9.3 Intersections, Give Way, Stop Signs and Roundabouts
Key Takeaways
- Turning right at an intersection means giving way to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead, and turning right at a T-intersection from the terminating road means giving way to vehicles approaching from both directions whether they are turning or not.
- A GIVE WAY sign requires you to slow down, be ready to stop and give way to all traffic, while a STOP sign requires an actual stop at the line — or, where there is no line, before and as near as possible to the intersection.
- A driver turning left or right must give way to pedestrians crossing the road being entered, and must check for traffic on the left and right at all times before entering an intersection.
- Entering a roundabout requires giving way to vehicles already in it, and a driver wanting to exit at a later exit must enter from the correct lane rather than cutting across from the left.
- Trains cannot stop quickly, so stop signs and flashing lights at railway level crossings must always be obeyed, and you must never enter a crossing when traffic is blocking the far side.
9.3 Intersections, Give Way, Stop Signs and Roundabouts
Quick Summary / Key Rule: Intersections carry roughly one question in eleven in the published pool, and the give-way rules are tested as diagram questions where you must name which vehicle goes first. Learn the rules as principles, because the diagrams change but the principles do not.
Intersections are also where heavy vehicles do the most damage. A truck entering an intersection it cannot clear, or turning across a gap that was adequate for a car, produces the crash types that dominate heavy-vehicle casualty statistics.
The Core Give-Way Principles
| Situation | Who gives way |
|---|---|
| Turning right at an intersection | You give way to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead and to oncoming vehicles turning left. |
| Turning right at a T-intersection from the terminating road | You give way to vehicles approaching from both directions, whether they are turning or not. |
| At a GIVE WAY sign | Slow down, be ready to stop, and give way to all traffic. |
| At a STOP sign | Stop at the stop line, then give way to all traffic. Stop even when there is no other traffic. |
| Turning left or right anywhere | Give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are entering. |
| Two vehicles both facing GIVE WAY signs | The one whose path is crossed by the other gives way — read the diagram for who is on whose right. |
| A knocked-down STOP or GIVE WAY sign | It has the same meaning as the sign itself. A sign lying in the grass is still the law. |
Where to stop at a STOP sign with no line
If there is no painted stop line, stop before coming to, and as near as possible to, the intersection. Stopping ten metres back "to see better" is not compliance, and in a heavy vehicle it also means you cannot see around the corner anyway.
Scanning
As you approach an intersection you should check for traffic on your left and right at all times before entering — not only when a sign tells you to. In a high cab this is a genuine skill: the A-pillar and the mirror arm can hide an entire small car at the angle at which it will hit you.
Turning in a Heavy Vehicle
Turning is where the general road rules and the heavy vehicle rules meet.
- Left turns: you must use your left indicator at all times when turning left, even from a lane marked left-turn-only.
- Right turns: made from the far right lane or a lane with a right-turn arrow. Indicate right for the whole manoeuvre.
- The long-vehicle turn: you may turn from the lane next to the left-hand lane when driving a vehicle over 7.5 metres long. This is the legal basis for the wide left turn a truck must make, and it is why "Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle" signage exists.
- Right turn from a one-way street: a long vehicle displaying a Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle sign on the rear may turn right from a lane other than the far right lane where necessary, because the rear of the combination will cut into the turn. A vehicle not displaying that sign must turn within the lanes.
[!CAUTION] Trailer swing and off-tracking mean the rear wheels of a combination follow a tighter arc than the steer axle. A driver who watches only their mirrors on the turning side will not see the vehicle that the trailer is about to sweep into on the other side.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are one-way circulating carriageways, and the entry rule is simple: give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout. Beyond that:
- Enter from the correct lane. A vehicle wanting to turn right and exit at the third exit must enter the roundabout from the right lane, not from the left. Entering from the wrong lane and cutting across is one of the diagram traps in the pool.
- Indicate. Signal right when turning right, left when turning left, and always signal left as you leave the roundabout if it is practicable.
- Long vehicles may straddle lanes. A vehicle over 7.5 metres long may use more than one lane in a roundabout if it cannot physically stay within one, provided it displays the appropriate signage and gives way properly.
Railway Level Crossings at Intersections
- Approaching a crossing with a STOP sign: stop at all times and proceed when safe.
- Approaching a crossing with a GIVE WAY sign or a warning sign: slow down, look both ways for trains, and be prepared to stop.
- If boom gates are down or signals are flashing: you may only begin to cross when the gate is up and the lights have stopped flashing.
- Even when the signal shows nothing: slow down, be ready to stop and give way if a train is coming.
- Never enter when traffic is blocking the other side. Stop signs and flashing lights at railway crossings must always be obeyed because trains are fast, heavy and cannot stop quickly — a freight train needs well over a kilometre to stop, and it is not going to be the one that gives way.
Enforcement at Intersections
- Red light cameras photograph vehicles that enter the intersection after the lights have turned red. There is no discretion built into the camera and no "I was nearly through" defence.
- Police directing traffic override the signals: you must always follow any instruction they give you.
- Traffic controllers at roadworks have the same authority — if a controller displays a stop sign, you stop your vehicle and follow their directions.
Worked Scenario: The B-Double at a Congested City Intersection
A driver in a 26 metre B-double approaches a signalised city intersection on a green light. Traffic beyond the intersection is queued and moving slowly.
- The temptation: the light is green and there is a car-length of space on the far side.
- The measurement: the combination is 26 metres long. A car-length of far-side space guarantees the rear trailer will be sitting across the intersection when the light changes.
- The rule: you must wait until there is room for your vehicle on the far side before entering.
- The outcome of getting it wrong: the combination blocks the cross traffic through the whole of their green phase, and the driver is liable for obstructing the intersection. If the blocked lane is a light rail alignment or a level crossing, the consequences escalate from a fine to a collision.
The correct call is to hold behind the stop line through the green phase and go on the next one. Losing ninety seconds is the cheapest option available.
You are turning right at a T-intersection from the road that ends. Must you give way to vehicles approaching from both directions on the continuing road?
You approach a STOP sign at a rural crossroads. There is no painted stop line and there is no other traffic anywhere in sight. What must you do?
A driver in the left lane of a multi-lane roundabout wants to travel most of the way around and exit at the far side. Is this correct?
You are driving a 26-metre B-double towards an unsignalised railway level crossing. The signals are silent and the crossing is clear, but the traffic queue on the far side extends to within 20 metres of the tracks. What should you do?