General principles
- Above all, avoid harming people or property, even if other people are not following the rules correctly.
- Nobody has the right of way. Rules are defined in terms of giving way instead.
Signs
Compulsory signs
Compulsory signs are red and white, blue and white, or white with a red border. Also the open road sign as an odd-one-out.
- Red-on-white speed limit signs show the fastest you can drive in good conditions.
- White-on-blue arrow signs give directional guidance. Keep going straight, keep left, etc.
- White-with-thin-red-border signs show usage restrictions. Bus only, etc.
- Red-on-white give way signs require you to slow down or stop, and give way to higher-priority vehicles.
Warning signs
Permanent warning signs are black on yellow. Temporary warning signs are black on orange. They warn about dangers on the road ahead.
- Roadworks ahead (temporary)
- Pedestrian crossing ahead (permanent)
- Gravel road ahead (temporary or permanent)
Information signs
This is the third category of signs, normally green, blue, or brown.
Speed limits
The speed limit changes at the sign. For a slower speed zone, slow down early before you reach the sign. For a higher speed zone, don’t start accelerating until you’ve passed the sign.
Slow down if there’s heavy rain, lots of traffic, or if the road has a lot of bends. When driving below the speed limit, try not to hold up other traffic (stick to the left and pull over to let other vehicles pass).
Different types of speed signs:
- Black-on-yellow speed signs are not compulsory, but are a very good suggestion. They’re called ‘advisory speed signs’, and indicate bends or speed bumps.
- Digital speed signs (like outside schools) are compulsary changing signs (neither permanent nor temporary).
- Black-on-orange incident and emergency warning signs have no speed limit on them, but you must slow down to 20 km/h before you reach them and not speed up again until you’re clear of the situation. These are a big exclamation mark, probably with a word like ‘accident’, ‘emergency’, ‘fire’, or ‘breakdown’ beneath them.
- Black-on-yellow school and school bus signs act the same. No speed listed, but slow down to 20 km/h before reaching them. You must slow down to 20 km/h when passing a stopped school bus, no matter which side of the road it’s on.
- White-with-thin-red-border (fixed) or digital (changing) school zone signs enforce a speed limit during specific hours of the day.
Roads
The word ‘road’ can legally refer to beaches, riverbeds, carparks, and driveways, any places that the public has access to. The road rules apply to all legal roads. You aren’t necessarily allowed to drive somewhere just because it’s a legal ‘road’.
Private property and fenced-off areas are not roads. For example, a driveway with a gate or a fenced-off playground.
Lanes are separated by a white or yellow centerline. You must keep to the left of the centerline unless you are passing something that’s blocking your lane. If there are multiple lines on your side of the centerline, keep to the leftmost lane unless passing, turning right, or the left lane is blocked with traffic or something else.
Unlaned roads don’t have a centerline or markings. Keep as close as possible to the left side of the road, especially when you can’t see far ahead.
Miscellaneous
- Slow down when passing parked cars
- Always check blind spots
- If someone stops in front of you and you crash into them, you’re at fault
- 2 second rule, 4 second rule
- Indicate for three seconds or more before turning, changing lanes, pulling in or out, or entering and leaving a roundabout.
- Brake lights are red lights on the back of the vehicle. They come on when the brakes are applied.
- Hazard lights are a combination of the front and rear indicators. They should be used when your vehicle becomes a temporary hazard to other road users.