You will have seen it done. You will have done it yourself. You understand the situation – there’s a little bit pimple on the road that’s pretending to be a ‘proper’ roundabout, so that you drive excessive of it.
- Roundabout rules are many, varied, and complicated
- States may apply the principles otherwise
- Driving over a central traffic island, nevertheless, isn’t legal
If you happen to do this, you might be breaking the law. To not make a mountain of out a molehill or anything, but roundabouts are designed so that you can drive around, not over.
That’s the aim of those traffic management islands, that the driving force of a vehicle must enter from the left (in Australia, at the very least), and shouldn’t drive excessive of the manmade structure.
If you happen to do, you can be fined. The model Australian Road Rules 2014, regulation 115, is the rule most referenced by the person jurisdictions across the country. It states:
Driving in a roundabout:
(1) A driver driving in a roundabout must drive–
- (a) to the left of the central traffic island within the roundabout, or
- (b) if subrule (2) applies to the driving force–on the sting of the central traffic island, to the left of the centre of the island, or
- (c) if subrule (3) applies to the driving force–over the central traffic island, as near as practicable to the left of the centre of the island.
(2)
- (a) the driving force’s vehicle is just too large to drive within the roundabout without driving on the sting of the central traffic island, and
- (b) the driving force can safely drive on the sting of the central traffic island;
(3)
- (a) the driving force’s vehicle is just too large to drive within the roundabout without driving over the central traffic island, and
- (b) the central traffic island is designed to permit a vehicle of that sort to be driven over it, and (c) the driving force can safely drive over the central traffic island.
So, when you are driving a giant vehicle and the roundabout means that you can omit it, you may legally do this. But when you’re in a Jimny and also you go around jumping the humps, then you can be fined.
In NSW, when you were to face court, the utmost superb can be 20 penalty units, or $2200. More likely, you’ll be fined $272 and lose 4 demerits.
Queensland? Same story. If you happen to find yourself in court, you can face a $3096 superb. Ouch.
Victoria enforces the identical ruling, with a possible on-the-spot superb of $272, and a couple of demerit points applicable.
Tasmania has a 2-demerit point offence, with a $243.75 superb on the spot applicable.
South Australia’s interpretation of Road Rule 115 could land you a $499 superb when you’re found to do the improper thing.
Within the ACT, otherwise often called the land of the roundabout, there’s a court-imposed maximum penalty of 20 units, or $3200, for failing to drive to the left of the roundabout.
We couldn’t find any applicable Northern Territory laws specific to Road Rule 115 – but are there even roundabouts within the Top End? If you happen to live there, tell us within the comments.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant roads authority in your state or territory.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
