Key driving maneuvers you need to know in Australia

Driving in Australia can be quite challenging if you're doing it for the first time. There are many details that are different and require practice, caution, and familiarizing yourself with the local signs.

In Australia, people drive alert but at the same time safely, as it’s assumed that everyone will respect the rules and no one will intentionally put others at risk. Part of the information I’ll present below comes from the "Road to Solo Driving Handbook," which applies to the state of Victoria. Other states have different books, as the rules vary between states.

Driving on the Left Side

This is probably the first maneuver you've never done. In Australia, people drive on the left side of the road, which can be confusing for those coming from countries where driving is on the right side, such as parts of Europe, America, or Asia. This difference can make maneuvers like turning and lane changes require a bit more attention at first.

People who are used to driving on the right side tend to drift toward the centerline because the steering wheel is on the right, so it’s important to be very careful.

Recommendation: Familiarize yourself with the location of the gear stick, turn signals, and pay close attention to the direction of the lanes. For example, where the cars are going and which lane to take after a turn (this was one of the things that confused me the most).

Right Turns from the Left Lane

In many countries, right turns are made from the right lane. In Australia, if you are turning right, you must make sure you are in the left lane, then approach the intersection and turn right from the center of the intersection. There is usually a traffic light indicating when you can make the turn, but you should be very alert and check that no car is coming from the opposite lane.

Recommendation: Make sure you’re in the left lane, as cars in the right lane are coming in the opposite direction.

Hook Turns

A hook turn is a special maneuver done at some intersections in central Melbourne or South Melbourne to allow vehicles turning right to avoid blocking the trams that stop at intersections. For me, it’s the most difficult maneuver, and honestly, I’ve never done it. This maneuver is only required at certain intersections and is usually marked with specific signs.

The goal is that you are going to turn right. For this, you must position your car in the left lane, not the right as usual (as if you were going straight). Stop the car before the intersection and wait for the light to turn green for vehicles wanting to turn right. When the light turns green, turn right in a wide angle, and continue to the right.

Image sourced from “Road to solo driving handbook”

Roundabouts

Roundabouts, or "glorietas" as we call them in Colombia, are very common in Australia. The basic rule is to give way to vehicles already in the roundabout. Each time you approach a roundabout, look to your left; if a car is coming, you must stop and wait for it to pass before you can proceed. If any car is coming, you can go straight ahead.

You must be clear about what you’re going to do when you exit the roundabout: you’ll either turn right, left, or go straight. Why? Because if you’re turning right or left, you must leave the indicators on continuously while in the roundabout and make sure you’re in the correct lane. It’s important to choose a lane and not straddle the middle, as there are more cars behind you.

Image sourced from “Road to solo driving handbook”

Turning Left

To turn left, you must be in the left lane; this is, for me, the easiest turn. However, you must give way to cyclists and pedestrians. If there are no cyclists or pedestrians at the crossing, then you can turn left.

Recommendation: Be aware of cyclists because they have a lane on the left side of the road specifically for them.

Pedestrian Crossings (Zebra Crossings)

In Australia, it is mandatory to give way to pedestrians walking through the pedestrian crossings. This might not be the case in your country, or the rule might not be as strict in some places.

Recommendation: If you see a pedestrian waiting to cross, you must stop and wait until they have completely crossed.

Speed Limits

It is very important to respect speed limits for safety but also because there are speed cameras monitoring this constantly. If you're speeding, they will take a picture, and the fine will be sent to your home.

There are speed limits in each zone. For example, residential areas have a limit of 40 km/h, and you cannot exceed this speed. School zones are 20 km/h, and most urban areas have limits ranging from 40 to 60 km/h. In rural areas, the limit can rise to 80 km/h.

Recommendation: Pay attention to the signs to see the speed limit in each area. Sometimes the limit changes suddenly from 40 km/h to 60 km/h, and you need to be aware of it. Sometimes there’s no traffic sign, but the limit is painted on the road.

Parking signs in Australia

Parking rules can be a bit complicated to understand if you’ve never parked according to parking signs.

I’m referring to signs that indicate if you can park, during which time frame, for how long, and if you need to pay or not.

Image sourced from “Road to solo driving handbook”

Let’s start deciphering them:

• The arrow indicates the direction or part of the road available for parking.

• The letter "P" alone means you can park without a time limit.

• "P" with numbers next to it means the maximum parking time. In this example you can park for a maximum of five minutes or one hour.

• The hours refer to the time period when parking is available, for example from 9 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 12 pm.

• The days of the week show when parking is available, such as MON-FRI, which means Monday to Friday, or just Saturday.

To read the first sign completely

You can park for 5 minutes, Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 4 pm. However, it also indicates (this is implied, not stated anywhere) that outside of these hours, you can park without restrictions. For example, on Saturday at 7:00 pm, there are no restrictions.

To read the second sign completely: 

You can park for up to 1 hour only on Saturday between 9 am and 12 pm.

To pay for parking, there are machines near the parking spots, or you can use an App called EasyPark.

When you pay with the machine, a receipt is generated, which you should place on your car's windshield to show the inspector that you have paid.

Recommendation: Learn how to read parking signs. If you're unsure, don’t park in that spot because you may be fined for parking incorrectly. If the sign says you have 2 hours, pick up the car within two hours—trust me, agents are monitoring the cars and their parking times (I have seen them marking the tires with white chalk). If you exceed the limit, be very aware that you'll get a fine.

Lane Changes

In Australia, there are rules for changing lanes. It’s not enough to just check the rearview mirror; you need to follow several steps.

• First, remember that you must give way to vehicles already in that lane.

• Second, signal your intention to change lanes and check if the car behind you slows down to let you pass.

• Third, once it's safe to change lanes, do a "head check" quickly to ensure that there are no motorcycles or cars coming that you haven’t seen.

• Take your foot off the accelerator while you are changing the lane.

• Only turn off the indicator when you're fully in the new lane.

Head Check: This means looking over your shoulder to see through the rear side windows and checking for any vehicles or motorcycles that might be in your blind spot. This should be done very quickly because you can't take your eyes off the road for more than a second.

Mandatory Stops at Intersections

In Australia, you must come to a complete stop at intersections with a stop sign, even if no other vehicles are present. It's important to do this and make sure the road is clear before continuing.

Three-Point Turn

A three-point turn is a maneuver used to turn around on a narrow road (U-turn) where a full turn can’t be made. This is especially common in residential areas where streets are narrower.

Image sourced from “Road to solo driving handbook”

To make this turn:

• Stop on the left side of the kerb and signal left.

• Then signal right before pulling away from the kerb.

• Check both directions before starting the turn and proceed when it’s safe.

• Make the half-turn to the other side of the kerb.

• Stop and then signal right before reversing.

• Look in all directions and begin to reverse. 

• Once done, check mirrors and proceed when it's safe.

Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is another maneuver that can be tricky, especially if you're not used to parking in a perpendicular space. In Australia, driving on the left means the process of parking is also reversed.

Image sourced from “Road to solo driving handbook”

Here are some rules:

• Observe: Pay attention to where you want to park and make sure the space is large enough for your vehicle.

• Indicate your intention: Turn on your left indicator to let the car behind you know you’re going to parallel park. Position your vehicle parallel to the car parked in front of the space where you want to park. There should be approximately one meter of space between your vehicle and the parked car to allow you to perform the maneuver.

• Reversing maneuver: Check your mirrors to ensure the space is clear of obstacles, such as a bike or motorcycle that you may not have noticed. Put the vehicle in reverse and begin moving it towards the space, turning the steering wheel towards the parking side. This will cause the vehicle to move at an angle into the space.

• Adjustments: As the vehicle enters the space, make sure the front wheels are properly aligned, and adjust your position if necessary to avoid being too close to other vehicles or over the space line. You can pull out slightly and reverse again if needed.

• Completion: Stop the vehicle completely once it is within the space, ensuring it is centered and parallel to the kerb, and finally, engage the handbrake.
  

To finalise 

I hope you understand now why I told you that driving is different in Australia. Personally, I would recommend taking a few driving lessons before you start driving in Australia, to familiarize yourself with all the maneuvers and road signs. Remember, the most important thing is your safety and the safety of others.