The most misunderstood road rules in Victoria

Roundabouts

What you’re doing wrong

Only giving way on the right and not indicating.

What’s the rule?

Give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout, as well as any trams entering or approaching the roundabout. In most cases, those vehicles already in the roundabout will be on your right. However, in some cases, such as smaller roundabouts, vehicles that have entered to the left or on the opposite side of the roundabout may mean you cannot safely enter and have to give way, as they are already in the roundabout. You also should indicate as you leave the roundabout, if practical. On multi-lane roundabouts, cyclists in the far left-lane of the roundabout need to give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout. Finally, pedestrians should give way to vehicles at a roundabout, unless there is a pedestrian crossing.

Indicating at a roundabout

Before entering, indicate as you normally would – left to turn left, right to turn right, no indicator if you’re going straight. When you exit the roundabout, indicate left if practicable. If you’re leaving the roundabout more than halfway around, indicate right. Halfway around is defined as leaving on a road that is substantially straight head from the road you entered on.

Is overtaking allowed in a roundabout?

It’s allowed, but only when line marking permits it and it’s safe to do so. Remember to indicate as you normally would and allow enough distance to avoid collision or obstruction to other vehicles.

Giving way

What you’re doing wrong

Arriving at an intersection at the same time as an oncoming car and not knowing who has to give way.

What’s the rule?

You should always obey stop or give way signs or lines at intersections. In addition to that, vehicles turning right must give way. This applies even if you both have ‘give way’ or ‘stop’ signs – the car turning left at a give way sign has priority over the car turning right.

Giving way to an emergency vehicle

Sometimes it can be difficult to hear alarms from a distance, so it’s important to keep an eye on your mirrors and know what’s happening around you. You will need to slow down to 40km/h when driving past stationary or slow-moving emergency or enforcement vehicles with flashing red, blue or magenta lights, or if they are sounding an alarm.

If you’re in the path of an emergency vehicle displaying flashing red or blue lights or sounding an alarm move out of its path as soon as you can do so safely. If you’re stopped, remain stationary until it's safe to proceed. This rule applies despite any other rule that would otherwise require a driver of a police or emergency vehicle to give way to you. 

Turning onto a multi-lane road

What you’re doing wrong

Leaving your lane.

What’s the rule?

When turning onto a multi-lane road you must follow any line markings indicating how the turn is to be made. If there are no line markings, you can turn into any lane, however, it’s usually safest to stay in the same lane and change lanes once you’ve made the turn.

Merging

What you’re doing wrong

Not giving way when you’re supposed to.

What’s the rule?

There are two different rules depending on the line markings, but drivers should show courtesy regardless of the lines on the road. A ‘zip-merge’ occurs when two lanes of traffic join and there’s no dashed line in between. Here, the vehicle in front would go first, regardless of whether they’re on the left or right. Where the vehicles cross a dashed line, like on a freeway entry ramp, the vehicle crossing the line must give way to cars already in the lane.

E-scooters

Since the e-scooter shared-scheme (hire) trial was launched in Victoria in 2022, more than 3.9 million rides have been recorded. The success of the e-scooter trial has seen it extended until 6 October 2024.

Previously, only commercially operated e-scooters were permitted to operate in the City of Melbourne, City of Yarra, City of Port Phillip and the regional City of Ballarat, but since 5 April 2023 both private and commercial hire e-scooters (with local council permission) have been permitted to be used in public areas across Victoria.

Private e-scooters can be legally bought, sold and ridden in Victoria, but they are governed by the same rules as the e-scooter share-scheme trial. Previously riders had to be aged 18 years or over, but this has been changed to 16 years and over.

What you’re doing wrong

• exceeding the maximum speed of 20km/h
• riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• riding an e-scooter without a helmet.

What’s the rule?

Speed limit for e-scooters

E-scooters riders must not exceed 20km/h, either on the road or shared-use path. E-scooters that are capable of more than 25km/h are illegal - these are considered unregistered vehicles and penalities apply.

Alcohol limits for e-scooters

The same rules that apply to drivers apply to e-scooter riders in Victoria. You cannot ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All riders must have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) below the legal limit, which is 0.05 for riders with a full driver licence, and 0.00 for riders on Ls, Ps, or underage. Penalities include losing your car licence, heavy fines, an alcohol interlock, and referral to a behaviour change program. 

Helmet rules for e-scooters

Helmets must be worn at all times while riding an e-scooter. Failure to wear a helmet can result in a fine.

Riding lanes and paths for e-scooters

Private e-scooters and e-scooters that are part of the share scheme can be ridden in bicycle lanes and shared paths, and on roads where the speed limit doesn't exceed 60km/h. E-scooters must not be used on footpaths - fines apply. E-scooter riders must also obey the same road rules that apply to motor vehicles and cyclists such as giving way, obeying traffic lights, signs and speed limits. 

E-scooter rider restrictions

E-scooters are limited to one rider. Fines apply if two or more people share an e-scooter. It's also prohibited for two scooter riders to travel side by side.

You cannot carry an animal on an e-scooter or tether an animal to an e-scooter.

While you may need to use your phone to find an e-scooter, your phone must be put away once your journey begins. Penalities apply if you use a mobile device while operating an e-scooter.

U-turns

What you’re doing wrong

Not knowing when or when not to give way.

What’s the rule?

Drivers making a U-turn must give way to everyone else, including pedestrians, regardless if other vehicles are at a give way or stop sign.

Be careful if driving interstate, however. U-turns are permitted at most intersections in Victoria unless signs indicate otherwise (or you’re crossing an unbroken line, median strip etc). The opposite is true in all other states and territories, meaning at intersections without traffic lights or at breaks in the centre island of the road, you must not do a U-turn if there is a no U-turn sign. You may not make a U-turn at intersections with traffic lights, unless there’s a ‘U-turn permitted’ sign.

Reversing out of driveways 

What you’re doing wrong

Probably nothing. Among the stream of queries and questions RACV receives, every so often someone will write in insisting that it’s illegal to reverse out of a driveway.

What’s the rule?

This one is a bit of an anomaly. Simply stated: it’s not a road rule. Drivers are permitted to reverse out of a driveway. When doing so they must give way to pedestrians, and when vision is impeded drivers are allowed to use their horn to alert pedestrians and other drivers of the position of the vehicle.

Passing a stationary tram 

What you’re doing wrong

Most of us know we must stop when a tram stops, with the car level with the rear of the tram to allow passengers to get on and off safely. But what about if there are no passengers about; is it okay to creep forward alongside the stationary tram?

What’s the rule?

Whether drivers need to stop before passing depends on whether or not the tram is stopped at a safety zone. A safety zone is an area of the road at or near a tram stop with safety zone signs and a traffic island or dividing strip. If a tram is stopped in a safety zone, a driver must drive to the left of the safety zone at a speed that is safe for pedestrians who may be crossing the road.

If the tram is stationed at a tram stop without a safety zone, a driver must always stop before passing the rear of the tram. You cannot pass the tram while the tram doors are open, even if there are no passengers entering or exiting the tram. Once the doors have closed and there are no pedestrians crossing the road, you can drive past the tram at 10km/h or slower. These rules apply to all road users, including cyclists.

A good rule of thumb is to proceed with caution.

More information on road rules

Check out RACV’s short videos of some of our most asked-about road rules.

1. Common road rules for bicycle riders.  

2. The rules for merging.  

3. What to do when U-turning. 

4. The rules for yellow and red traffic lights. 

5. Negotiating roundabouts. 

   These first five videos are also available in Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese.

6. Negotiating hook turns.

7. Driving around trams.

8. Giving way to pedestrians.

9. The rules for angle parking.

10. The rules about blocking an intersection.

National Road Safety Week runs from May 5 to 12, 2024. 

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}