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Drivers stumped over who has right of way at intersection

Motorists have been left confused by a new road rule quiz that asks who has right of way between a car stopped at a give way sign, and another at a red light.

A graphic of an intersection was shared to Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads Facebook page on Wednesday, asking who was required to give way in the scenario.

The picture shows an orange car at a give way sign, trying to enter a road from a slip lane. Meanwhile, a red car is at a red light opposite, preparing to turn left.

“You know your road rules, and now’s your chance to prove it. Who gives way?” the Queensland road authority asked.

The quiz left many divided and unsure about who was permitted to enter first.

Motorists are left confused about who goes first in this scenario. Source: Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) / Facebook
Motorists are left confused about who goes first in this scenario. Source: Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) / Facebook

“The lights are a little bit confusing,” one wrote. “The orange does have to give way - but if the light is red on the red car and they're over the solid line it looks like they're trying to run the red light and orange still has to give way regardless of the fact that there's a green light at their intersection.”

Another chimed in: “Red car. It has the green light to proceed. The yellow car is obliged to give way, as it has a give way sign against it and must do so.”

A third disagreed: No one, the orange car has loads of time before the red car gets there. Especially if he isn’t stopped.”

Another pointed out a common misconception about give way and stop signs that might come in to play here.

“When there's more than one sign, regardless of give way or stop signs they effectively cancel each other out so revert to rules as if NO signs existed. So slip lane would still give way,” he explained.

This was a subject of a similar Queensland Transport give way quiz, which also left many divided.

If two vehicles are facing give way or stop signs, they cancel each other out and the normal give way rules apply. Source: Getty, file
If two vehicles are facing give way or stop signs, they cancel each other out and the normal give way rules apply. Source: Getty, file

Road authority explains the rules

The transport department later confirmed it was the red car at the red light that had right of way in this scenario.

“Answer: The orange car must give way to the red car. The red car is turning right at the intersection, and has to give way to all oncoming traffic, except a vehicle turning left using a slip lane,” it updated.

Giving way at slip lanes

The reasoning was explained on the department’s website, linked in the post as a “hint”.

“If you're using a slip lane, you must give way to all traffic already on the road you're entering (except vehicles doing a U-turn),” the road authority stated.

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