Photo: Calvin Avancena, Pexels
A hook turn is how you turn right at some Melbourne intersections: you move to the far left of the intersection, wait there until the lights for the road you are entering turn green, then turn right. You must do it wherever there are traffic lights and a Hook Turn sign. This step-by-step guide follows the Road to Solo Driving handbook, so learners and visitors to Victoria can do one confidently.
Key facts
- Required at intersections with traffic lights and a Hook Turn sign.
- Hook Turn signs are found at some intersections in central Melbourne and South Melbourne.
- You start from the left lane, not the right, and indicate right throughout.
- Bicycle riders may hook turn at any intersection unless a No hook turn by bicycles sign says otherwise.
How to do a hook turn, step by step
- Approach in the left lane. Signal right, and approach and enter the intersection from as near as possible to the left.
- Move forward to the far side. Drive forward, keeping clear of any marked foot crossing, until your car is as near as possible to the far side of the road you are turning into.
- Wait. Stay in that position, still indicating right, until the traffic lights on the road you are entering change to green. Your own lights turning yellow or red does not mean you should go.
- Turn right and go. When the lights for the road you are entering turn green, turn right into that road and continue straight ahead.
The hook turn as a picture in words
| Moment | Where your car is | What you watch |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Left lane, indicator on right | The Hook Turn sign, trams, cyclists and pedestrians |
| Enter | Moving straight through, staying left | The foot crossing on the far side (keep clear of it) |
| Wait | Far left corner of the intersection, near the far side of the road you are entering | The traffic lights for the cross street, not your own lights |
| Turn | Turning right into the cross street | Pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into |
Where are the hook turns in Melbourne?
The handbook says Hook Turn signs are at some intersections in central Melbourne and South Melbourne. The signs may be at the side of the road or hung from overhead wires, so look up as well as to the side. The rule applies only where the sign is displayed with traffic lights. If there is no sign, follow the normal right turn rules and any lane arrows. The handbook does not list individual hook turn intersections, so watch for the signs whenever you drive in the CBD.
Common hook turn mistakes
- Going from the right lane. At a hook turn intersection you must be in the left lane.
- Stopping in the foot crossing. Move far enough forward to stay clear of it.
- Going on your own red light. Your trigger is the cross street’s lights turning green.
- Missing the sign. Overhead signs on tram wires are easy to miss if you only scan the kerb.
- Forgetting pedestrians. When you turn, you must give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering.
Hook turns by bicycle riders
Bicycle riders may make a hook turn at any intersection, not just at hook turn intersections, unless there is a No hook turn by bicycles sign. Expect cyclists waiting at the far left of intersections all over Victoria, and give them room. See minimum passing distance for cyclists.
Long vehicles turning
Trucks and other vehicles over 7.5 metres long that display a Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle sign may use more than one lane to turn. Do not overtake them while they are turning. See sharing the road with trucks and buses.
Common questions
Do I have to do a hook turn in Melbourne?
Yes, if you are turning right at an intersection with traffic lights and a Hook Turn sign. It is the law, not an option.
When do I go during a hook turn?
When the traffic lights on the road you are turning into change to green.
Do I indicate left or right for a hook turn?
Right, even though you start in the left lane.
Can a hook turn be in my drive test?
Your test route depends on the test centre, but you must know and follow every road rule on the route. Practise hook turns in the city with your supervisor before your VicRoads drive test.
Are there hook turns outside Melbourne?
The handbook only mentions Hook Turn signs in central Melbourne and South Melbourne. Cyclists, though, may hook turn at any intersection unless a sign says no.
What if the light turns red while I am waiting?
That is expected. Stay where you are and go when the cross street’s lights turn green.
More Melbourne skills: driving with trams in Victoria and traffic light rules in Australia. Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Victoria.
Sources
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook, Turning: Hook turns (edge.sitecorecloud.io, transport.vic.gov.au)
