Merging rules Qld

Yuglamron · Guru

Merging rules Qld

Long Weekend · Guru

Of course, the Queenslanders' attitude to merging from the left of overtaking lanes is well known. Traffic on the left slow lane is not allowed back in - Qld drivers do not let them! In other states such as NSW if the overtaking vehicle is not able to get past before the left lane ends then the driver will drop back. Not so in Queensland - the drivers just keep coming.

However, on our trip to Hervey Bay in October last year I was heartened to see a large sign at the end of one overtaking lane saying: "Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicle." It was only on one overtaking lane at that time but I imagine that the signs may become more common.

(Three times on our trips we were almost run off the road. Once I missed a white post by a few centimetres as I ran out of road. Another time I just managed to swing in behind a car as the lane ended - another coat of paint on either of our cars and we would have hit!)

Murray

Jamjar · Senior Member

NSW has two also, which is news to me. See page 121.

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/licence/road_users_handbook-english.pdf

I can say with certainty that most of our state's drivers aren't aware of this. The norm is that people speed on the left and expect those in the right lane to let them in. The worst being when people are entering onto a motorway.

J.

dogbox · Guru

which ever lane ends is the one that gives way (right or left) or if you cross lines you give way
i'm always amazed at the no of people who drive down the motorway ramps an slow down instead of accelerating up to merge with the flow

PeterD · Guru

This is actually a single rule for two situations. If you have to cross a broken line when merging then you have to observe the changing lanes rule. If you are not changing lanes (ie there is no line to cross) then the one in front has the right of way. It is all very simple.

This rule is not peculiar to one or two states. Download yourself a copy of the Australian Road Rules. you will find it as 148 Giving way when moving from one marked lane or line of traffic to another marked lane or line of traffic. It will be the same rule number in the individual states adoption of these road rules.

-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 23rd of October 2015 03:40:19 PM

Izabarack · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
Qld drivers do not let them!

Proper Queenslanders are well known to be the best drivers in the whole of Australia. The bad drivers are those who emigrated to Queensland and now whinge about how the place should be more like the place they left. If you don't love it, leave (to coin a phrase).

Iza

WobblyNut · Senior Member

I believe this to be the norm.

Keep LEFT Unless overtaking.

SO When it comes Back to One lane . There Is NO Overtaking lane.

So it IS a "one for one" merge .right gives way to left . As there is No right lane.

If you Don't understand it.

Re-do ya licence

03_Troopy · Guru

PeterD is right on the money as far as merging rules go. Two situations, 1) left hand lane tapers off with a broken line on his right hand side - Left gives way to right, because he has to cross the broken line. 2) Both lanes merge with no tapering lane dividing line at the merge point - The driver further back has to give way to the driver in front, be it in the left or the right hand lane (zipper merge). And sorry Iza, I have to disagree with you about QLD drivers. Most don't have a clue about roundabouts.

dogbox · Guru

WobblyNut wrote:

I believe this to be the norm.
Keep LEFT Unless overtaking.
SO When it comes Back to One lane . There Is NO Overtaking lane.
So it IS a "one for one" merge .right gives way to left . As there is No right lane.
If you Don't understand it.
Re-do ya licence

read rules look at pictures

Izabarack · Guru

03_Troopy wrote:
I have to disagree with you about QLD drivers.

What's a QLD driver? How would you know? I'm interested because I'm about to head off to Victoria, via NSW and experience tells me I will have to be extra careful once I cross the border.

Iza

Wazza999 · Newbie

Dare I mention slip lanes? First encountered in the ACT when we moved here about 20 y ago, Qld didn't have such a thing. Initially I thought I was in Vic before the harmonisation of road rules where vehicles turning right had right of way over those turning left.

Spydermann · Senior Member

Currently in Marochydore (from Vic). Rules here are same but the lane markings and directions are apalling. Approaching roundabouts there are signs for for towns A, B & C. However regularly once at the roundabout one town is missing. Lanes run out without warning. Slip lanes onto freeways are very, very short which means getting up to speed to merge is hard. Indicators seem to mean "I'm lost" rather than "I'm turning". Whole new experience.

Olley46 · Guru

I think the merging rule should be the same in every state, the leading vehicle has wright of way regardless ,only my thought.

Lance C

Spydermann · Senior Member

There a rules, etiquette, and your obligation to avoid an accident. Not everyone observes all 3 and some force the issue on one forgetiing the other 2.

WobblyNut · Senior Member

Thanks Spiderman . Especially th etiquette bit.

And Yes , we have THE Obligation.

In the last 10mths I have driven all over , except WA.

With & without the van . City , urban & rural AND have had No one go off their trolly at me.

In the last 6yrs I have driven in 22 states in USA , likewise , no dramas.

AS I Have done EVERY year since I got my licence in 66 & unrestricted Navy licence in 68.

C class truck licence in 71 , E class in 72 . Unrestricted NSW licence in 76 . Road Train in 90.

Why mention all this . Every year I get the hand-book from RTA as well as HV hand-book.

To keep up with All the changes . I Know if I were to be asked to do a driving test . I WOULD Pass.

Mutt · Veteran Member

in south aus where lanes merge. if there is a dotted line left gives way to right hand lane. if no dotted line (the lanes are called slip lanes in SA.) whoever is in front has right of way. Commonsense says. "give way to the heaviest and fastest moving vehicle"

Cupie · Guru

The situation where there are overtaking lanes makes this a very common issue.

I can't remember having seen the dotted line separating the slow lane from the overtaking lane ever being continued straight until it meets the end of the roadway (case 1).

I thought the overtaking lane situation was always as shown in case 2 with the dotted line ending just before the lanes merge.

Perhaps I need to be more attentive in future to see if indeed I am correct.

Always being the slow lane vehicle I usually merge in front of cars in the overtaking lane except where it is unsafe to do so or the overtaking vehicle is a semi or similar large vehicle already in the act of overtaking.

As a Qld driver who has driven extensively in all states with van behind, I find the drivers are much the same except perhaps at peak hours where drivers are far more courteous. I would have thought that very young females, tradies, and our local Asians are the ones that you must watch.

When pulling the van through Sydney (eg. on the Cumberland Highway heading south) I found that other drivers were very considerate and pulled back to enable me to change lane when getting ready to turn off left or right as the case may be.

I have pulled the van thru Sydney on many occasions & always found it no trouble at all. I get lost in Melbourne though! (without a GPS that is)

Back on topic .. thanks Trevor for the link.

Vince · Senior Member

Yuglamron wrote:
Why oh why do we have two rules for merging?. Especially when people have no idea of the rules.

http://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/road/lanes/index.html

Without them it would be like driving in India.

WobblyNut · Senior Member

I Think where most of the problems are .

You are looking at a picture - the "trailing" vehicle gives way.

we Know a lot of people "speed up" , so not to let us in , van or not.

Most of the time when we merge is in slow traffic & it's "one for one"

BUT when we are entering , say like an on ramp to a freeway , some people do "baulk"

and you get a problem , and nobody will give way to you . As I mentioned earlier.

driving in the States . A lot of the Freeways there are 75mph , that is over 120km an hour,

and most are doing 85 to 90mph & + But There is a Lot of lane etiquette .

Then my obligation is to let you join the motorway .

What I expect of you . If you want to be in front of me . Pick your speed up to the signed limit.

Don't get in front of me , then slow me down . Wait till I go past , then tuck in behind me

PeterD · Guru

Olley46 wrote:
I think the merging rule should be the same in every state, the leading vehicle has wright of way regardless ,only my thought.
Lance C

Lance, they are the same in every state. The states get together with the federal government. They formulate the Australian Road Rules. Then the states put the Oz road rules into their own legislation. Read about it here.

03_Troopy · Guru

Izabarack wrote:
03_Troopy wrote:
I have to disagree with you about QLD drivers.
What's a QLD driver? How would you know? I'm interested because I'm about to head off to Victoria, via NSW and experience tells me I will have to be extra careful once I cross the border.

Iza

I know because I have driven a great deal in Queensland. I lived there for a total of over 15 years at different times, and still often visit family up there. I have also lived in Victoria for about 6 years.

03_Troopy · Guru

Merging made simple.

Long Weekend · Guru

Just to muddy the waters a bit more.

While the little video posted by Troopy does indeed define merging according to with or without road markings I was out driving today and passed several merging lanes. At the end of each left lane there were two signs - a diamond stating 'Left Lane Ends' and below that a oblong one stating 'Merge Right' with an arrow pointing to the right.

The 'Merge Right' seems to be giving a directive to merge right, regardless of what markings are or not are on the road.

I wonder if that has ever been tested in a court of law. "Your honour, the sign said to merge right but the vehicle alongside didn't let me. Therefore, the other driver must be in the wrong as he prevented me from obeying the sign!"

Murray

-- Edited by Long Weekend on Sunday 25th of October 2015 02:05:24 PM

Joe50 · Guru

Come on!! The 'Merge Right' sign doesn't give you carte blanche to just barge across to the right irrespective of what traffic is there or approaching at a speed faster than yours ... you're changing lanes and the same rules apply whether you're on a highway or city street. You should never make a move that causes somebody else to take avoiding action to miss hitting you (apart from an emergency, then everything's in the lap of the gods).

Joe

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Something to consider.

You (and your van) are in the left lane which is ending and requiring you to merge - as the sign says.

There is a fairly constant flow of traffic in the (at the moment) right lane, and there is no break in that traffic to allow you to 'merge into' ... nor is anyone making any effort to allow you to merge (because the "law" is on their side).

The rule states that you (and your van) are to give way to the vehicles in the right lane (that is not ending) rather than the vehicles in the right lane allowing you to merge.

If the traffic in the right lane you need to 'merge into' are not required to give way to you, and (legally) don't make space for your vehicle and van, then you would be required to come to a stop BEFORE your left lane ended and BEFORE you could merge.

Now sitting stationery in the left lane as vehicles overtake you at 100kph, you will need to wait until there is sufficient break in the traffic BEFORE you could safely enter the right lane.

I fail to see how this could ever be considered a safe situation. Vehicle (and your van) stationery, and then need to take off from stationery to reach 100kph fairly quickly to avoid being a danger to yourself and the other road users ... or be lucky enough to have a 500metre gap in the traffic within the right lane.

The "merging rule" is an ass cry

It should be changed.

'Little Law Breaker Me' will ALWAYS slow to allow those in the left lane - FORCED to merge because their lane is ending - enter in front of me. I don't stop but I will ALWAYS slow for them. If there are two right lanes plus the 'merge out of' lane, then I safely change to the extreme right lane to allow them to enter without me slowing, and then return to the left lane when safe to do so.

Cheers - despite what any law dictates ... common sense should always be applied cry book me hmm - John

Long Weekend · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
'Little Law Breaker Me' will ALWAYS slow to allow those in the left lane - FORCED to merge because their lane is ending - enter in front of me. I don't stop but I will ALWAYS slow for them. If there are two right lanes plus the 'merge out of' lane, then I safely change to the extreme right lane to allow them to enter without me slowing, and then return to the left lane when safe to do so.

I do too! I have found that drivers in other states - mainly NSW where I am currently will also drop back to allow vehicles in the left lane to move across (another way of saying 'merge').

The point of my earlier post about Queensland drivers is that none that I found ever slowed down to allow me to merge. Forget about sharing the road - the law is on their side. Hence I was pleased to see the large sign 'Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicles' on an overtaking lane.

Thinks: Will that sign change the legalities regarding marked and unmarked lanes? Consider there is a dotted line between the left and right lanes - the sign says Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicle so does that sign over ride the dotted line marking to allow the vehicle in the left lane to move across in front of the one in the right lane who have been directed not to overtake?

Murray

Cupie · Guru

Long Weekend wrote:
rockylizard wrote:
'Little Law Breaker Me' will ALWAYS slow to allow those in the left lane - FORCED to merge because their lane is ending - enter in front of me. I don't stop but I will ALWAYS slow for them. If there are two right lanes plus the 'merge out of' lane, then I safely change to the extreme right lane to allow them to enter without me slowing, and then return to the left lane when safe to do so.

I do too! I have found that drivers in other states - mainly NSW where I am currently will also drop back to allow vehicles in the left lane to move across (another way of saying 'merge').
The point of my earlier post about Queensland drivers is that none that I found ever slowed down to allow me to merge. Forget about sharing the road - the law is on their side. Hence I was pleased to see the large sign 'Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicles' on an overtaking lane.
Thinks: Will that sign change the legalities regarding marked and unmarked lanes? Consider there is a dotted line between the left and right lanes - the sign says Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicle so does that sign over ride the dotted line marking to allow the vehicle in the left lane to move across in front of the one in the right lane who have been directed not to overtake?
Murray

Sorry Murray .. Can't agree.

I have to drive into the Brisbane CBD around 9am every Tuesday & Wednesday and to do so have to merge into the traffic on the M1 freeway from the Gold Coast & Southern Suburbs.

Invariably the traffic (Qld Drivers) adjust their speed (up or down), or change lanes to allow me to merge.

This is the case not only when the traffic is moving well, close to the speed limit, but also when it is bumper to bumper.

It is normal to let one merging car in for each in the thru lane.

ps .. I just realized that this is a case where the dotted line continues to the LH kerb side (Merge Situation 1), which means that they have right of way.

Long Weekend · Guru

Yes Cupie, I have also found that changing lanes in cities easy - drivers will adjust their speed to allow it.

But the difficulties I mentioned happened on the open road, in particular the Bruce Highway. And I regularly pull over when I come to a safe spot, mostly at slip lanes for left turns otherwise at a clear place alongside the road.

The fact that Queensland Roads found it necessary to put up a large sign 'Do Not Overtake Merging Vehicle' implies that there is indeed a problem with driver attitudes on overtaking lanes.

Yesterday I came across another sign on the Barton Highway heading into Canberra. Under the diamond 'Left Lane Ends' the sign simply said 'Change Lanes.'

Personally, I believe that the 'Left Lane Ends' sign should be enough, right of way would then be determined by the line markings on or absence of them on the road.

Murray

Cupie · Guru

Yes Murray you could well be right.

We rarely have troubles in any of the major cities, but with overtaking lane merge situations it is common to have some fool try to overtake at the last minute. Perhaps they get 'caravan fever' & don't want to get stuck behind a van until the next overtaking lane. My Qld driving habits come to the fore here & I maintain my line & speed, unless there is oncoming traffic (& give them the finger).

I too use every opportunity to allow following traffic to pass.