Interpret the road rule: Merging

Lbcarp on 30/04/2020 - 22:56

We haven't had enough "help me interpret the road rules" recently. So here's one.

There's an on-ramp from Pacific Highway to Ryde Road where there's a Left Lane Ends sign. To me, it's in a difficult position to notice because it's at a point where drivers are busy navigating a double lane turn & avoiding potential traffic coming in from two other points.

Nonetheless, about 100m later, the lane marking ends. There's no dotted lines to show that the left lane has ended. The central broken line just ends.

The single sign implies that a car in the left line should give way to a car in the right lane. The line markings imply that both lanes have equal rights & whichever car is not ahead should give way.

Here are some pictures: https://imgur.com/a/tgLOGRF

So, in a situation such as that circled in the 3rd picture above, where the left vehicle is slightly ahead of the right vehicle, who has "right of way" & who should give way?

Poll Options expired

  • 2
    Left lane should always give way to right lane.
  • 86
    Both lanes have equal rights. This is a zipper merge.
  • 0
    Right lane should always give way to left lane. (I hope not!)
  • 1
    I would follow case law on this. Has this been tested in the courts?
  • 1
    This is ambiguous. The RMS needs to re-do their signage or lane marking to make this clear.
Automotive

Comments

  • fossilfuel on 30/04/2020 - 23:05
    +5

    The line markings imply that both lanes have equal rights & whichever car is not ahead should give way.

    This. Common sense is don't be a dick when driving. If they're in front of you, give way to them and let them merge in front of you. If they're behind you, then they give way and merge behind you.

  • Donaldhump on 30/04/2020 - 23:08

    Common sense and courtesy who is front goes ahead, just a zipper.

    Only exception is gronks in merging lane who stop 100 metres before the merge at the sign. In this case all cars behind the gronk can cut on the outside using grass if need be and overtake,

    • abb on 01/05/2020 - 09:03
      +2

      For those too lazy to click, the official answer is:

      Sometimes the lane line ends before the lanes merge […]. When merging, the trailing vehicle gives way to the vehicle ahead.

  • cheeseandbacon on 30/04/2020 - 23:26
    +3

    Don't forget the black on white "form 1 lane" sign just ahead as well.

    https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/195688/79239/form1lane…

    I'd say that, and/or the lane markings themselves, would both trump any black on yellow "warning sign" seen previously.

    • bcarp on 30/04/2020 - 23:31

      You know, I have driven this road about 1000 times in the last 5 years & never once noticed that sign! 🤦‍♂️

      I don't think that sign in itself has any weight. The same sign is used in a left lane ends type of merge.

  • ReverseBias on 01/05/2020 - 01:04

    This kind of merge is common in SA, and we would absolutely interpret it as either lane giving way to whomever is ahead - that's what the law says, and it makes sense.

    But I learned to drive in NSW, so I understand the issue - these merges are rare there. So while the same rule definitely applies, you should probably drive defensively and assume the person in the right lane thinks they have priority.

    Oh, and you're right - that particular merge is in a crap spot.

  • Euphemistic on 01/05/2020 - 05:39
    +1

    This is the ‘new’ standard in NSW. Left lane ends is old school, it’s all Form one lane now.

    Who has right of way? No one. There is no such thing in traffic law. The car behind would give way.

  • bcarp on 01/05/2020 - 07:17

    Thank you for clarification. Looks like everyone interprets this as a zipper merge (so far). If you look at the old school practices from decades ago (am I giving my age away?), as far as I know, Left Lane Ends always meant that the left lane would end in a dotted line. A zipper merge would never (as far as I know) have a Left Land Ends sign. Both types would also have a Form One Lane sign at the point of the actual merge. This has become less clear over the last 10 years.

    In this particular intersection, I've always interpreted this as a zipper merge, but I've had a few cars recently (always young male drivers… why?) in the right lane refuse to give way & make a big fuss about it. So, this got me thinking that perhaps the sign was confusing to some. Sounds like it's not confusing; it's just that these drivers don't know how to interpret the lane markings.

    • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2020 - 07:31

      zipper merge usually has "form one lane" sign, but asshats usually push the "i'm in the right lane i'm in the right" asstitude.

      the sign is incorrect and should be swapped, but always obey the road markings as per the road users handbook (page 121 should sort it out).

      • Euphemistic on 01/05/2020 - 07:50

        "i'm in the right lane i'm in the right"

        This probably stems from the misguided belief that the right lane is the fast/overtaking lane - which is only true on higher speed roads (over 80?)

        • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2020 - 09:12

          which is only true on higher speed roads (over 80?)

          Only true on highways and freeways.

          Not all 80 roads are highways/freeways.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2020 - 07:28
    +1

    how is this even a question, if it is hand in your license.

    • bcarp on 01/05/2020 - 07:35

      See my comment above.

      • [Deactivated] on 01/05/2020 - 07:37

        sorry, commented and then read comments ;p.

        more of a general comment, nothing against you.

  • pegaxs on 01/05/2020 - 08:35

    Australian Road Rule 149

    who has "right of way"

    No one. There is no "right of way" in the road rules.

    who should give way?

    The car that has the "obligation to give way" is whichever car is further back.

    ARR 149: …the driver must give way to a vehicle in another line of traffic if any part of the vehicle is ahead of the driver’s vehicle.

    And I know this merge and everyone acts like an arsehole here. Cars in the right hand lane always jamming out the left lane regardless of road rules or the dickbrain in the left lane, stopped, indicator on and not moving, waiting for the right lane to clear…

    • bcarp on 01/05/2020 - 14:18

      No one. There is no "right of way" in the road rules.

      Correct. Which is why I never wrote "right of way" without the inverted commas. :)

      • Euphemistic on 01/05/2020 - 19:12
        +1

        And yet you reference ‘rights’ in the most popular poll option. Drivers don’t have equal rights in a zipper merge, they have equal responsibilities.

  • Austaurean on 01/05/2020 - 08:44

    Sign should be replaced with a 'form one lane ahead' sign to make it clear to those that cant drive. Left lane ends sign is incorrect. But from the design of the road it may previously have been a lane that ceased and road markings since changed.

    • resisting the urge on 01/05/2020 - 08:56

      Road designers either screw up a lot, or just not be used enough. Many roads have parts made or marked as an after-thought. The marking/sign crews probably have to figure to what to do once they are on-site, respecting distances between the signs they erect and the circumstances needing them. Most important thing is to ensure the gov is not at fault when the inevitable happens.

      @bcarp; "There's no dotted lines to show that the left lane has ended. The central broken line just ends"

      Hence the lack of markings and inadequate signage?!?

  • iforgotmysocks on 01/05/2020 - 08:44

    Any bargains?

  • crashloaded on 01/05/2020 - 10:41

    Any argument that 'line markings imply' will be shot down by signage every time. It really comes down to driving with care and any case that causes an accident will be about who wasn't operating their vehicle safely.

    "On roads where there are no lanes marked on the road—when lines of traffic merge, you must give way to any vehicle that is ahead of you."

  • HeWhoKnows on 01/05/2020 - 18:08
    -1

    There is an overriding rule

    GIVE WAY TO THE RIGHT

    There are a few exceptions to this where other rules apply such as turning into a T-Intersection.

    But merging is NOT an exception.

    • ThirdRonnie on 01/05/2020 - 20:06

      You are very, very wrong.

      The requirement to give way on the right ceased over 40 years ago.

  • Ghost47 on 01/05/2020 - 21:03
    +1

    Whichever car is in front.

    But in Sydney no one gives a (profanity) about anyone else on the roads.

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