When not to keep left: The road rules which may surprise many motorists
Surprising road rules have been revealed in a new video, which shares the handful of exceptions to the keep left rule on busy motorways.
On New South Wales multi-lane roads where the speed limit is over 80 kilometres per hour, drivers must stay in the left hand lane, according to Transport for NSW.
“If a ‘keep left unless overtaking’ sign is displayed, the requirement to stay in the left lane applies regardless of the speed limit,” the video said. However, in special circumstances they can leave the left lane.
Flouting this rule can lead to heavy penalties in New South Wales, where failing to drive on the far left side of the road attracts a $263 fine. Furthermore, disobeying a keep left unless overtaking sign could lead to a hefty $337 fine.
In most situations, drivers should keep in the left lane on busy highways. For instance, idling in the middle or right lanes on multi-lane highways is not allowed unless a special exception applies.
Drivers may leave the left lane when overtaking other cars or turning right. Drivers may also exit the left lane when avoiding an obstacle or driving in congested traffic.
Those also in a special purpose lane are not required to keep left.
When cars are in a ‘must turn left’ lane or left traffic arrow and are not turning left, then they should also avoid the left lane.
Ignoring the general rule to keep left, can lead to disaster according to Peter Frazer, founder of road safety organisation, the Sarah Group.
Mr Frazer started the group in memory of his 23-year-old daughter Sarah Frazer, who was killed in a road accident in 2012.
The road rule no one is getting right and it could cost you hundreds
Thousands of Aussie drivers campaign to change cycling road rule
“On a major highway, despite the fact that it may say keep left unless overtaking, people will often do as they please. That can cause aggression, and aggression can lead to incidents and crashes, the consequences of which can be serious injury and even death,” Mr Frazer said.
“People are aware of the rule, but behaviour tends to be a bit more selfish on the roads,” he said.
Mr Frazer warns that an inconsiderate attitude on the road boils down to a self-focused attitude prevailing amongst drivers.
“One of the common effects of flouting this rule is road rage. We’ve lost the concept of ‘sharing’ the road – people believe that they own the road, and that’s the key attitude now,” he said.
“We have to educate people about road rules, then reinforce that. In many cases, it’s simply about common courtesy on the road,” he said.
