A new list of the 10 most useful and misunderstood road rules along with a video lesson has been released by the NSW Centre for Road Safety to make Australia's roads safer for everyone.
This campaign was launched to mark Road Rules Awareness Week, from February 22 to 28.
RULE 1: Roundabouts
According to NSW Road Transport, drivers are required to give way to those already on the roundabout and indicate to show that they are turning left, from the left lane if there is one, or right. When making a U-turn, drivers must approach in the right lane and signal right until they exit. No need to signal if going straight ahead
RULE 2: Giving way to pedestrians
Motorists are required to give way to pedestrians when they are turning left or right.
RULE 3: Mobiles
A mobile phone can only be used while driving if it is secured in a commercially manufactured and designed mounting that is fixed to the vehicle and doesn't obscure the view of the road. It can be used without a mount if a driver can operate it without touching any part of the phone, for example by using Bluetooth or voice activation.
RULE 4: Merging
If a driver is travelling in a marked lane, which is ending, and has to cross the broken lines to merge, he or she must give way. In cases where there are no lane markings, or the lanes are reduced, the zipper merge applies: a driver in either lane must give way to any vehicle that is ahead of them.
RULE 5: Keeping left
On multi-lane roads with a speed limit of more than 80km/h, motorists must not drive in the right-hand lane unless they are overtaking, turning right, making a U-turn or driving in congested areas. It is not good enough to be in the right lane just because you are travelling at high speed.
RULE 6: Using headlights and fog lights
A driver must not use any light fitted to their vehicle that may dazzle another road user.
RULE 7: U-turns
Drivers can't make a U-turn across any a single continuous dividing line, a single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line or across two parallel continuous dividing lines.
RULE 8: Safe following distances
The recommended safe following distance is three seconds.
RULE 9: School zone
Do check the school zone timings regularly as sometimes the school zone rules also apply on pupil free days in public schools.
RULE 10: Yellow traffic lights
An orange or yellow light doesn't mean speed up, it means stop.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO DRIVE CALMLY AND SAFELY!
