Melbourne Traffic Signal - Tram/Car

FutureTech on 21/04/2025 - 22:57
Last edited 21/04/2025 - 23:08

We drove from Sydney to Melbourne to spend the Easter Holiday. I was driving this morning in Southbank just out of the CBD, and is turning left from Queens Bridge Street onto Power street. I saw a red left turn arrow on the traffic signal mounted in the middle of the road so I stopped and waited. I did notice that the traffic lights mounted on the left side of the road is displaying a green light without any arrow. A car came up behind me (VIC plate) also turning left and honked. I was a bit hesitant but begrudgingly proceeded to turn.

I just checked the google street view which I think is showing the same light pattern I encountered. I found that there seemingly are two sets of lights mounted in the middle of the road. In the picture it clearly displays a red left turn arrow in the top set of lights which I thought applied to me. Grok suggested that the top set is for trams and the bottom cars, but the red arrow is not different in style to a normal traffic light to my untrained NSW eyes… Is there anything that's supposed to tip me off that the lights are for trams?

Photos of the traffic lights in the middle and on the side:

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/123293/121067/screensh…

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/123293/121068/screensh…

Automotive

Comments

  • freefall101 on 21/04/2025 - 23:10
    +5

    So you were here?

    Yes, the lights in the middle are for a tram. If you are in the left hand lane, you obey the lights on the left hand side of the road.

    Welcome to Melbourne, where even most Melbournite's can't understand our own road signals :)

    • FutureTech on 21/04/2025 - 23:17
      +2

      That's right.

      Thanks for the comments. Yeah I must admit I got confused a few times in the Melbourne CBD and that's after I got the hang of it for the hook turn 🤣

      • freefall101 on 21/04/2025 - 23:47
        +1

        Just wait until you hit the exit off bolte bridge to kings way that has a sign on the right hand side saying there are ramp signals ahead and everyone slows to 40km/h in an 80 zone.

        Yeah, tram lights are annoying. If you become aware enough of hook turns, you then need to learn about when hook turns don't apply and get used to the slightly different traffic lights. Living here you get used to understanding road patterns - at that intersection if you can go straight, then turning left will be fine because any potential traffic that could hit you is going to have to ram through traffic going straight first.

  • Benoffie on 21/04/2025 - 23:53
    +1

    Yeah, who knows what any of the traffic signals in Melbourne mean.

    At least in SA, for trams, we put a T on the signal.

    For example https://maps.app.goo.gl/YMi4s7Z82UUUY8sq9

    • AustriaBargain on 22/04/2025 - 07:10

      I think Adelaide has a hook turn spot too now, for the King William and North Terrace intersection.

  • MS Paint on 22/04/2025 - 06:39
    +3

    Did you do any hook turns OP?

    That's where you turn right from the left lane, stop on green and go on red. Easy to spot the interstate driver at these intersections.

    • HamBoi69 on 22/04/2025 - 09:43

      Always a good watch.

    • pegaxs on 22/04/2025 - 11:51
      +1

      This used to be my favourite past time in Melbourne on Saturdays mornings… go down to Elizabeth street, visit all the motorbike shops, get a coffee and sit out the front of Melbourne Central and watch all the "foreigners" trying to hook-turn into La Trobe street while I sipped my coffee and chuckled to myself.

  • redforever on 22/04/2025 - 10:06
    +1

    There is no turning track for trams. Trams can only go straight. I think the light is for authorised vehicles that are allowed to drive on the tram tracks like ambulance and police.

    Looking at Google Street view, it seems like buses share the track/road.

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