About driving
Key driving skills
Using lanes correctly
Lanes are painted on the road to separate traffic. It's important that you use lanes correctly.
Because of the size of your vehicle, you may not always be able to stay entirely in your own lane while making some driving manoeuvres. If this is the case, you must give way to vehicles in the other lane and drive carefully.
Important
When using a flush median, watch out for pedestrians who might be waiting on the flush median to cross the road.
Making a right turn at an intersection with marked lanes
When turning right from a road that has more than one marked lane in each direction into another road with more than one marked lane in each direction:
- make sure you are in a right-turn lane. If there is more than one right-turn lane, use the left right-turn lane so vehicles are not in your blind spot
- signal for at least three seconds before turning
- turn into the appropriate lane. Don't change lanes in the turn.
Turning right with marked lanes
Safe turning tip
If you have stopped to turn right, keep your wheels pointed straight ahead until you start to turn. That way, if you are hit from behind you are less likely to be pushed into the path of oncoming traffic.
Making a right turn from a one-way street
When turning right from a one-way street, you should stay in the same lane throughout the turn. That means:
- if you're turning from the left-hand lane of the one-way street, turn into the left-hand lane of the two-way street
- avoid turning from the right-hand lane of the one-way street as you are not able to see what is happening on the left side of your vehicle.
Remember to signal for at least three seconds before turning.
Turning right from a one-way street
Two vehicles turning into the same road at a laned intersection
When two vehicles are turning into the same road at an intersection that has more than one marked lane in both directions:
- both vehicles show they want to turn by signalling for at least three seconds
- both vehicles stay in their own lane throughout the turn:
- vehicle (A) turns from the left-hand lane into the left-hand lane
- vehicle (B) turns from the right-hand lane into the right-hand lane
- giving way is not required as the vehicles have a lane each.
Turning at a laned intersection
Special vehicle lanes
Special vehicle lanes have signs or markings that indicate they are only for the use of specific kinds of vehicles, such as buses, cycles, taxis or vehicles carrying a specified number of passengers (transit lanes). See Main types of signs for examples of special vehicle lane signs.
Other vehicles may use special vehicle lanes to make a turn or get to a parking space. Use of the lane for these purposes must be kept to a minimum length and be no more than 50 metres. You must give way to any vehicles entitled to use the lane.
Some special vehicle lanes operate 24 hours a day for the use of the designated vehicles. Others have times of operation specified on their signs, for example, '4 pm to 6 pm'. In that case, you may be able to park or stop in them outside of those times.
Important
Do not drive your truck in cycle lanes.
Last updated: 27 September 2010