Photo: Steelkamp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Give way rules in Australia come from the national Australian Road Rules, so they work the same way in every state and territory. This explainer covers stop signs, give way signs, T-intersections, intersections with no signs, and the pedestrian rules that catch out learners in the knowledge test and on the driving test.
Key facts
- At a stop sign or stop line, you must come to a complete stop before the line, as close to it as possible, then give way.
- At a give way sign or line, you slow down and be ready to stop, then give way.
- At a T-intersection, the road that ends gives way to all traffic on the continuing road, unless a sign says otherwise.
- At an intersection with no signs or lights, give way to vehicles on your right. When turning, also give way to any vehicle whose path you cross.
- When turning, you always give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into.
What does “give way” mean?
Giving way means you slow down, and stop if needed, so that you do not make another vehicle or a pedestrian change speed or direction to avoid you. It does not mean you must always stop. If the road is clear, you can continue.
Stop signs and stop lines
- Come to a complete stop before the stop line, as close to it as possible.
- If there is a stop sign but no line, stop as close as possible to the intersection.
- Stay stopped until it is safe to go.
- Give way to vehicles driving in, entering or approaching the intersection.
There are four exceptions where you do not have to give way at a stop sign:
- an oncoming vehicle that is also at a stop sign and is turning right
- an oncoming vehicle at a give way sign that is turning right
- a vehicle turning left using a slip lane
- a vehicle making a U-turn
Rolling through a stop sign without stopping fully is one of the most common ways to fail a driving test. See VicRoads drive test fails for how Victoria scores it.
Give way signs and lines
A give way line is a single broken line. Slow down, prepare to stop, and give way to vehicles driving in, entering or approaching the intersection. The same four exceptions apply as for stop signs.
When two oncoming cars both face give way signs, the car turning right gives way to the car going straight or turning left.
Who gives way at an intersection with no signs?
This is the uncontrolled intersection rule, the most tested give way rule in Australia.
Going straight ahead
Give way to any vehicle approaching from your right.
Turning left
Give way to vehicles on your right, and to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into.
Turning right
Give way to:
- a vehicle approaching from your right
- an oncoming vehicle going straight ahead
- an oncoming vehicle turning left (unless it is in a slip lane)
- pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into
If you and an oncoming car are both turning right, you can turn at the same time and pass in front of each other.
Worked example: a crossroads with no signs
You are going straight across an unmarked crossroads. One car is approaching from your left and another from your right. You give way to the car on your right; the car on your left gives way to you. If the car on your right is turning right across your path, it still has priority over you because it is on your right. Check that the driver on your left has actually slowed before you commit.
How do you give way at a T-intersection?
A T-intersection is where two roads meet and one of them ends. The rule is the same at every T-intersection without signs or lights:
- If you are on the road that ends, you give way to all vehicles on the continuing road, whichever way they are going.
- If you are turning right from the continuing road into the road that ends, give way to oncoming vehicles on the continuing road that are going straight ahead or turning left.
- If the continuing road goes around a corner, the same rule applies. A car leaving the continuing road gives way to oncoming traffic on the continuing road.
Victoria’s Road to Solo Driving notes that T-intersections do not always form a neat “T”. Decide which road ends, and the rest follows.
Worked example
You are at the end of a side street that meets a through road. A car on the through road is turning right into your street, and a car on your right is going straight. You give way to both, because you are on the road that ends. The car turning into your street must give way to oncoming through traffic, but not to you.
Giving way to pedestrians
- When turning left or right at any intersection, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into. This applies even when the pedestrian signal is flashing red.
- Give way to pedestrians in a slip lane.
- Give way to pedestrians on pedestrian (zebra) crossings and children’s crossings. See pedestrian, school and wombat crossings in Australia.
- In a shared zone, give way to any pedestrian.
Slip lanes
A slip lane is a left-turn lane separated from the other lanes by an island. In a slip lane:
- give way to pedestrians crossing the slip lane
- give way to traffic on the road you are entering
- follow the sign or line at the end of the slip lane
Keep intersections clear
Do not enter an intersection unless there is space for your vehicle on the other side. This covers intersections with lights, railway level crossings and pedestrian crossings. Never stop in a marked Keep Clear area.
Other give way situations
- Driveways, car parks and the kerb: when entering traffic from a car park or driveway, give way to traffic in the lane you are entering or crossing, and to pedestrians. When pulling out from the side of the road, give way to traffic in the lane you are entering and indicate for at least 5 seconds (Tasmanian Road Rules).
- Emergency vehicles: give way to any emergency vehicle with a siren or flashing red or blue lights, even if you have a green light. See emergency vehicles and slow down rules.
- Buses in built-up areas: give way to a bus displaying a Give Way to Bus sign that is signalling to pull out from the kerb (Victoria’s handbook explains this rule).
- Horses and livestock: Tasmania’s handbook says all road users must give way to agitated or alarmed horses and livestock.
- Merging: when lines end and two lanes merge, with no road markings, you give way to the vehicle that is ahead of you (zipper merge). See overtaking, merging and changing lanes.
When the traffic lights are out or flashing yellow
- Victoria and Tasmania: give way as at any uncontrolled intersection.
- Western Australia: Drive Safe says to treat it as if you face a give way sign.
- New South Wales: if there is a stop sign with three black dots at the lights, follow the stop sign rules.
See traffic lights and arrows in Australia.
Common questions
Do I give way to the right in Australia?
At an intersection with no signs, lights or roundabout, yes: give way to vehicles approaching from your right. When turning, also give way to any vehicle whose path you cross. Signs, lines and T-intersection rules override the give way to the right rule.
Does a car turning right have to give way to a car turning left?
Yes, when they are oncoming at an intersection without signs, or when both face the same type of sign. The right-turning car gives way to the oncoming car going straight or turning left.
Who goes first when two cars are both turning right from opposite directions?
Neither has to wait. Both cars can turn at the same time and pass in front of each other.
Does the first car to arrive go first?
No. Australia has no first-to-arrive rule. Priority comes from the signs, lines and the T-intersection or give way to the right rules, so work out which rule applies before you move.
Do I have to stop at a give way sign?
Only if you need to. Slow down and be ready to stop. If there is no traffic or pedestrian to give way to, you can continue without stopping. At a stop sign you must always stop completely.
Do I give way to pedestrians when turning at traffic lights?
Yes. You must give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into, even when their signal is flashing red.
Are give way rules different in each state?
The core rules are national. Differences are mostly local signs, plus how each state describes flashing yellow lights. Your own state’s handbook is the version your knowledge test uses. See the Australian Road Rules explained.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” (nsw.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules, Version 2.1” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “NT Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)