NSW Roundabouts- If practical, you must always signal left when exiting

If practical, you must always signal left when exiting a roundabout.

Making turns and giving way at roundabouts

The diagram shows how to indicate and give way at roundabouts:

Approaching a roundabout: Vehicles entering a roundabout must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.
Giving way at a roundabout: The driver must slow down and if necessary, stop to avoid a collision.
Turning left: On your approach to a roundabout you must select the left lane, signal left, stay in the left lane to exit.
Going straight ahead: Do not signal when approaching the roundabout but always signal left before exiting a roundabout. You may approach the roundabout from either left or right lanes (unless there are road markings with other instructions), drive in the same lane through the roundabout and exit in the same lane.
Turning right: On your approach, to a roundabout you must select the right lane, signal right, stay in the right lane and signal left before exiting into the right lane.
Making a U-turn: When you use the roundabout to make a U-turn on your approach signal right from the right lane, stay in the right lane, but signal left before exiting into the right lane.
Exiting a roundabout: If practical, you must always signal left when exiting a roundabout.

Roundabouts and bicycle riders

Bicycle riders are allowed to turn right from the left hand lane. When passing each exit, the rider must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout from that exit.

Risks to watch for

Take extra care whenever you drive in a roundabout:

Keep an eye out for cars that are leaving the roundabout
Be careful if changing lanes in a roundabout, particularly when leaving
Look out for vehicles that are making a full turn
Watch for bicycles, long vehicles and motorcycles.

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NSW U-Turns

U-Turns
Take extra care when making U-turns as they can be dangerous. U-turns
cannot be made:
• Where there is a NO U-TURN sign
• On motorways
• At traffic lights unless you see a U-TURN PERMITTED sign at the
intersection
• Across an unbroken (continuous) lines, double centre unbroken
(continuous) lines, unless the line closest to you is broken.
You must start your U-turn from the marked lane nearest to the centre of
the road or, if there are no lane markings, the left of the centre of the road.
Before starting the U-turn you must make sure it is safe: check mirrors
and blind spots and that you have a clear view of any approaching
traffic.
You must not begin your U-turn unless you can make the turn without
unreasonably obstructing traffic. Give way to all vehicles and pedestrians
and signal before you start to turn.

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NSW When Turning Right At Traffic Lights

When turning right at traffic lights:
• Enter the intersection as shown in the diagram, unless a sign indicates
otherwise or there is a red right turn arrow displayed
• Wait until oncoming traffic clears or breaks and then turn safely.
If the lights change to yellow or red while you are in the middle of the
intersection, you are allowed to turn right. You must turn as soon as it
is safe to do so. Be sure your front wheels and car are straight and not
blocking the oncoming traffic.

Car A enters the intersection.

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Visitors to NSW

Are you visiting NSW?

This section provides information you need to know about NSW roads and road rules.

Driving on the left

Unlike many countries, the law in all Australian states is for motor vehicles to keep to the left of the centre line.

While in Australia, always remember to drive on the left.

Pedestrians

Crossing the road in Australia

Because cars are driven on the left throughout Australia, when you are about to cross a road, look first for cars coming from the right. Visitors can forget where they are and simply look for cars coming from the direction they are used to back home.

So remember to look to the right first when you are about to cross the road. Then, after checking in both directions to make sure that it is safe, walk straight across the road.

Signalised crossings

Where possible, use the nearest marked signalised pedestrian crossing and walk across on the green walk signal once the traffic has stopped.

You should continue crossing if the red signal begins flashing when you are making your way across. Sufficient time remains for pedestrians to complete the crossing, however you should not begin crossing the road when the signal is flashing red.

Drivers and pedestrians

Drivers must always give way to pedestrians if there is danger of colliding with them, however pedestrians should not rely on this and should take great care when crossing any road.

In particular, both drivers and pedestrians need to be careful and look out for one another around shopping centres, schools and parked cars, at night or in wet weather.

Sydney motorways

There are more than 160 km of connected motorways for motorists travelling in and around Sydney. Most of the motorways on Sydney’s orbital network are toll roads, meaning you have to pay a toll to use them. All toll roads are cashless, meaning that you’ll need to arrange a tag or pass before you travel.

Paying tolls

Most toll roads no longer accept cash. By setting up an electronic tag or casual travel pass you can drive through toll collection points without stopping and your toll will be automatically charged to your account.

Interstate tags

Interstate tourists and visitors can use their Interstate electronic tags on NSW toll roads.All Australian tags are interoperable, meaning that you can pay for your tolls on NSW toll roads with an interstate tag.

Rental cars

If you’re hiring a car to get around the eastern states of Australia it’s likely you’re going to drive on one of the numerous motorways in Sydney, Brisbane and Victoria.

Roads and Maritime Services has developed partnerships with rental vehicle companies Avis, Budget, Europcar and Thrifty to provide a tolling solution in all their rental vehicles so that you can pay your tolls automatically. When you pick up your rental vehicle you will be ready to drive on any toll road in Australia.

International tourists and visitors

International tourists and visitors driving in NSW must observe the licence requirements for visitors. You must carry your licence with you when you are driving and there is an on-the-spot fine for not having your licence with you. Your licence must be written in English or, if the licence is not in English, carry an English translation or an International Driving Permit.

Licensing requirements for international visitors

If you are not an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Australia you are considered to be a temporary overseas visitor. Temporary overseas visitors include:

Tourists
Business people on limited duration visits
People studying or working temporarily (eg working visa holders) in NSW.

Note: Special arrangements apply for New Zealand citizens.

If you are a temporary overseas visitor and hold a current overseas driver licence, you do not have to get a NSW driver licence. You can drive on your current overseas licence as long as:

You remain a visitor
You have not been disqualified from driving in NSW or elsewhere
You have not had your licence suspended or cancelled, or your visiting driver privileges withdrawn.

Public transport

The Transport Infoline website provides up-to-date information on train, bus and ferry travel in an area spanning Port Stephens in the North, Scone and Dungog in the Hunter, Bathurst in the West, Goulburn in the Southern Highlands, Bomaderry in the South and Sydney in the East.

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NSW Temporary Overseas Visitors

Temporary overseas visitors (TOV)

From 16 March 2015, for visiting temporary overseas drivers wishing to apply for a NSW licence, we are removing the minimum six month waiting period before a licence application can be made and removing the restriction which allows for the issue of a 12-month licence only.
Yes, driver licences issued to temporary overseas visitors will continue to show a letter ‘Q’ in the conditions section of the front of a licence card, and the words ‘Evidence of permanent resident status not provided’ will be shown on the back of the card.
You can apply for a driver licence of alonger validity period when your current driver licence is due for renewal.
Once all the requirements for a learner licence are met, you will be issued a learner licence for the duration of 5 years and the licence will show the ‘Q‘ condition on the front of the licence. A 1 year duration applies for a rider learner licence.
Temporary overseas visitors (ie holders of a licence with the ’Q’ condition) are eligible for the discount, provided all other requirements are met.

Unrestricted licence holders who have no relevant offences recorded in the previous five years leading up to the date they renew their licence will receive the 50 per cent safe driver discount when renewing their licence. If you are eligible for the discount, you will be advised at the time of renewal.
No, you will get a P1 licence issued for a period of 18 months. You may instead graduate to a P2 licence if you are ready and meet the eligibility requirements.
No, you will get a P2 licence issued for a period of 30 months. You may graduate to an unrestricted licence when you have met the necessary two year tenure requirements and you are ready.

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Speeding in NSW

It’s an unfortunate and scary fact to know that speeding remains the biggest single road safety issue on NSW roads.

Even though the NSW road toll has dropped from more than 1200 each year in the 1970s to less than 500 (based on the 2008 road toll and the preliminary figures for 2009), speeding remains an ongoing problem.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, drink driving was Australia’s biggest road safety challenge. However since random breath testing was introduced in 1982 there has been a change in community opinion – drink driving is not acceptable. If we can all adopt this attitude to speeding as well our roads will be a much safer place.

With the decrease in drink driving, speed has become the biggest road safety challenge for NSW.

The size of the problem

In NSW speeding is a factor in about 40 per cent of road deaths. This means on average around 177 people die each year in speed-related crashes in NSW.

Speeding was a factor in the deaths of 857 people over five years 2006-2010. In addition to those killed, more than 4100 people are injured in speed-related crashes every year.

Did you know each year around 700,000 speeding offences are recorded in NSW?

Risky business

It’s not that hard to work out that speeding increases the risk of a crash and the severity of the crash outcome.

The risk of causing death or injury in an urban 60km/h speed zone increases rapidly even with relatively small increases in speed. If you are driving are 65km/h in a 60km/h speed zone you are doubling your chances of having a crash. At 70km/h, your risk of having a crash is more than four times the risk at 60km/h.

SPEED – KM/H	RISK RELATIVE TO 60KM/H
65	Double
70	4 times
75	11 times
80	32 times

The risk of a crash when driving at 68km/h in a 60km/h zone is the same as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08. The risk of a crash when driving at 72km/h in a 60km/h zone is the same as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.12.

A key issue in speeding-related crashes is that most motorists underestimate the distance needed to stop. A car travelling at 60km/h in dry conditions takes about 38 metres to stop. A car travelling at 80km/h needs an extra 20 metres.

The message is simple ‘Don’t Rush’

In order to help raise awareness of the issue surrounding speeding Roads and Maritime Services launched the road safety speeding campaign ‘Don’t Rush’. The campaign focuses around the need to reinforce the crash consequences of speeding, and to contribute to an overall reduction in the road toll. It is important that communities are conscious of the emotional and physical impact on others road trauma has. Therefore the ‘Don’t Rush’ campaign also focuses on encouraging community caution amongst peers in speaking out against other in their peer group who don’t stick to the road rules.

Males in particular are the campaigns primary focus, as they are over represented in speed-related crashes in NSW.

You can see the ‘Don’t Rush’ messages from Professor Owler and Testimonials spoken by real life crash survivors and their families on the Centre for Road Safety website.

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NSW SAFER DRIVERS COURSE

If you’re on your Ls and keen to learn more about safer driving behaviours then the Safer Drivers Course is for you.

The Course will help you understand more about speed management, gap selection, hazard awareness and safe following distances and prepare you for when you drive unsupervised on your Ps.

You will also receive 20 hours of log book credit once you complete the Course.

To be able to attend a Course you must be on your Ls, completed 50 log book driving hours and be under 25.

This is 50 actual hours of on-road driving and does not include the hours that can be accrued through (3 for 1) structured professional instruction.

Gaining credits on log book hours explained

With all the different ways you can make up log book hour credits, it is not hard to get information overload.

Before you can take a Driving Test, you need to record 120 log book hours. Here’s a break down on the different ways you can earn credits towards your 120 log book hours:

You can get extra credit for driving lessons with a professional instructor. For every hour of professional driving lessons you do, you’ll receive a bonus two hours credit. So a one-hour lesson counts for a total of three hours credit in your log book. This is capped at a total of 10 private lesson hours (30 log book hour credits).
Doing the Safer Drivers Course can get you extra credit too. Once you’ve completed 50 log book hours, you can choose to complete the Safer Drivers Course – this will give you 20 log book hour credits. This course has been designed for a learner to attend once, and therefore the 20 hours of bonus log book credit will only be deducted once.

What the Safer Drivers Course involves

The Safer Drivers Course involves two modules:

A three-hour group discussion with other L platers for you to learn how to manage risks on the road.
A two-hour in-vehicle coaching session with a coach and another learner so you can learn a range of practical safe driving behaviours.

You don’t have to do both of these sessions in one day, however it is recommended you complete both sessions within one month.

How to book a Safer Drivers Course

Simply view the Safer Drivers Course Providers list and contact the Provider directly.

Or you can call 13 2213 to find out where the closest Course Provider is.

Because the Course is being gradually rolled-out in NSW, Providers are not currently available in all areas. You’re encouraged to continue checking the Safer Drivers Course Providers list to find out when a Course is available in your area, however you can choose to do a course in any location.

The Course costs $140 and can be paid directly to the Course Provider, not Roads and Maritime Services.

On the day

All Course materials will be supplied at the Course and the vehicle will be supplied for the in-vehicle coaching session. Just make sure that you turn up with your licence and your log book!

Safer Drivers Course Video

Check out other learner drivers who have attended the Safer Driver Course, and how it has had a positive influence on their learning to drive experience by watching the Centre for Road Safety’s Safer Driver Course video.

Free course for disadvantaged learner drivers

The NSW Government is offering 1000 free places on the Safer Drivers Course each year to help young learner drivers from disadvantaged backgrounds and Aboriginal communities. The fee exemption allows those who are financially disadvantaged to benefit from the road safety outcomes of the Safer Drivers Course.

To be eligible for a free place you need to:

Hold a valid learner licence
Be aged under 25 years
Have completed a minimum of 50 log book hours
Hold a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card issued by the Department of Human Services – Centrelink.

To apply for a free place you need to contact a course provider to enrol in a course and complete the Safer Drivers Course Concession Application form. You will also need to provide a copy of your Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card to your course provider.

Visit the Roads and Maritime website to find a Safer Drivers Course provider and speak to them about the free places.

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Drugs and Driving in NSW

Mobile Drug Testing

NSW Police can test drivers for drugs anytime or anywhere, there’s no escaping it.

Serious safety problem

Safe driving requires good judgement and sharp concentration. You also need to react quickly to changing situations on the road. Drug driving puts everyone on the road at risk. Our research shows that the presence of illegal drugs is involved in the same number of fatal crashes as drink driving.

Mobile Drug Testing (MDT) operates alongside RBT for alcohol and police also have the power to test drivers they believe may be under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs. MDT is increasing, with police conducting up to 200,000 roadside drug tests in NSW by the year 2020.

Our MDT campaign combined with enforcement is the best way to stop drivers who have used drugs from getting behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.

When you are stopped

MDT detects drivers who have recently used four common illegal drugs: ecstasy, cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamine (including speed and ice). MDT can be conducted at roadside operations along with RBT, or by NSW Police in vehicles patrolling our roads.

As with RBT, you will be stopped by police, asked for your licence, and complete a breath test for alcohol. You will then be asked to wipe an MDT test stick down your tongue to check if you have illegal drugs in your system. The results take a few minutes to appear and you must wait until police say you are in the clear. Most drivers test negative and are soon on the road again.

If your MDT test is positive, you’ll be taken to a roadside testing van or bus, or back to a police station to provide a saliva sample. This sample will also be tested and if positive, you’ll be banned from driving for 24 hours. All samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the laboratory confirms the positive roadside result, police will contact you and charge you with driving with the presence of an illegal drug.

If you are stopped for MDT or other reasons at the roadside, your behaviour or driving is erratic and police suspect you are under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs, they can also require you to undergo blood and urine testing. The tests cover a large range of legal and illegal substances that can impair drivers and can lead to a charge of driving under the influence (DUI), which has serious penalties.

All drivers involved in fatal crashes undergo blood and urine testing for drugs and alcohol.

Consequences

Drivers caught with drugs in their system will face court, could lose their licence, be fined and end up with a criminal record. For a presence offence detected through an MDT, the court may impose a fine of up to $1,100 and an automatic six month licence disqualification.

Drivers proven to be driving under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs face fines of up to $3,300 and automatic three-year licence disqualification for a first offence. These offenders can also be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison. Higher penalties apply for second and subsequent offenders.

Don’t make a foolish decision

Illegal drugs can be detected in your saliva by an MDT for a significant time after drug use, even if you feel you are OK to drive. The length of time that illegal drugs can be detected by MDT depends on the amount taken, frequency of use of the drug, and other factors that vary between individuals. Cannabis can typically be detected in saliva by an MDT test stick for up to 12 hours after use. Stimulants can typically be detected for one to two days.

If you think that you may have illegal drugs in your system, the best decision is not to drive.

Protecting the community

From 2010 to 2016, 403 people died on our roads in crashes involving motorists with at least one of three illicit drugs – cannabis, methamphetamine (including speed and ice) or ecstasy – in their system.

Taking illegal drugs before driving puts you at greater risk of injuring or killing yourself, your friends or other innocent people. NSW Police are doing their job to keep you, your family and everyone else on our roads safe by carrying out MDT operations