Hi all!
Would love your help clarifying this road rule for me - see link below for the situation:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uL_vWc2O95AVSMLzhDZxtRwmz49…
The green car in the bottom left of the picture is on Tram Road in the inner right lane turning onto Doncaster Road.
Which lane is it allowed to be on when it turns on to Doncaster Road?
Conversely, the white car next to it on the left.
Which lane is it allowed to be on when it turns on to Doncaster Road?
Thanks!
Because most cars in the white position want to eventually turn left into Westfield so migrate to left. This tends to leave middle free so green tends to feel it has two options.
However, as there is a temporary lane closure on Doncaster Rd to the east of the intersection, many white cars turn into the middle lane on Doncaster Rd, which they have priority over, and catches out many green cars.
Yeah you're right - it's only when the lane closure started that I've noticed it more often.
There is a solid line from the green cars turning lane to the far right lane on Doncaster Road
It MUST turn into the right lane
The white car can use Middle or far left lane (its solid white lane ends mid way to Doncaster road)
The solid line is only on the right of the car, ideally it should also be on the left of the car because I’d bet that would confuse people and make them think they’d be allowed to move to the left lane from the rightmost lane.
That's what I would assume but in NSW they'd have a line to their left making it more obvious they needed to remain in that lane. It'd still get ignored but IMO is clearer. The way that's marked (which I assume is normal for VIC, I don't recall been a while since I drove there) is more ambiguous.
I don’t think this is normal for Vic as I haven’t really noticed any other places with markings like this.
I don’t know why the lines are solid it’s pretty stupid design IMO. If you look this place up on Google maps and scroll to the right to the next two intersections the lines are clearer.
Whoever painted the lines here did a half arse job, but maybe they thought it’d look “messy” if there were lines going everywhere?
Why is this even a question?
This is drivers licence 101.
OP please re-read leaners permit book again for everyone's benefit.
What’s the pass mark/percentage for learners nowadays? This might be one that was either not asked or got wrong…
Agreed BUT maybe because there's a LOT of cars shifting lanes while turning right others are getting confused? I did my license 30+ years ago now and we were told to stay in the right lane then check for traffic/indicate before changing lanes if necessary.
But I swear when I go for a drive now, I see 80% or more of cars turning right into the LEFT lane of a double laned road. Makes me wonder whether the rule has changed myself. I know it did for roundabouts in that time.
If there are no line markings, you can turn into any lane.
With 2 young adult drivers they were encouraged to go across to the left lane as a technique by professional in instructors. (Unless road markings indicate like op)
There you go - so it has changed. I read the handbook to confirm also. I've always just turned into the rightmost lane but understand it's now legal to turn into either. The diagram does seem to indicate that if there are TWO turning lanes you remain in the turning lane you're in throughout the intersection without changing lanes (left to left, right to right), but it's not backed up by the written blurb.
I think initially having cars stay in the right lane allowed opposing traffic to turn into the left lane without having to worry about oncoming turning traffic.
Learn something every day.
I got caught out here too.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/589091
Car in right turn lane on Station St tried to exit into middle lane on Doncaster Rd.
I was in left of right turn lane and exited into middle lane.
Other car driver ended up following me into shops and blasted me saying he could for into the two lanes. I told him he needs to educate himself on the road rule.
Unclear which car OP was in their example
I'm on the left lane but almost saw another accident at this intersection here this morning.
Seems like everyone forgets the rules only at this particular intersection.
Gosh if I got approached like that I'd just call the cops. No time to deal with people like that.
Haven't been in the area for a decade or so but are the drivers in the right lane trying to get into a shoppingtown (or whatever it's called these days) entrance off Doncaster rd and having brain farts??
Nvm - someone raised this below
Maybe. fart
The left lane on Donny Rd merges to the middle lane because of construction up ahead so people in the Tram Rd left lane go to the Donny Rd middle lane to avoid merging seconds after turning.
So if right laners have been going immediately to the middle lane all this time, the problem is amplified now since Tram Rd left laners usually stay left to go to the shopping centre.
Traffic question?
Well, you've come to the right place!!
To be fair on OP, if they think green takes the right lanes all the way through, they are correct.
The issue with this intersection is many green cars jump into the middle lane because often the white car turns into the left lane to drive into Westfield (north east corner).
It's a bad habit that motorists seem to only perform at this intersection based on my observations.
Usually in this sort of situation where two turning lanes turn into three lanes it is best practice for people in the rightmost lane to stay in that lane regardless of road markings.
It is dangerous when people in the rightmost lane change lanes to the middle or left lanes during the turn because a car could be in the middle or left lane. The person in the left lane on the other hand has a choice to turn into the left lane or not because there are only two turning lanes (unless some impatient dick behind them cuts them off into the left lane).
The road marking for the rightmost lane is a bit shitty here, the line on the left of the car should extend to dictate to the driver they must not change lanes until after the turn is completed (could be like 20 m down the road or something).
On mobile so forgot I was replying to you, this was meant more as a general reply…
Common sense says the green car should turn into the right lane of Doncaster Road. Anything else and they'll likely sideswipe the car in the left turning lane.
If they need to be in the left or middle lane, then they should change lanes after the turn, not during.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uL_vWc2O95AVSMLzhDZxtRwmz49…
Damn that's some crappy parking in the car park bottom right of pic
Coming from the country to these multiple lane situations with limited line markings can be really confusing. I remember when I used to visit Hobart there was one intersection where I felt I clearly stayed in my lane when turning right but I was in fact shifting a lane unbeknownst to me. It often caused someone to beep at me! Clear line markings are really important in these situations!! Then add road works to the mix…. I think locals tend to be patient on these intersections and all need to take care and expect people to accidentally drift a lane…. Also, I don't feel like I am negligent or , inexperienced, have ample road experience in my 55 yrs including truck and taxi driving so I'm certainly not the least educated driver,… Though I don't think my license needs to be taken off me yet, I'm glad I'm not driving for a living anymore!!!
I'd normally say:
-Green car has to enter Doncaster Rd only on the right lane.
-White car can enter Doncaster Rd either the middle or left lane.
But I see a lot of times the green car turns straight into the middle lane.
Losing my sanity - not sure what's right/wrong anymore.
Is it the lack of line markings that's causing the problem?