Road rules quiz on turning sparks heated debate: 'No common sense'
A road rules quiz posted on the Facebook page of a Queensland motoring body has sparked a heated debate online.
The RACQ shared a diagram of four vehicles on a road coloured orange, green, blue and yellow with arrows showing which way each would like to turn.
But each action they want to take would see them crossing a continuous line in the middle of the road.
The post then asks: “which vehicles can make their turns legally?”
From there, the reader is given four choices:
A. Blue, green and yellow.
B. Only green.
C. None – all are illegal.
D. All vehicles can turn legally.
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Heated debate breaks out in comments section
Drivers have taken to the comments section of the post to debate what they think the answer is and it's gotten quite heated with many sharing opposing views.
Numerous people responded saying option B was correct and only the cyclist could make the turn with one explaining that this was because "all the others are crossing a solid white line".
However, others responded to them saying: "You can cross solid lines to enter or leave the road".
Some also suggested that none could turn choosing option B and others said A was correct.
"Blue, green and orange would get an infringement for being wrongly positioned for a right turn," one person suggested.
Many argued that it is illegal to cross a solid line, while others disputed this, saying this rule had changed in the 1990s.
Others suggested that the correct answer was D, that all vehicles can turn legally.
"You can turn into or leave streets (unless otherwise signed), homes and you can also pass push bikes by crossing the solid line. If safe to do so," one person commented.
"A bit of common sense really. Although some people don’t seem to have any behind the wheel."
A person commented that they were distressed by the amount of incorrect answers.
"I can see why there are so many accidents on the roads at least half don't know what they are doing," he wrote.
Another said: "I have to wonder how some people get their licence."
So which answer would you choose?
The correct answer is revealed
When it comes to crossing a continuous white line down the middle of the road, it is generally considered illegal to cross it and go into the opposite lane of the road.
This is outlined by Rule 150 of the Australian Road Rule which forbids this on any single lane road where a line divides two lanes of traffic.
However, part 1b of the rule gives exemptions to drivers crossing the line in certain situations such as:
Turning at a junction.
Leaving or entering the road.
Stopping in an emergency lane.
This rule allows drivers to cross the line and turn off the main road as long as their junction is no further than 100m away from when they cross the line.
Taking all this into consideration, it means that the answer to the question posed by the RACQ is D – all vehicles can turn legally.
Turning errors can cost you dearly
As long as you are turning off the road and haven’t travelled further than 100 metres, the police shouldn’t have any reason to bother you if you cross a continuous line.
However, should you ignore the rules the police will be ready to drop some big penalties on you. Some of these include:
NSW: Drivers in New South Wales face a fine of $272 as well as copping two demerit points on their licence should NSW Police catch them ignoring a continuous line on the road.
VIC: In Victoria, drivers found ignoring a continuous single white line in the middle of the road will avoid demerit points from the local authorities, but they will still be hit with a fine of $182.
QLD: Queensland motorists will escape earning demerit points for ignoring a continuous white line in the road, however, Queensland Police will give them a fine worth two penalty units – worth $275.
SA: Anyone in South Australia found ignoring a continuous white line in the road could face a fine of $205 from SA Police.
WA: Should any motorist in Western Australia drive over a continuous single white line on the road, they could be liable to a fine of two penalty units from WA Police reaching a total of $100.
TAS: Tasmania Police will look to hit motorists with a fine of $130 if they are caught driving over a single continuous white line in the middle of the road over an extensive distance.
ACT: If any driver in Canberra is caught driving over a continuous white line on the road, they will get slapped with a $205 fine from ACT Police.
Knowing that there can be big penalties for excessively driving over a continuous white line on the road, it is handy to know the exemptions on when you can cross them.
It also shows why it can be good for experienced drivers to test their knowledge with from time to time to ensure they aren’t caught unexpectedly breaking any road rules.
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