5.2 Turning, Lane Position and Turning Signs
Key Takeaways
Vehicles at least 7.5 m long displaying DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE can use specified adjacent-lane turning exceptions when necessary and safe.
Indicators must give sufficient warning; the five-second minimum applies when moving from a stationary roadside position.
Check trailer cut-in, tail swing, pedestrians and cyclists throughout the turn, and keep the exit clear before entering.
Plan the swept path
The swept path is the space occupied by every part of the vehicle as it moves through a turn. Rear wheels commonly follow an inner path at low speed, called cut-in or off-tracking. The body behind the rear axle can swing outward, called tail swing. A safe turn accounts for both, rather than watching only the cab’s front corner.
The amount depends on wheelbase, body overhang, articulation, steering and the curve. There is no fixed cut-in distance for every HR truck or HC combination. Learn the actual vehicle through training and suitable controlled practice. Route planning should avoid corners that cannot be negotiated lawfully and safely.
Position early and communicate
Choose the correct approach lane well before the intersection, follow lane arrows and signal long enough to warn other road users. There is no universal Tasmanian rule requiring an indicator exactly 30 metres before every turn. When moving from a stationary position at the side of a road, signal for at least five seconds before moving, check mirrors and blind spots, and give way as required.
For a left turn, the usual position is from the left lane or as near as practicable to the left. A long vehicle may need to start further into the intersection so its rear wheels clear the kerb. Watch the left side for a cyclist or car entering the gap. Do not make an unplanned outward swing that appears to be a right turn and then cut across following traffic.
| Part of the turn | Clearance risk | Observation task |
|---|---|---|
| Initial steering | Tail swings outward | Check the opposite side and nearby vehicles |
| Middle of the turn | Rear wheels cut inward | Monitor kerb, poles and vulnerable road users |
| Exit | Trailer may still occupy the intersection | Confirm the whole vehicle can clear |
| Dual turn lanes | Adjacent traffic follows its marked path | Keep the chosen path and avoid lane encroachment |
DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE
A vehicle or combination at least 7.5 m long can display the prescribed DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE sign. The rules provide specific exceptions allowing necessary adjacent-lane positioning for a turn when their conditions are met. The vehicle must display the sign, the normal lane must be impracticable for the turn where required, and the turn must be safe.
The sign also restricts other drivers from overtaking the turning vehicle on the relevant side in the circumstances described by the road rules. It is a warning about the long vehicle’s path, not a general right of way. The driver must still obey traffic lights, give-way rules, lane controls and duties toward pedestrians and cyclists. A sign does not permit forcing another road user out of a lane.
Right turns and one-way roads
A right turn from a two-way road normally starts near the centreline or from the marked right-turn lane. From a one-way road, the usual approach is the far-right side or lane. A qualifying long vehicle displaying the turning sign can use the lane immediately left of the far-right lane under the applicable exception. Check that the adjacent-lane position is necessary and the full movement can be completed safely.
The handbook advises the far-left of two right-turn lanes for a long vehicle. Understand the reason: it gives space for the vehicle’s longer path while avoiding a turn begun too early that causes the rear to cut across the inner lane. Follow the actual lane markings and geometry. If the intended vehicle cannot remain safely within the available path, arrange a suitable route rather than assume the sign authorises any movement.
Entering and crossing traffic
A loaded heavy vehicle may accelerate slowly. Select a gap long enough for the entire vehicle to cross or merge without making others brake sharply. Estimate the trailer’s clearance time, not just the cab’s entry. On an uphill start or a slippery surface, the time may be longer. If the gap is uncertain, wait for a better one.
Do not enter a blocked intersection even on a green signal. Look beyond the crossing and allow room for the complete combination. The rear trailer left across an intersection can obstruct traffic or a pedestrian crossing after the cab has reached the far side. A gap measured for a car may be inadequate for a loaded combination.
A realistic left-turn decision
An HR truck approaches a narrow left turn while a cyclist rides beside it. The driver has a turning sign and needs extra space. The correct decision is to wait until the cyclist’s position is clear and the swept path is safe, then use the lawful turning position. The sign does not justify beginning the turn and expecting the cyclist to escape.
After a turn, check mirrors to confirm the rear has cleared roadside objects and that the vehicle is fully in its intended lane. Cancel the indicator when the movement is complete. If conditions change mid-manoeuvre, stop under control rather than continue into a known obstruction.
Key decisions
Plan the full path, use the precise long-vehicle exceptions and give way where required. Clear space and confirmed observation are prerequisites, even with a turning sign.
Official sources
Road Rules 2019, rules 28, 32, 33, 111 and 143; handbook turning guidance. Sources checked 10 October 2026.
A long truck displaying DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE needs extra space for a turn. What remains necessary?
The sign gives unconditional priority over all lanes
The driver may ignore red signals
Other road users must leave any lane the truck chooses
Meet the specific lane-exception conditions and complete the turn safely while obeying give-way rules
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.