Debate rages over misunderstood road rule
A road rule quiz highlighting a simple ‘give way’ scenario has left many drivers scratching their heads as to who has right of way.
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads shared a picture of two cars stopped at different points of an intersection, to Facebook on Monday.
It shows a red car and a blue car waiting at opposite ends of a T-intersection, with flowing lanes of traffic separating them.
Arrows indicate both vehicles are preparing to turn right across a double lane of traffic.
“You know your road rules, and now’s your chance to prove it. Who should go first, the red car or the blue car?” the transport body asked.
A link to its website was provided as a “hint” to help motorists read up on the rules of giving way.
A few people thought the law required all vehicles to “give way to the right”, which they said would mean the red car went first in this scenario.
Others argued the blue car was in a “slip lane” and therefore must give way to all traffic, but many others disagreed.
One commented “After reading the different responses, it's easy to understand why there are so many crashes/near misses at said section.”
After hundreds of comments with varied opinions about who people thought had right of way, the Department of Transport responded to “clear up the confusion”.
Authorities explain the rules
As both vehicles are facing give way signs or lines, “they cancel each other out and the normal give way rules apply” the department clarified.
“The give way rules for T-intersections require drivers on the road that ends to give way to any vehicle on the continuing road.
“Because the red car is on the road that ends, they have to give way to the blue car.”
That means the blue car goes first.
Recently Transport Western Australia asked road users to determine which vehicle had right of way in a scenario where two cars attempting to merge into a single lane.
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