Turning Left into a Multi Lane Road

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    db87 on 15/02/2019 - 09:50

    +2

    Basically this.

    Comes down to driver skill and some common sense which some people on OzB and the general public have definitely shown to lack. Like a 200m on ramp but the drivers in front of you struggling to do 80km/h then proceed to brake even more when it's time to merge into 100km/h traffic. SMH

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      netjock on 15/02/2019 - 14:08

      That is why everyone is here for the fuel deals and the discounts at Super Cheap Auto for brake pads.

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  altitudinous on 15/02/2019 - 14:28

  "I believe"

  Opinions are not the law. Clearly the guy you blew your horn at thought the exact opposite.

  I generally try to have both lanes free just to keep everyone knowing what everyone else is doing, but sometimes things are so busy you have no chance. In that case I try to keep clearance.

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  tallmantim on 15/02/2019 - 15:54

  Just joining in to say the OP committed an offence, but I don't think the guy in the Territory did (other than when he started trying to road rage at you).

  ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES 2017 - REG 224
  Using horns and similar warning devices
  A driver must not use, or allow to be used, a horn, or similar warning device, fitted to or in the driver's vehicle unless—

      (a)     it is necessary to use the horn, or warning device, to warn other road users or animals of the approach or position of the vehicle; or
  
      (b)     the horn, or warning device, is being used as part of an anti-theft device, or an alcohol interlock fitted to the vehicle.
  

  Penalty: 1 penalty unit.

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  UFO on 15/02/2019 - 17:46

  Wow… so many responses, and so many wrong!!!!!

  Can I ask all these legal eagles what it is you do when trying to merge onto a freeway/hwy slip lane?
  Because its the EXACT SAME GIVE WAY ROAD MARKINGS!

  You're happy to merge from a slip lane entering a freeway when people move over to the right lane, but you aren't happy to do the same on a side street?

  There is no legal requirement to wait until both lanes are clear. That's ridiculous.

  You must give way to all traffic when its unsafe to enter. Once you are in that lane, it's yours.
  If some moron then hits you because he's overtaking someone else around the left, that's he's fault not yours.

  Obviously you can't just jump in to someone's path when they are already in the lane (car, bus, truck etc), but if the lane is clear and you enter it you're in the clear legally.

  Riddle me this…. if you're traveling in the right lane, and change into the left lane and not see a parked or stopped car and hit it- is it their fault or yours? Exact same thing. If you change lanes unsafely problem belongum you.

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    Mrgreenz on 16/02/2019 - 14:20

    Merging on a merge lane is a bad example, the merge lane is there for a reason; reduce the speed difference between vehicles. Entering into running lanes whilst there is a maximum speed differential is totally different.

    Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's the smartest thing to do.

    Obviously it isn't ideal to be waiting for 2 clear lanes in busy areas, but it's the safest option, so I don't think people should be run down for doing so.

    "If some moron then hits you because he's overtaking someone else around the left, that's he's fault not yours."

    It's still your problem if it could have been avoided by your actions, and you spend the rest of your life wishing you did avoid it. Regardless of whose insurance pays the bills

    Considering a accident of that type would likely be the most damage inflicting to the driver of the car pulling out:-

    High speed differencial -> car traveling at signed speed hitting a almost stationary car
    Collision -> driver side door with maybe 250mm of material between you a and the other vehicle

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    butwhy on 16/02/2019 - 16:11

    "Entering a freeway
    The rules for driving onto a freeway are the same as for changing lanes across a dotted line.

    When entering the freeway you must give way to all vehicles already travelling on the freeway."

    https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-r…

    If anyone already in the freeway decides to change 4 lanes and hits a person simulate loudly merging into the freeway, the merger will be liable.

    That said, if people are clearly staying in their lanes, merge safely.

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  yoonibear on 15/02/2019 - 17:52

  +2

  I usually wait for the second lane to clear - at least it won't give the person in the other lane a heart attack. If I'm in the other position I'll lift off the gas slightly and keep an eye on them as they merge. If I can see them and figure out their intention I'll give them leeway - it's the ones that does the wrong thing spontaneously that'll get the horn (ones that suddenly merge w/o indicating)

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  djmm on 16/02/2019 - 13:38

  Too many phakwits going over second lane when merging onto left lane. So better for those idiots to wait for 2 lane clear.

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  conservative on 16/02/2019 - 14:49

  +1

  If anyone follows this rule while turning into Parramatta Rd, then you'll be waiting until old age.

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  2024 on 16/02/2019 - 15:17

  Its nice when someone in the left lane merges into the right lane to make room in for someone coming onto the road in these situations. I do it all the time and am generally impressed with humanity when someone else does the same. I actively encourage people to come out of the side street by doing this.

  Technically a merge with dashed lines might be the same scenario. A car is entering a road, but has to give way to all other vehicles. But in reality do they give way to traffic in the right hand lanes? No.

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  butwhy on 16/02/2019 - 16:05

  My friend failed a driving exam in sydney for doing what the other person did - ie failed to give way when turning left, even though there was one lane clear.

  In Victoria the rules are pretty clear

  "T-intersections
  When turning at a T-intersection from the road that ends, you must give way to all vehicles travelling in the road you are turning into (the continuing road)."

  https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-r…

  If there's an accident, the person in the main road will not be held responsible.

  Having said this, I'd also wait at least till 2 lanes are clear, knowing if I got hit, it would be my fault.

  I really have no idea why people are so impatient, angry and unforgiving in Australia. It's like half the drivers are on ice. Driving in Europe, whilst way more busy, is far more courteous for the average driver.

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  nfr on 16/02/2019 - 20:54

  Both my wife and I have learned to wait for 2 lane clearance, but we got our licenses like 20 years ago, so we can't remember if it's a hard rule or not.

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  marcnunes on 17/02/2019 - 18:46

  Comments are interesting. Driving a slow Toyota Yaris myself it is pretty hard to convince people behind me my car does get to the speed limit in two seconds like their cars. I try to keep left and speed as much as I can but every now and then people behind me complain because they cannot wait 2 extra seconds until I get there.
  Anyway, almost every day I turn left into a main road. If I have to wait the two lanes to be clear I will possibly wait hours because Sprinvalle road in Melbourne is no joke..and also people behind me won't like it.

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  Eeples on 18/02/2019 - 18:21

  If the multi-lane roadway was bumper to bumper on all lanes…. I do not think you need to wait for a gap across all the lanes.

  In the ops case the car entering the multilane needs to do it safely…. if another car is close and travelling quickly in the far lane… I would wait for it to go past.

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  mark1237 on 23/02/2019 - 19:46

  My response is predicated on the assumptions that (1) in your diagram, the driver turning left is doing so at a T-intersection, (2) the driver turning left into a lane does so without any part of their car intruding into your lane.

  Road Rules 2014 (NSW) reg 73(2)(a): "If the driver is turning left … from the terminating road into the continuing road, the driver must give way to any vehicle travelling on the continuing road."

  So yes, that person turning left onto the multi-lane road should give way to you as you are travelling on the continuing road. However, to give way simply means that the driver must remain stationary until it is safe to proceed (assuming that they've stopped in the position outlined in your diagram) (Road Rules 2014 (NSW) Dictionary (definition of 'give way')). I think that the strongest argument is that if the lane that the driver turning left into is clear, then it is safe for them to proceed into that lane and therefore the driver has, by definition, given way.

  Furthermore, if the above conclusion is correct, it was wrong for you to blow your horn. Road Rules 2014 (NSW) reg 224(a): "A driver must not use … a horn … unless it is necessary to use the horn … to warn other road users … of the approach or position of the vehicle." It was not necessary for you to indicate the position of your vehicle if the left-turning driver was not entering your lane.

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  AMBur08 on 25/08/2019 - 08:23

  I don't think the problem is with it being a tight turn! I mean everyone can easily turn in to a tiny car spot without an issue.

  There are two problems I can see here, and maybe a third.

  1. Unpredictability of the cars travelling in the multi lane road, at any point they could decide to change lanes, so you're best just waiting until the lanes are all clear before entering the multi lane road.

  2. If you're entering the first lane of multi lane road but then you need to merge over quickly to exit another street on the far lane - you're screwed! especially if the speed limit is 80km per hour. Especially on busy Melbourne road… So you're best just waiting for all lanes to be clear in this case. Which brings me to the third issue, which relates to the impatient idiots beeping at you from behind. Firstly, they have no idea where you're going or what you're seeing and it wont kill them to wait a few more moments until you're safe and comfortable to enter the traffic.

  Melbourne drivers are so erratic and impatient. Everyone needs to calm down.

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