Vic Road Rule changes - 4 November 2020

[outnabike]

Recent changes to road rules...... The second last one on the list is interesting. Peds also included in a fine.

This page outlines the key road rules changes that have been made in the last few years.
Road Safety Road Rule changes - 4 November 2020
Road Rules relating to U-turns

Giving way when entering a road from a road related area & U-turns

Road Rule 38 has been amended so that a driver making a U-turn must give way to all vehicle and pedestrians except to a driver entering the road from a road related area (e.g. a footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road, any shoulder of a road, an area that is not a road but is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists, animals, and parking of vehicles) or adjacent land.

U-turns at crossings and on a road related area

Road Rule 43 has been added to clarify that a driver must not make a U-turn at children’s crossing, a level crossing or a pedestrian crossing unless there is a U-turn is permitted sign at the crossing.
Road Rule 43A has been added to specify that a driver must not make a U-turn at an intersection between a road and a road related area with traffic lights is there is a no U-turn sign at the place.

Road Rules relating to Bus Only lanes

Road Rule 154A has been added to specify that a driver (other than bus drivers) must not drive in a bus only unless the driver is permitted to do so (to avoid obstruction, to enter or leave the road)
Road Rule 187 has been amended to clarify that a driver must not stop in a bus only lane unless it is a public bus and is picking up or dropping off passengers.
Road Rule 154A is also amended to specify that a bus only lane may begin with a bus only lane sign and end with an end bus only lane sign:

Bus only lane signs

Road Rule 28 has been amended to permit left turns from a lane other than the left lane if the left lane is a bus only lane.
Road Rule 32 has been amended to permit a right turn from a lane other than the right lane if the right lane is a bus only lane.

Exceptions to change of direction signals for motorcycles

Road Rule 44 has been amended so that the rider of a motorcycle does not need to indicate they are changing direction if they are repositioning the motor bike within the same lane to avoid a hazard or reduce the risk of a crash.

Interfering with or interrupting funeral procession

Road Rule 77A has been added to make clear that a driver must not interfere with or interrupt the free passage of any funeral procession.

Stopping in a parking area for electric powered vehicles

Road Rule 203B has been added to specify that a driver of a vehicle that is not an electric powered vehicle must not stop in a parking area for electric-powered vehicles.
The parking area for electric powered vehicles will be designated by a sign displaying the following electric-powered vehicle symbol:

Plug electric car to charge

Road Rule 203C has been added to specify that a driver must not stop in an area designated for the charging of electric powered vehicles unless the driver’s vehicle is an electric powered vehicle and the electric powered vehicle is plugged in to an external source of electricity.
The charging area for electronic powered vehicles will be designated by a sign displaying the following electric-powered vehicle charging symbol.

Charging electric car

Stopping at or near bicycle crossing lights

Road Rule 174 has been reworded to clarify that a driver must not stop on a bicycle crossing or within 10m before the traffic lights near to the driver at the bicycle crossing and 3m after the traffic lights.

A bicycle crossing is an area of road -

with bicycle crossing lights facing bicycle riders crossing the road; and
with traffic lights facing traffic travelling on the road; and
that is not an intersection.

Example Measurement of distance:

Stopping at or near bicycle crossing lights

Making a vehicle secure (breakdown vehicle)

with bicycle crossing lights facing bicycle riders crossing the road; and
with traffic lights facing traffic travelling on the road; and
that is not an intersection.
Road Rule 231 has been amended so that the driver of a breakdown vehicle is exempt from the requirements to keep their vehicle secure (eg switching off the engine if over 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle).
A breakdown vehicle is a vehicle driven by a person who attends disabled vehicles as part of the person’s employment for the purpose of repairing the disabled vehicle.

Wearing of seatbelts by drivers

Road Rule 264 has been amended so that a driver of a motor vehicle that is moving or stationary (but not parked) must occupy a driver’s seating position, wear an approved seatbelt and not occupy the same seating position as another passenger unless the driver is reversing the vehicle or another exemption applies (such as by certificate).

Riding on motor bikes and motor cycles

Road Rule 271has been amended so that a motorcycle rider may remove both feet from the footrests or footboard if the motorbike is moving at less than 10km/hr and the rider is either manoeuvring the motor bike to park, decelerating to come to a stop or accelerating from being stopped.

Driving on a path (wheelchairs)

Road Rule 288 has been amended to allow a person to drive a wheelchair on a path due to their physical condition or for the purpose of training under the instruction or supervision of a registered health practitioner.

Television receivers and visual display units in motor vehicles

Road Rule 299 has been amended to exempt drivers of Sheriff’s vehicles to operate a visual display unit.

Use of Mobile phones

Road Rule 300(1A) has been amended to clarify that a driver with a probationary licence from another jurisdiction must not use a mobile phone while driving or in control of the vehicle.

Direction by a policy officer or authorised person (for a pedestrian)

Road Rule 304 has been amended so that like cyclists, pedestrians face a penalty of up to 6 penalty units if they do not obey the reasonable direction for safe and efficient regulation of trafficgiven by a police officer or authorised person.

Supervising drivers and excessive speed

Road Rule 406 has been amended by replacing references to “accompanying driver” with “supervising driver” reflecting new terminology used in the Road Safety Act 1986.