Giving way

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain what 'give way' means in law.
• You can apply give way rules at signs, uncontrolled intersections and T-intersections.
• You can give way to pedestrians when turning.
• You can give way correctly when entering or leaving driveways and car parks.

What you need to know and understand

• To give way means: if the other vehicle or pedestrian is stopped, stay stopped until it is safe; otherwise, slow down and stop if needed to avoid a collision.
• At a Stop sign you must stop, then give way. At a Give Way sign you slow down and stop only if needed.
• At an intersection with no signs, signals or lines that is not a T-intersection, give way to vehicles on your right.
• When turning at an intersection, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into.
• When entering a road from a driveway or car park, give way to all vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians on the road and footpath.
• Always give way to police and emergency vehicles using a siren or flashing red or blue lights.

Signs and lines

Facing a Stop or Give Way sign or line, you must give way to vehicles coming from any other direction, with three exceptions: an oncoming vehicle turning right that also faces a Stop or Give Way sign while you go straight, a vehicle turning left using a slip lane, and a vehicle making a U-turn. Pedestrians crossing the road you enter also have priority.

Common give way situations

• Turning right: give way to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left, except those turning left from a slip lane.
• Turning left from a slip lane: give way to pedestrians and bicycles on it and to vehicles approaching from your right, including oncoming vehicles that turned right.
• T-intersection: on the terminating road, give way to all vehicles on the continuing road and to pedestrians crossing it.
• Leaving a parking space: give way to all traffic and signal for at least 5 seconds.
• U-turn: give way to all vehicles and pedestrians.
• Merging where lines of traffic join with no lane marked: give way to a vehicle that is ahead of you (the zip merge).
• Roundabout: give way to vehicles already in the roundabout.
• Buses: in a built-up area, give way to a bus with a give way to buses sign that is signalling to pull out from the kerb.

Pedestrians

At a pedestrian crossing, give way to any pedestrian or bicycle rider on or entering it. At a children's crossing with flags, you must stop and stay stopped while anyone is on or entering the crossing. Even where you have priority, drive with care: a pedestrian stepping out is still a hazard you must avoid.

Common mistakes

• Treating a Stop sign like a Give Way sign. You must come to a complete stop.
• Forgetting pedestrians when turning into a side street.
• Assuming you have priority because you are signalling.
• Waving other drivers through instead of following the rules, which can confuse everyone.

Test yourself: Giving way

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Give Way Rules in Australia
• Roundabout Rules in Australia