Turning and Indicating Rules in Australia

Photo: Calistemon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Turning and indicating rules are almost the same across Australia because every state uses the Australian Road Rules: indicate long enough to warn others, and for at least 5 seconds when pulling out from the kerb. Turn left from the left, turn right from near the centre, and give way to pedestrians in the road you enter. The big exception is U-turns at traffic lights, which only Victoria allows without a sign. This guide pulls the turning, indicating, U-turn and three-point-turn rules from all eight state and territory handbooks.

Key facts

Indicate before every turn, lane change, merge, U-turn, and every time you pull out from or into the kerb.
From a parked position, indicate for at least 5 seconds before moving off.
Turn the indicator off as soon as you finish.
U-turns at traffic lights: banned unless there is a U-turn Permitted sign in NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, the ACT and the NT. In Victoria they are allowed unless there is a No U-turn sign.
While waiting to turn right, keep your front wheels pointing straight ahead.

When must you indicate?

The NSW Road User Handbook’s list matches the other handbooks. You must indicate before you:

turn left or right, including from a lane with a turn arrow (Tasmania stresses this)
change lanes, merge, or move left or right
overtake
make a U-turn or three-point turn
pull out from the side of the road, or pull over to stop or park
turn at a roundabout, and when leaving one if practical
go straight ahead at a T-intersection where the continuing road curves.

How long should you indicate?

Long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians. That is the legal test in every state.
At least 5 seconds when you move off from the side of the road or a median strip parking area. This is stated in the NSW, WA and Tasmanian handbooks and in the Victorian road rules.
On fast roads, start well ahead. WA’s Drive Safe says that on high-speed roads, sufficient warning may mean indicating for several hundred metres.

An indicator does not give you right of way. The NT handbook says so plainly: other road users do not have to give way just because you signalled. Do not leave an indicator on after a turn, because it can mislead others.

Hand signals

You only need hand signals if your indicators or brake lights are not working or not fitted.

State	When a hand signal is required
NSW, NT	Turning right or stopping, when indicators are not working, not clearly visible or not fitted
WA	Must signal slowing down, stopping and turning left by hand if the car has no stop lights or indicators; should signal by hand when turning right or overtaking
Others	Same principle: an arm signal replaces faulty indicators. In Tasmania, a car with faulty indicators or brake lights is unroadworthy

Right turn: extend your right arm straight out. Stopping: extend your right arm and bend it up at the elbow (NSW and NT handbooks).

How to turn left

Indicate left and move close to the left side of the road.
On a multi-lane road, turn from the left lane, or from any lane with a left arrow.
Use the slip lane if there is one.
Give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into. WA also says to give way to bicycle riders if you cross a bicycle lane or the road shoulder.
Keep to the left side of the new road.

How to turn right

Indicate right.
Two-way road: move as close as you can to the dividing line, or just left of the centre if there is no line. One-way road: turn from the right side.
On a multi-lane road, turn from the right lane, or from any lane with a right arrow.
Wait with your wheels straight. If you are hit from behind, you will not be pushed into oncoming traffic (NSW and WA).
Give way to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the road you are entering.
Do not cut the corner. Turn to the right of the centre of the intersection.

In Melbourne’s CBD some intersections need a hook turn instead: see how to do a hook turn in Melbourne.

Multi-lane turns and turn lines

Move into the correct lane early. Do not change lanes at the last moment or partway through the turn.
If there are turn lines painted through the intersection, follow them.
If there are no lines, stay in the same lane as you turn (NSW). Tasmania says you may choose the lane you turn into if it is safe.
If your lane has an arrow, you must go in that direction.
Large vehicles can block your view. Turn only when you can see clearly, and never put your car in the path of a long vehicle that is turning.

U-turn rules by state

State	U-turn at traffic lights
VIC	Allowed unless a No U-turn sign is shown. A U-turn Permitted sign is needed at children’s, pedestrian and level crossings
NSW, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, NT	Banned unless a U-turn Permitted sign is shown

The other U-turn rules are shared everywhere:

No U-turn where a No U-turn sign applies.
No U-turn across a single continuous dividing line, double continuous lines, or a continuous line on your side of a broken line.
A No Right Turn sign also bans U-turns, unless a U-turn Permitted sign is shown (NSW and VIC handbooks).
No U-turn on a freeway (NSW and WA handbooks) or on a one-way road (SA).
Only begin the turn if you have a clear view of approaching traffic and will not obstruct it.
Give way to all vehicles and pedestrians. Drivers coming out of a car park or driveway must give way to you (SA handbook, VIC rules).
Start from the lane nearest the dividing line or median, or left of centre if there are no lane markings.

The Victorian details are in U-turns in Victoria.

Three-point turns

Use a three-point turn when the road is too narrow for a U-turn. The steps in the Victorian handbook:

Signal left and stop at the kerb.
Signal right, then look both ways before you start.
Drive across to the opposite kerb.
Look both ways again, then reverse while looking in the direction you are moving.
Drive forward on the correct side of the road once it is clear.

The same U-turn bans apply. The NSW and NT handbooks note that on a busy road it is often safer to drive around the block.

Common questions

How long do you have to indicate before turning in Australia?

Long enough to warn others, with no fixed number of seconds for a turn. The fixed minimum is 5 seconds, and it applies when you pull out from the kerb or a parked position.

Do I indicate if my lane only turns one way?

Yes. Tasmania and the NT say you must signal even in a turn-only lane.

Can I U-turn at traffic lights?

In Victoria, yes, unless a sign says no. Everywhere else, only where a U-turn Permitted sign is shown.

Why keep my wheels straight while waiting to turn right?

If a car hits you from behind, straight wheels stop you being pushed into oncoming traffic.

Can I cross a double white line to turn right into a driveway?

Yes. You may cross any dividing line to enter or leave a road, for example into a driveway or car park (NSW handbook). You may not cross it to make a U-turn.

Do I indicate when leaving a roundabout?

Yes, indicate left when leaving if it is practical. See roundabout rules in Australia.

Related guides

Sources

Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Turning left and right, U-turns and three-point turns, Indicating (nsw.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook, Making turns (transport.vic.gov.au)
Victorian Government, “Road Safety Road Rules 2017, rules 37 to 48” (legislation.vic.gov.au)
Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management, Road Rules) Regulation 2009” (legislation.qld.gov.au)
Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe” handbook, 3.11 Indicators and hand signals, 3.14 Turning (transport.wa.gov.au)
Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook”, U-turns (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
Department of State Growth, “Tasmanian Road Rules” handbook, 8 Making turns, 9 Indicators (transport.tas.gov.au)
Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook”, U-turns (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Signalling, Turning, U-turns (nt.gov.au)

Turning and Indicating Rules in Australia: Turns and U-Turns