| Audience |
Message |
| Pedestrians - red signal |
- When approaching traffic lights, you must stay on the footpath if the pedestrian signal is flashing red
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| Bicycle riders |
- Bicycle riders are generally required to follow the same road rules as drivers, but have additional rules they must follow. This includes a bicycle rider must wear an approved bicycle helmet that is securely fitted and fastened on the rider’s head.
- Children under 16 years of age are allowed to ride on a footpath unless there is a NO BICYCLES sign. An adult rider who is supervising a bicycle rider under 16 years of age may also ride on the footpath. Children aged 16 or 17 years of age can also ride on the footpath when accompanied by a child under 16 and a supervising adult. Adults may also ride on footpaths when carrying a child under 10 as a passenger.
- When riding on a footpath, riders must keep left and give way to pedestrians. (roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/bicycle-riders/laws)
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| E-scooters |
- Personal e-scooters are illegal for use in NSW on roads, footpaths, shared paths or bicycle lanes. You can only ride them on private property.
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| Drivers giving way to pedestrians |
- You must give way to any pedestrian who is crossing the road that you are about to turn to enter, at intersections both with and without traffic lights.
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| Drivers overtaking other vehicles |
A driver can only overtake a vehicle if —
- the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic,
- the lane marking allow, and
- the driver stays within the speed limit and can safely overtake the vehicle.
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| Do not overtake turning heavy vehicles |
- Heavy vehicles may need to take up more than one lane when turning at intersections and roundabouts. Drivers need to give heavy vehicles enough room to turn.
- A driver must stay behind a vehicle displaying a ‘do not overtake turning vehicle’ sign if the vehicle is turning and is giving a change of direction signal. Drivers should wait until the vehicle has completed the turn before overtaking or passing them.
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| Giving way at intersections with give way signs |
- When you're at or approaching a 'Give way' sign or 'Give way' line at an intersection, you must give way to vehicles driving in, entering or approaching the intersection, except for:
- An oncoming vehicle that's also at a 'Give way' sign or line and is turning right
- An oncoming vehicle that's at a 'Stop' sign or line and is turning right
- A vehicle turning left using a slip lane
- A vehicle making a U-turn.
- When you're turning left or right at a 'Give way' sign or line, you must also give way to pedestrians crossing the road that you're turning into.
- Examples of scenarios (different road users and signs) and advice around giving way
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| Giving way at roundabouts |
- When approaching or entering a roundabout you must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.
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| Safe following distance |
- Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front is essential for safe driving.
- You must keep enough distance between you and the vehicle travelling in front so you can, if necessary, stop safely to avoid colliding with the vehicle.
- In good driving conditions, you need a minimum of 3-second crash avoidance space (often called the 3-second gap) to react and respond to a situation safely and avoid a crash. You should increase your crash avoidance space to 4 or more seconds when driving in poor conditions, such as on unsealed (dirt or gravel), icy or wet roads, or at night. Heavy vehicles also need to leave additional space.
- When travelling on roads with a higher speed limit such as freeways and motorways, increase the distance to allow at least 5 seconds so you have enough time to react and break.
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| Indicating |
You must indicate before you:
- turn right or left
- move to the right or left
- make a U-turn or three-point turn
- change lanes, including when overtaking
- merge with another lane
- pull over to stop or park
- pull out from the side of the road
- turn right or left at a roundabout
- go straight ahead at a T-intersection where the continuing road curves to the right or left
- leave a roundabout, if practical.
Make sure your indicator is turned off after each turn or lane change.
Before pulling out from the side of the road or a parking area, you must indicate for at least 5 seconds.
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| Mobile phone use |
- Know the rules for using your mobile phone.
- There are only two ways a fully licensed driver can use a mobile phone while driving:
- Hands free (without touching the phone) for example via Bluetooth or Car Play
- To make or receive voice calls
- To perform an audio playing function, for example music and podcasts
- With the phone in a commercially designed and manufactured mounting affixed to the vehicle:
- To make of receive voice calls
- To perform an audio playing function
- For use as a driver’s aid for example, navigation or dispatch systems.
- Novice drivers (learner, P1 and P2) are not permitted to use mobile phones at all while driving
Both novice and fully licensed drivers may display their Digital Driver Licence on their mobile phone in response to a request to do so by a Police Officer, use wallet functions (make a transaction, show a coupon or voucher, or to access an area) if they are stationary and the vehicle is not on the road (for example in a car park or driveway or drive-thru), use the phone if they are stationary and legally parked.
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| Motorcyclists |
- Only motorcyclists on their full licence may lane filter.
- Motorcycles can only lane filter when travelling at less than 30 km/h.
- Motorcyclists can lane filter through stationary and slow moving traffic.
- It is illegal for motorcyclists to lane filter:
- Next to the kerb
- Next to parked vehicles
- In school zones
- Between lanes with a solid dividing line
- The motorcycle lane filtering laws do not apply to bicycle riders.
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| NSW road users - generic key messaging |
Explore the Road Safety Learning Lab, an Australia-first interactive website for all road users, designed to challenge what you think you know about road safety.
Features
- Simulations based on real crash tests from Transport’s world-class facilities, Crashlab and Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre
- Powerful personal stories from people affected by road trauma
- How-to videos
- Quizzes to test and challenge knowledge
No matter how you travel, whether you walk, ride or drive, you’re new to the road, experienced or are teaching someone, learn how to make every journey safer at nsw.gov.au/roadsafetylearninglab.
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