Who gives way?
Hi Folks,
I was hoping that some of the Cancer Voices members may be able to assist me witht he following enquiry:
Whilst driving to work this morning I witnessed a near-miss between two cars at the intersection of Greenhill and Hallett Roads.
Basically Car A was heading towards the city and waiting to turn right from Greenhill Road onto Hallett Road.
Car B was travelling towards the hills on Greenhill Road and proceeded to turn left onto Hallett Road using the slip lane, which has no "Give Way" or "Turn Left At Anytime with Care" sign.
Basically, both drivers thought they had right of way and proceeded to turn into Hallett Road at the same time, narrowly avoiding a collision.
I was following Car B and to be perfectly blunt it was one of those moments where I nearly had an involuntary evacuation of the bowels.
Car A proceeded to pull up next to Car B at the roundabout at Hallett and Kensington Roads, and given the animated hand gestures and body language etc. it appears that both parties were arguing about who has the right of way etc.
It got me thinking - if this incident had occurred between a Cancer Voices rider and a motorist on a Sunday morning during a regular Cancer Voices training ride the consequences would have been disastrous!
Who is legally obliged to give way in this situation. I drive through this intersection on a daily basis and have always believed that cars waiting to turn right into Hallett Road are required to give way to all oncoming traffic, including those turning left into Hallett Road using the slip lane, but I'm happy to be challenged/corrected on this.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adam Brown on -
Just thought I'd add that I've always thought that a roundabout should be installed at the above intersection, as I've witnessed many near misses and the aftermath of various prangs over the last 4-5 years that I have been commuting via this route.
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Permalink Reply by Tim B (the running man) on -
The driver turning right must give way at this intersection. I have been on my bike and been attempting the same right turn down Hallet Rd and had a left turner refuse to go. I eventually convinced him he had the right of way. I believe it is an offence to break a road rule, i.e. a give way rule, even if the other driver waves you through.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Marsland on -
If google maps is correct, the slip lane turning left into Hallett Road obliges the driver of car B to give way to his right, car A.
If the slip lane wasn't there and it was a simple left hand turn then the opposite would be true. Correct me please if I'm wrong.
It can lead to confusion but we all must exercise care and not assume that we can take our right of way without thought.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
+1
From memory their is enough room for a left/right hand turning motorist to avoid a collision with a left/right hand turning cyclist.
Although it would certainly result in some unsettling.
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Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on -
Always, the car turning right must give way. He is turning right across oncoming traffic. The car turning left has right of way. It is stated in the road rules.
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on -
The driver of the vehicle using the left-turn slip lane must give way. ARR part 7, Div2, Rule 72(4)(a), and illustrated in example 5. Page 89 of the PDF here.
Both drivers have a responsibility to avoid a collision.
In South Australia this give-way rule is different from what prevailed before the introduction of uniform national road rules.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Marsland on
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at last some sanity.
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on -
Car B had to give way. ARR, Section 72 says
(4) If the driver is turning left using a slip lane, the driver must
give way to:
(a) any vehicle approaching from the right or turning right
at the intersection into the road the driver is entering
(except a vehicle making a U–turn at the intersection);
and
(b) any pedestrian on the slip lane.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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That is great info, I am often that way and that turn off is very confusing for motorist in general I believe.
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Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on
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oh, there is one of those slip lane hump things. That means the same as a turn left anytime with care. Then car B has to give way.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on
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Dahondudes photo is normally attached to the question where people generally fail their L's test.
The traffic island changes things, not that theirs much of a traffic island.
Must contribute to the confusion a bit.
I wouldn't expect anyone to give way. Its just not the type of intersection you can trust. I'd give way or go depending what the other motorist does.
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Permalink Reply by Ian Rawley on -
Checked it out on Google earth, don't know when the picture was taken but don't think anything has changed. The road markings are poor in as much as there appears to be a continuous lane for the person turning left in the slip lane whereas it would seem sensible to mark a broken white line across the slip lane at the point of entry to Hallett Road reinforcing the give way to the right rule. The person turning right from Greenhill should give way to anything continueing up Greenhill road or anything turning left if there was no slip lane there but the slip lane changes matters. Certainly is confusing and the signage and markings could be improved.
Golden rule if in doubt slow right down and take it carefully!
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