NSW Road Rules - Merging

Micka · Member

NSW Road Rules - Merging

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Some like to be coppers your not using up my space . Or my road .. Yep like no right and rule at roundabout . Yes give way to traffic on roundabout . Cars entering shall be prepared to give way and merge .

Eaglemax · Guru

Same in Victoria and its a good rule. In peak hour crawling traffic one used to give way to the right. You were at the mercy of a good considerate driver in the right hand lane to let you in. In faster traffic where the speeding motorist wants to overtake everyone they have to allow a vehicle ahead of them access to the single lane.

Landfall · Guru

Micka wrote:
Once again I have witness road rage where lanes merge.
It seems a lot of people are not aware of a change in merging lanes road rules that occurred in 2012,NSW. Basically if you are travelling in right lane and another car has any part of their car in front of you in the left they have "right of way" if there is no delineation markings across their lane. It is a very confusing road rule and causes a lot of heart ache in NSW.
Question is this the same ruling in other States?

Yes. It's called the zip merge rule.

No line markings at the end of two lanes becoming one lane means you have a zip merge situation:- leading car has right of way wether it is in the left or right lane. In the case of a continuing broken line on the left of the right hand lane, the left merging lane SHOULD treat this as a give way line. Note I said SHOULD, because cars will continue to barge their way in at speed.

Same goes for roundabouts, the FIRST car to enter the roundabout has right of way, not necessary the car on the right. Just don't try and enforce this yourself.

Cheers

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes . Amassing some out there who THINK they know the road rules !! I merge way before lane ends . Funny thing in motorhome ., You often get someone push the limits passing almost on single lane !! Like large vehicles are slow !! They hurt and can do damage tho !â Funny that ! Then reality sets in !

RustyD · Guru

There is law, self preservation & courtesy.

In the case of a crossing a broken white line (as noted by Landfall), you must also indicate. Several years ago I was told you have to indicate when you cross a white line. This implies that if you are already in a left-hand turn lane only, you actually do not have to indicate. However as a courtesy to other drivers and pedestrians it's often wise to indicate.

Kebbin · Guru

As Landfall said there are two merging rules in NSW ( don't no about other states) the only problem is with long highway merging lanes you don't know which one your on and if you wait it's to late. Would be better for one rule, car in front to have right of way, simple really.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Sort this out BEFORE the lane ends .. simple !!

Dickodownunder · Guru

No need to guess.... Here it is in most situations and worth the watch.

youtu.be/ru27rw7xhnA

Some people may learn from this short presentation.

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 26th of February 2018 02:32:56 PM

ZORDO · Newbie

Same rules apply in QLD

ZORDO · Newbie

Same rules apply in QLD

-- Edited by ZORDO on Monday 26th of February 2018 06:12:58 PM

bobsa · Senior Member

Same in SA

RustyD · Guru

I think we have National road laws these days. Well almost.

It amazes me that in Vic we can do 80 kph thru some little tin-pot town and have to slow down to 80 kph at level crossings. In NSW it's 50kph thru similar little towns and no speed reduction at level crossings.

Travel from Vic to SA and suddenly the speed limit goes from 100 kph to 110 kph with no discernible change in road surface.

Licences are a whole different story and what is registered as what is a total mess. e.g. 6x4 trailers (to register or not to register), 3 wheeled motorcycles (register as car, tri-car or motorcycle) and what licence is needed to ride one (car or motorbike). Parking a motorbike on the footpath also varies from state to state.

Many years ago (20?) several reps from each state sat down to try and rationalise road rules and licensing. The only thing agreed on was that Tas & Vic rolled over to the "turning left" rule. It was a huge joke with NSW dominating and getting the other Eastern States off-side. WA wanted to go their own way and not do whatever the Eastern States (rather NSW) suggested. And even when WA did agree, they went back and did the opposite or didn't implement the agreed change.

Moonraker · Senior Member

WA changed not that long ago to giveway to vehicle that is ahead of you at all merging lanes.
Also giveway to vehicle on your right or already on a roundabout but I would suggest you give way to all as there is many who think they have right of way even if not on the roundabout especially if they are approaching from a major road. We also should keep left on dual carriageways but most dont to the point that people will overtake on the inside left lane. So lane priority seems to be the norm.

Izabarack · Guru

Micka wrote:
It is a very confusing road rule and causes a lot of heart ache in NSW.

What is confusing about it? Pretty simple. Merging is only a problem when other road users ignore the suggestion of the "zip" rule of taking turns to enter the single lane.

Iza

C00P · Senior Member

The concept is simple enough- the confusion arises when the white line is not obvious, either because it is worn and faded, or because the road is wet (especially at night).

C00P

Ge · Senior Member

Those in W.A look at this could also be useful for else where in Australia, by memory " i could be wrong " the national road rules came into being in 2001 or 2003 that over ride all state rule, just as Commonwealth law overrides state. Any way if in W.A look at this short video.

http://www.roadrules.rsc.wa.gov.au/road-rules/merging

https://project.mainroads.wa.gov.au/tcmp/newtoperth/Pages/New-Freeway-and-Highway-Merge-Lines.aspx

Ge

-- Edited by Ge on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:18:31 AM

-- Edited by Ge on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:21:07 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

The drivers who REALLY gets me is the ones who STOP at the end of on ramp on highway. Adjust and use your mirrors !! A little jandel on the accelerator to get up to speed !!

Ge · Senior Member

Agree AK but to answer your signature " what's out there " If your cashed up heaps out there, if your broke stuff all ". smile

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yea checking whatâs out there big time . Not too sure about cashed up ?? Lol . My Mrs May read this ! Ahaha

RustyD · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
The drivers who REALLY gets me is the ones who STOP at the end of on ramp on highway. Adjust and use your mirrors !! A little jandel on the accelerator to get up to speed !!A pet hate of mine to

A pet hate of mine too.

The other is trailing someone who is doing 5 kph less than the limit then when an overtaking lane appears speeds up to the limit (and sometimes even goes to the RH lane), then back to 5 kph under when the lane finishes. I copped a ticket on the Newell about 30 years ago as I had to do 130 kph in the passing lane to pass the "slow" driver.

-- Edited by RustyD on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 04:00:51 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Or the ones who want to pass but not break the speed limit on passing lanes . So if you donât want to pass faster ?i assume my speed was fast enough ? You just wanted to pass so your I front ? Often I have to slow down to let passing vehicle pass . Problem is with weight of our rig on hills you loose momentum., It plays havoc pulling up the hill where most passing lanes are .

AlPal · Veteran Member

The Roundabout law in Victoria road Safety Rules 2017, S.R. No.41/2017) provides:- " A driver entering a roundabout must give way to - (a) any vehicle in the roundabout; and (b) a tram that is entering or approaching the roundabout":

What is sometimes over looked is there is a qualifier in the Rule which states -"For this Rule, give way means the driver must slow down and if necessary, stop to avoid a collision" (See definition Section)

So, if a collision is not going to occur - it is what it is. Also around our country there are a number of huge roundabouts and the first vehicle into the roundabout only has to be given away to avoid a collision.

AlPal

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

Biggest problem I find is that those who are entering (merging), do not get up to the posted speed of the through traffic but dawdle onto the highway at about 60-70 KM per hour and eventually creep up to speed.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Common problem here in Grafton going onto the bendy bridge. Some people never learn.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

The difference is when there is a dotted (barred) line across the "merging" lane - cars in the straight through lane are supposed to have right away but most on NQ highways generally let the car coming off the "merge" lane in - eg two cars on an "over taking" section of road.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

This is the problem !! If your waiting to see the line takings at the end of lane ? To work out who gives way . You have little car common sense . Merge BEFORE then end !! Much much safer !! Why wait till your almost onto single lane to merge ??

2-Smiths · Veteran Member

Izabarack wrote:
Micka wrote:
It is a very confusing road rule and causes a lot of heart ache in NSW.

What is confusing about it? Pretty simple. Merging is only a problem when other road users ignore the suggestion of the "zip" rule of taking turns to enter the single lane.
Iza

First post here, but felt that this was worthy of a response...

Merging is - or should be - common sense.

Get your vehicle to the speed of the traffic into which you wish to merge. In other words, if the traffic speed is 90KPH, you should be doing 90KPH. Not 60. Or 70. Look ahead and to the side/behind your vehicle, to ascertain where an appropriate "gap" is. Adjust your vehicle's speed to arrive at that "gap" (indicating nice and early to signal the merge intention). Move into gap. Not hard.

The issues mostly revolve around people with poor driving/planning skills...You know the ones. They'll approach an intersection (with Give Way signage, for example). They'll then stop at the intersection. THEN look to see if there's any approaching traffic. THEN consider merging into the traffic stream. Zero anticipation skills, and zero ability to "read" traffic situations.

Which is, of course, why laws like this need to be patiently explained to our "lowest common denominator".

(Disclaimer: I've been involved in various facets of transport for many years in a previous life, including Certified Driving Instruction).

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Ge wrote:
Those in W.A look at this could also be useful for else where in Australia, by memory " i could be wrong " the national road rules came into being in 2001 or 2003 that over ride all state rule, just as Commonwealth law overrides state. Any way if in W.A look at this short video.
http://www.roadrules.rsc.wa.gov.au/road-rules/merging
https://project.mainroads.wa.gov.au/tcmp/newtoperth/Pages/New-Freeway-and-Highway-Merge-Lines.aspx

Ge

-- Edited by Ge on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:18:31 AM

-- Edited by Ge on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:21:07 AM

Ge as far as I know the national road rules were developed as a model and the states only use them for a guideline in determining which ones they adopt. Personally I wouldn't try and argue with a highway patrol officer that I was obeying the national road rules and not the road rules for the state that I was travelling in. As far as merging the biggest problem I see is at traffic lights where 2 lanes merge into one 100 or so mtrs up the road this usually results in a drag race between the 2 front markers who are determined that they are not going to let the other guy get in front of them.

Cheers

BB

Hylife · Guru

The rules are there so that there can be absolutely NO dispute as to who is right or wrong.
Irrespective of what you or I think is the correct way we should do things, the rules are always very clear so as to avoid ambiguity.

The "Australian Road Rules" (ARR) are regularly updated by the National Transport Commission (NTC) in conjunction with the states and territories governments and many lobby and interest groups.
www.ntc.gov.au/roads/rules-compliance/the-australian-road-rules/

The ARR are not legally binding on the states and territories, however ALL states and territories have adopted them almost in there entirety since 1999.
States and territories are still free to make their own additions and their own local amendments.

The latest ARR can be found here www.pcc.gov.au/uniform/Australian-Road-Rules-19March2018.pdf
and the few local amendments can always be found on the website of your state or territory transport authority.