Q: |
When two lanes turn right into three or more lanes are vehicles required to turn into the same lane, counting from the right, ie. rightmost lane turns into rightmost lane, etc? If so, why doesn’t the RTA use the dotted guidance lines on the road to show this in all cases, rather than just some? Without the guidance lines, I estimate at least 50% of drivers turn into the lane based on the assumption that you count from the left, not the right. |
A: |
 The Road User’s Handbook states: “When you turn, stay in the same lane as you move from one road to the other.” For example, in the diagram (right), car A in the rightmost lane turns into the rightmost lane, while car B sticks to the lane to car A’s immediate left. Often laziness, sloppy driving practices and ignorance of the rules are the cause of drivers turning into incorrect lanes. The RTA does not paint guidance lines everywhere because it is not only a very costly exercise, but the paint becomes slippery in wet weather and, as such, is potentially dangerous to cyclists and motorcyclists. |
Q: |
Can you explain the correct use of indicators? My understanding is that you must use them to let others know when you plan to turn left or right, or change lanes, and that you must give plenty of warning. However, in my experience it seems many drivers consider a one or two second warning quite sufficient, and then there are drivers who give no warning at all – they indicate their intentions after they come to a stop. |
A: |
The Australian Road Rules (Rule 46) states: “The driver must give the change of direction signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians.” The term ‘sufficient’ is open to interpretation. NRMA suggests that ‘sufficient’ warning should be a minimum of five seconds wherever practical. There will be circumstances where five seconds is too long and potentially dangerous and/or confusing, ie. indicating to turn down a street but passing another street on the way to the one you intend to turn into. Commonsense would then prevail and indication time would be less. |
Q: |
Today I was at traffic lights and they would not turn green. A friend later told me that I should have stopped my car on the traffic light sensor (white line) so that the lights would change. What are sensor pads and how do they work? Why has the RTA implemented them? How common are they? If you don’t activate the sensor pads will the lights stay red? How can drivers cooperate with the system in order to improve safety and alleviate traffic congestion? |
A: |
A wire loop buried in the roadway triggers traffic lights. A signal is induced in the loop when a large metal object – a car, motorbike or heavy vehicle – moves across it. The loop is generally one to two metres back from the white line so motorists don’t have to cross the line to trigger the signal. Most traffic lights in Sydney are connected into SCATS, the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System, which alters the time phasing of lights depending on demand. The longest phase is 180 seconds (three minutes) but most phases are shorter than 150 seconds (two and a half minutes). If a light is not changing when a vehicle is waiting, the vehicle may be too far back to trigger the loop, or the loop may be faulty. You can report suspected faulty signals to the RTA. Call 13 17 00. |
Fax: (02) 8222 2176
Email:open.road@mynrma.com.au
Mail: Helpdesk Editor
The Open Road
Level 23, 388 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Letters may be edited for length or clarity and cannot be answered personally.
Meet our experts: Col ChambersRunning NRMA’s Motoring & Technical Library is a dream come true for Col, a 37-year veteran of the automotive industry and all-round car nut.
I answer general phone enquiries, provide technical advice, do research, as well as offer face-to-face assistance to our Members.
Everything – technical and manufacturers’ manuals for vehicles; information on design rules and vehicle statistics; general books on motoring and the motoring industry; biographies; motoring and general business magazines; and images of both older and late model cars. The Library has been around for 40 years so we even have manuals on the Model T-Ford from the early 1920s and the first editions of Open Road [of course – Ed].
A movie producer, who was filming a movie set in the 1950s, asked us to work out how long a certain route would take if you drove it in the 50s. He wanted to make sure they got the timing of the journey in that scene correct.
A 1974 Jaguar XJ6 Series 2 with a 350 Chev V8. It uses LPG which makes it cheaper to run.
I like the variety and that at the end of the day you’ve helped people. A librarian couldn’t do this job, you need to have the inherent motoring knowledge. If someone says “my wheel goes ‘wonka wonka’,” I know exactly where to look for books on wheels that go ‘wonka wonka’.
NRMA Motoring & Technical Library is at 9 George St, North Strathfield. Open 8am–5pm, Mon–Fri (except public holidays). Call 8741 6546.
