Chapter 41: MERGING

Under Australian National Road Laws which came into effect on December 1, 1999, merging road laws were standardized. Remember the brochure that was mailed to every household in Australia....do you have it on the fridge for reference? In the diagram to the left, the merging lane (ramp) is similar to that found on approaches to the highway or freeway. The merging lane ends with a series of broken white lines. These lines mean GIVE-WAY, so although the blue car is front of the approaching red car, the blue car must GIVE-WAY to through traffic. As the driver of the blue car it is important to time your entry well and not get stranded at the end of the merging lane stopped, as you run a high risk of being hit by other merging vehicles. As the driver of the red car it is poor driving to see the blue car coming down the merging lane and be thinking "you're not getting that car in front of me mate". The red car can lower risk by holding a steady speed or creating some space or where possible changing into the right lane. In the diagram to the right, the merging lane is uncontrolled with no signs or road markings, two or more lanes simply terminate. In this event (under National Road Rules) the vehicle in front has the right of way. This situation is often encountered leaving a toll booth on a motorway with 2, 3 or 4 lanes merging into one.

(Written by Joel Neilsen, Managing Director, Safe Drive Training)