Car A (turning left).

Car B must give way to Car A.

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T-intersections
Road Rule – 73
At T-intersections a driver travelling on the road that
ends must give way to any pedestrians crossing or
vehicles travelling on the continuing road (unless there
is a road-sign giving a different instruction).
The diagram below shows a T-intersection where the
continuing road (which is marked with broken white
lines) goes around a corner. Car B must give way to
Car A, and signal to leave the continuing road in order
to enter the terminating road.

Car B must give way to Car A.

Car A must give way to Car B and pedestrian.

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Slip lanes
Road Rules – 72 (4) and 73 (5)
Slip lanes are used to improve safety and traffic flow for
vehicles turning left.
Drivers using a slip lane must give way to any vehicle
approaching from the right or turning right at the
intersection into the road the driver is entering
(see diagram below). Drivers must also give way to
any pedestrians on the slip lane.
Drivers must not stop in the slip lane unless signs say
parking is allowed.
Slip lanes can be marked by a painted island or traffic
island. Drivers must use a slip lane where one is provided.

Car A must give way to the pedestrian, Car B and Car C.

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Roundabouts
Road Rules – 109 to 119
The ‘give way to the right’ rule does not apply to
roundabouts.
When approaching a roundabout, drivers must give
way to all vehicles already in the roundabout, regardless
of which direction the vehicle on the roundabout is
approaching. There is no need to give way to the right.

About roundabouts
Roundabouts significantly increase road safety, as they
force drivers to slow down, which minimises crash
impact.
Head-on or t-bone crashes (which can happen at
other types of intersections) are not as likely, because
roundabouts change the angles at which vehicles
approach each other at the intersection.
Roundabouts also improve traffic flow, another
important reason to stick to the correct give way rule.

Entering a roundabout
Drivers must slow or stop to give way to any vehicle
already in the roundabout.
Drivers must also continue to use their indicator if they
intend to turn left, right or make a U-turn.

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Car A must give way to Car B.

Car B must give way to Car A.

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2. Speed limits
Road Rules – 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25
Speed limits are the maximum safe speed to travel in
good road and weather conditions.
Drivers should not travel faster than the speed limit.
Speeding is a major case of crashes, leading to death and
serious injury on our roads.
Drive below the speed limit when:
• road conditions are not good (when the roads are
wet, gravel, narrow or winding)
• weather conditions are not good (when there is fog
or rain)
• there is lots of traffic or pedestrians
• the driver is tired, upset, worried or ill.
It is important to drive at a speed appropriate to
the conditions.

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Speed limit signs
Speed limit signs show the fastest speed allowed on a road.
When you pass a speed limit sign:
• never drive faster than the speed indicated
• drive slower than the speed limit when necessary.
This current speed limit applies until:
• another sign has a different speed limit
• the driver turns off the road (where the default
speed limit will apply if there is no speed limit sign).
Some speed signs are electronic. The speed limit on an
electronic sign only applies when the sign is illuminated.
If no electronic speed limit is displayed, the default speed
limit or the speed limit shown on the last sign passed on
that road applies.

Default speed
In Tasmania there are default speed limits if there are no
speed limit signs, which are:
• 50 km/h in urban (built-up) areas
• 80 km/h in country areas on an unsealed road
• 100 km/h in country areas on a sealed road.

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3. Yellow traffic lights
Road Rules – 63, 64 and 65
A yellow traffic light or arrow means stop. It does not
mean speed up to try and get through the intersection.
Penalties for running a yellow light are the same as for
running a red light.

The yellow light is the beginning of

the red light phase, NOT the end
of the green light phase.

Why yellow traffic lights?

Yellow traffic lights are an important part of safe road design.
Intersections are high risk places for crashes. Yellow traffic
lights reduce the likelihood of crashes, as they give drivers
sufficient warning that the red light is imminent and they
should stop at the intersection.
There is only one time when a driver should go through an
intersection showing a yellow light, and that is when it is not
safe to stop before reaching the stop line or traffic lights.

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Flashing yellow lights
Road Rule – 63
Flashing yellow lights mean slow down and proceed with
caution.

There can be flashing yellow traffic lights at:

• pedestrian crossings – when all pedestrians have
finished crossing, a driver can go ahead
• intersections – sometimes all the traffic lights at an
intersection will be flashing yellow. This means the
rules for uncontrolled intersections apply – giving
way to the right and giving way when turning across
another vehicle’s path.

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How to give way at intersections displaying
flashing yellow traffic lights
At all times when approaching an intersection with
flashing yellow lights drive carefully and remember to
look out for pedestrians.

Car A must give way to Car B.

Car A (turning right) must give way to Car B (turning left).

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Car A must give way to Car B.

Turning vehicles pass in front of each other.

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4. When to cross
unbroken white
dividing lines
Road Rules – 146 and 147
Drivers can cross:
• any type of dividing line, even solid/unbroken lines
when turning right at an intersection, unless there is a
sign that says it is not allowed
• a single dividing line to enter or leave a road.
As indicated in the diagram below, drivers can also turn to the
right across a continuous dividing line to enter (Car A) or leave
(Car B) a property (e.g. home or shops) by the shortest route.

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When passing a cyclist, the driver must maintain a safe
passing distance of:
• at least 1.5 metres in speed zones higher than 60 km/h
• at least 1 metre in 60 km/h or lower speed zones.
If safe to do so it is legal to cross a single or double
continuous dividing line to allow the required room
to overtake a cyclist. In the following three scenarios
Car A can overtake the cyclist:

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5. Use of indicators
Road Rules – 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49
Using indicators in Tasmania is not optional.
Drivers must always indicate to let others know what
they plan to do: change direction, turn left or right,
change lanes, enter or leave driveways.
Correct use of indicators is the responsibility of all
drivers. It helps to reduce the likelihood of crashes and
enables everyone to share the roads safely.
Drivers should provide plenty of warning before turning
or changing lanes by signalling. This should be for long
enough to give sufficient warning to other motor vehicles,
cyclists and pedestrians.
Drivers must also ensure the indicator is turned off after
each turn or lane change.

Correct use of indicators

Both Car A and Car B in the examples below and on the
opposite page show the correct use of indicators.

Even if you are in a turning lane only (Car A),

you must still indicate the direction you are turning.
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Correct use of indicators at a controlled intersection (left);
making a legal U-turn (right); and overtaking another
vehicle (below).

When exiting a park space a driver must indicate the direction,

whether they are moving forward (Car A) or reversing (Car B).
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 Department of State Growth
GPO Box 536
Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
Phone: 1800 030 688
Fax: (03) 6233 5800
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au

© State of Tasmania December 2018

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