SA Road Rules
Section 1 · 11 cards
The foundation: uncontrolled crossroads, turning right, and every kind of T-intersection.
No signs, lines or signals. Both cars are going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver going straight ahead gives way to any vehicle approaching from the right.
Rule 72, Australian Road Rules: giving way at an uncontrolled intersection.
No signs. B is turning left. A is approaching from B's right, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. The give way to the right rule applies to turning drivers too. Turning left, you must still give way to vehicles approaching from your right.
Rule 72, Australian Road Rules: giving way at an uncontrolled intersection.
Three cars, no signs, all going straight. Each gives way to the vehicle on its right.
Work it pairwise. A gives way to C on its right, and B gives way to A on its right. The car with nobody on its right moves first, then the order unwinds.
Rule 72, Australian Road Rules: giving way at an uncontrolled intersection.
No signs, lines or signals. B is turning right. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver turning right must give way to any oncoming vehicle that is going straight ahead or turning left.
Rule 72(5), Australian Road Rules: turning right at an uncontrolled intersection.
A and B face each other. Both are turning right at the same time.
Neither must give way to the other. Two oncoming vehicles both turning right pass in front of each other and may turn at the same time, once each has given way to any other traffic.
Rule 72(5), Australian Road Rules: giving way when turning right.
B is turning right. A is oncoming and turning left into the same road.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver turning right gives way to any oncoming vehicle going straight ahead or turning left. The left turner enters the new road first, then B completes the right turn.
Rule 72(5), Australian Road Rules: turning right gives way to oncoming traffic.
No signs or lines. B is turning right from the terminating road into the continuing road.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver turning from the terminating road must give way to any vehicle travelling on the continuing road.
Rule 73, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a T-intersection.
No signs or lines. B is turning left from the terminating road. A is approaching on the continuing road.
Vehicle B must give way. Turning left or right from the terminating road, you must give way to all vehicles travelling on the continuing road, from both directions.
Rule 73, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a T-intersection.
B is on the continuing road, turning right into the terminating road. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. Turning right from the continuing road into the terminating road, you must give way to any oncoming vehicle on the continuing road that is going straight ahead or turning left.
Rule 73, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a T-intersection.
A T intersection with no signs. A is on the continuing road, coming from B's left. B is on the road that ends.
Vehicle B must give way. The give way to the right rule only settles things at uncontrolled crossroads. At a T intersection the ending road gives way to everything on the continuing road, even traffic approaching from your left. Signs and intersection type always come before the right hand rule.
Rule 73, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a T intersection.
The continuing road curves from west to south, shown by the centre line. B is leaving it, turning right onto the terminating road.
Vehicle B must give way. On a modified T-intersection the priority follows the curve. Leaving the continuing road counts as turning right, so you give way to oncoming vehicles staying on it.
Rule 73, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: modified T-intersections.
Section 2 · 9 cards
What the signs and the painted lines demand, and what happens when they face each other.
B faces a Give Way sign. A is approaching from the left, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. At a Give Way sign you must give way to all vehicles in, entering or approaching the intersection, even those on your left. At a Stop sign the same rule applies, but you must come to a complete stop first.
Rule 69, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a Give Way sign or give way line.
B faces a Give Way sign and is going straight. A is oncoming, turning right, with no sign.
Vehicle B must give way. At a Give Way sign you give way to all vehicles in, entering or approaching the intersection, even an oncoming vehicle turning right across your path, because no sign applies to that driver.
Rule 69, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a Give Way sign.
B faces a Stop sign and a solid stop line. A is approaching from the left, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must stop completely at the stop line, then give way to all vehicles in, entering or approaching the intersection before moving off. Slowing down without fully stopping is an offence.
Rule 67, Australian Road Rules: stopping and giving way at a stop sign.
B is approaching a stop sign, slowing right down but not quite stopping.
Stop means the wheels stop turning, as near as practicable to the stop line and before reaching it. There is no three second rule, but a slow creep through the line is not a stop. It is an instant fail on the driving test and an offence on the road. Stop fully, look properly, then give way as normal.
Rule 67, Australian Road Rules: stopping and giving way at a stop sign.
A faces a Stop sign. B faces a Give Way sign. B is turning right.
The signs cancel each other out. A Stop sign is not more powerful than a Give Way sign. Both drivers give way to all other traffic first, then the normal rules apply between them: B is turning right, so B gives way to oncoming A.
Rules 67 and 69, Australian Road Rules: normal give way rules apply between the signed drivers.
B is leaving a car park exit with a Give Way sign and broken line. A is travelling along the road.
Vehicle B must give way. At a give way sign or give way line at any place, even outside an intersection, give way to any vehicle or pedestrian at or near the sign or line.
Rule 71, Australian Road Rules: give way signs and lines at other places.
B is turning left using the slip lane. A is travelling on the road B is entering.
Vehicle B must give way. Turning left in a slip lane, give way to vehicles on the road you are entering and to any pedestrian or bicycle rider in or entering the slip lane.
Rules 72 and 69, Australian Road Rules: turning left using a slip lane.
B faces a Give Way sign at a one lane bridge. A is already on the bridge, coming the other way.
Vehicle B must give way. At a Give Way sign before a bridge or length of narrow road, give way to any oncoming vehicle that is on the bridge or narrow road when you reach the sign.
Rule 70, Australian Road Rules: give way signs at bridges and narrow roads.
Roadworks ahead. A traffic controller is holding a STOP sign toward B.
You must stop before reaching a hand-held stop sign, and you must not move off until the controller stops showing it to you or waves you through. The lollipop carries the same force as a red light, and the fines for ignoring one near workers are brutal.
Rule 101, Australian Road Rules: hand-held stop signs.
Section 3 · 12 cards
Greens, arrows, red lights, dead lights and the things that outrank them.
Both lights are green. B is turning right. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. A green light means you may enter the intersection, not that you have right of way. Turning right at traffic lights you must give way to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead or turning left, unless you have a green arrow.
Rule 62, Australian Road Rules: giving way when turning at traffic lights.
B has a green light and is turning left. A pedestrian is crossing the road B is entering.
Vehicle B must give way. Even with a green light, a turning driver gives way to any pedestrian crossing the road they are entering. The green light controls when you may enter, not who goes first.
Rule 62, Australian Road Rules: giving way when turning at traffic lights.
The light turns yellow as Car B approaches the stop line.
A yellow light means stop. You may only continue if you are so close to the stop line that you cannot stop safely. It is never a signal to speed up.
Rule 57, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: traffic lights.
The light is red. B has stopped with the whole car behind the stop line.
On a red light, stop as near as practicable to the stop line and before reaching it. Creeping over the line, or stopping with your nose poking into the crossing area, is an offence and an instant fail on the driving test. If you cannot see the lights from the line, the line is still where you stop.
Rule 56, Australian Road Rules: stopping on a red traffic light.
B wants to turn right. The signal shows a green circle with a red right arrow. A is oncoming.
Vehicle B must stop. A red arrow stops the movement it points to, even while the round green light lets other traffic go straight. Wait behind the line until the arrow turns green or goes out, then turn if it is safe. The green circle was never yours.
Rules 56 and 60, Australian Road Rules: traffic arrows at intersections.
B faces a flashing yellow right turn arrow. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B may turn, but must give way to any vehicle on the road being entered, to pedestrians crossing it, and, when turning right, to oncoming vehicles going straight ahead or turning left.
Rule 64, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a flashing yellow traffic arrow.
The traffic lights are not working. B is turning right. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
Vehicle B must give way. When traffic lights are not working, the intersection is treated as unsigned: apply the normal give way rules. If a traffic light stop sign is posted, treat it as a stop sign instead.
Rule 63, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: traffic lights not operating.
B has a green light, but queued traffic has blocked the exit on the far side.
Do not enter an intersection unless you can drive all the way through it. Even on a green light, if the intersection or the road beyond it is blocked, stay out so you do not block the cross traffic.
Rule 128, Australian Road Rules: entering blocked intersections.
Flashing twin red lights outside a fire station. B is approaching along the road.
Stop before the stop line and stay put while the twin red lights flash. They guard fire stations, ambulance stations and some bridges, and they work like a red traffic light that lasts exactly as long as the flashing does. Move off only when the lights stop.
Rule 66, Australian Road Rules: stopping for twin red lights.
A Left Turn on Red Permitted After Stopping sign is posted. B wants to turn left on the red light.
Vehicle B may turn left on red only where this sign is posted, and only after coming to a complete stop at the line. Then give way to all vehicles and all pedestrians before turning. It is not check and go.
Rules 59(2) and 62, Australian Road Rules: left turn on red after stopping.
The light is red. A green bicycle box sits between two stop lines, with a rider waiting in it.
On a red light, stop before the first stop line you come to and keep the green bicycle storage area completely clear. The area lets bicycle riders wait at the front of the queue.
Rules 56 and 60A, Australian Road Rules: bicycle storage areas.
The lights are green for B, but a police officer is signalling B to stop.
B must stop, even on a green light. A reasonable direction from a police officer or authorised person overrides traffic lights, signs and every give way rule.
Rule 304, Australian Road Rules: directions by police officers and authorised persons.
Section 4 · 3 cards
The give way cards. The complete roundabout guide with every multi-lane type is further down this page.
B is about to enter. A is already travelling around the roundabout.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver entering a roundabout must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.
Rule 114, Australian Road Rules: giving way when entering a roundabout.
B wants to go back the way it came, using the roundabout to turn around.
Treat it as a right turn. Signal right on approach, give way to all vehicles already in the roundabout, travel clockwise all the way around the island, then signal left as you pass the exit before yours and leave. On a busy road it is the safest legal way to turn around.
Rules 113, 114 and 118, Australian Road Rules: roundabout signals and giving way.
A wide roundabout with room for two lines of traffic. A is leaving at the next exit. A bicycle rider is continuing around on the far left.
The rider must give way. A bicycle rider travelling in the far left lane or line of a roundabout with two or more lines of traffic must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout. Drivers should still signal left and check for riders before cutting across.
Rule 119, Australian Road Rules: giving way by the rider of a bicycle to a vehicle leaving a roundabout.
Section 5 · 13 cards
Entering, leaving and crossing the traffic stream: driveways, medians, U-turns and reversing.
B is making a U-turn. A is travelling straight ahead on the same road.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver making a U-turn must give way to all vehicles and pedestrians.
Rule 38, Australian Road Rules: giving way when making a U-turn.
A U-turn Permitted sign is posted. B is making a U-turn. A is oncoming, going straight ahead.
At traffic lights you may only begin a U-turn if a U-turn Permitted sign is posted. Even with the sign, a U-turning driver gives way to all vehicles and pedestrians, so B waits for A.
Rules 40 and 38, Australian Road Rules: U-turns at intersections with traffic lights.
B is leaving a driveway, crossing the footpath to turn onto the road.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver entering a road from a driveway must give way to vehicles travelling on the road and to pedestrians on the footpath.
Rule 74, Australian Road Rules: entering a road from a road related area.
B is turning left off the road into a driveway. A pedestrian is walking along the footpath.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver leaving the road to enter a driveway must give way to any pedestrian or rider on the footpath the driver crosses.
Rule 75, Australian Road Rules: entering a road related area from a road.
B is leaving a service station across the footpath. A pedestrian is walking along the footpath and A is on the road.
Vehicle B must give way. Leaving a service station, car park or driveway, give way first to pedestrians and bicycle riders on the footpath you cross, then to all traffic on the road. The footpath belongs to the pedestrian, not the car nosing across it.
Rule 74, Australian Road Rules: entering a road from a road related area.
B is parked at the kerb and is pulling out. A is approaching along the road.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver moving from the side of the road must give way to vehicles travelling on the road. If you are stopped, you must remain stationary until it is safe to pull out.
Rule 87, Australian Road Rules: giving way when moving from the side of the road.
Car B is parked at the kerb, indicating to pull out. Car A is coming up behind.
Before moving off from the kerb or a parking area, signal for at least five seconds and give way to all traffic in the lane, including bicycles. Pull out only into a safe gap.
Rule 87, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: moving off.
B is parked in the median strip parking area and is turning out. A is travelling on the carriageway.
Vehicle B must give way. Turning from a median strip parking area into a lane, you must give way to any vehicle travelling in that lane.
Rule 87(3), Australian Road Rules: moving from a median strip parking area.
A is already in the median turning bay. B is entering the bay from the other direction.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver entering a median turning bay must give way to any oncoming vehicle that is already in the turning bay.
Rule 86, Australian Road Rules: giving way in median turning bays.
B is turning through a break in the dividing strip. A is travelling on the carriageway B is entering.
Vehicle B must give way. Driving through a break in a dividing strip, you must give way to any vehicle travelling on the part of the road you are entering.
Rule 84, Australian Road Rules: giving way when driving through a break in a dividing strip.
B is crossing the painted island to reach the turning lane early. A is entering the turning lane from the marked lane.
Vehicle B must give way. You may drive on some painted islands for up to 50 metres to enter a turning lane, but you must give way to any vehicle in the turning lane or entering it from the marked lane.
Rule 85, Australian Road Rules: giving way on a painted island.
B is reversing out of a driveway onto the road. A is travelling along the road.
Vehicle B must give way to everything. Only reverse when it is safe and never further than necessary, and give way to all vehicles and pedestrians when reversing onto a road across a footpath.
Rules 296 and 74, Australian Road Rules: reversing and entering a road from a driveway.
B is reversing out of an angle parking bay. A is approaching along the lane.
Vehicle B must give way. Reverse only when it is safe, and give way to everything in the lane you are backing into. Parked cars beside you block your view, so creep out slowly until you can see, then commit. Adelaide's angle parks catch out plenty of test candidates.
Rule 296, Australian Road Rules: driving a vehicle in reverse.
Section 6 · 10 cards
Lane ends, zip merges, marked lanes, freeways and passing safely.
Two marked lanes. B's lane is ending. B is slightly ahead but is crossing the lane line into A's lane.
Vehicle B must give way. When you cross a lane line to change lanes, you must give way to vehicles in the lane you are entering, even when your lane is ending and even when you are slightly ahead.
Rule 148, Australian Road Rules: giving way when moving from one marked lane to another.
The road narrows and there is no lane line. Part of A is ahead of B.
Vehicle B must give way. When lines of traffic merge into a single line with no lane line, you must give way to any vehicle that has any part of it ahead of yours. The vehicle in front goes first, like a zip.
Rule 149, Australian Road Rules: giving way when lines of traffic merge into a single line of traffic.
Two marked lanes both turn right. B is in the left turning lane, A is in the right turning lane.
Lane arrows are law, and they apply all the way around the corner. The left turning lane sweeps into the left lane of the new road, the right turning lane into the right lane. Drive in the direction your arrow shows and stay in your own lane mid corner, because drifting across is how mirrors get clipped.
Rules 92 and 146, Australian Road Rules: traffic lane arrows and staying in your lane.
A grey car is waiting to turn right. B slips left over the edge line to pass it.
Stay inside the continuous white edge line, with a few legal exceptions. You may cross it at any time to pass a vehicle that is turning right and signalling, or to let traffic past a slow vehicle, and for up to 100 metres to stop at the side or move to a shoulder or service road. Joyriding along the shoulder is none of those.
Rule 150, Australian Road Rules: driving on or across a continuous white edge line.
B needs to turn left just ahead. A bus lane runs along the kerb.
You may drive in a bus lane for up to 100 metres to turn into or out of a road or driveway, or to avoid an obstruction. Cruising along it to jump the queue is an offence with a serious fine. The lane belongs to the buses.
Rules 154 and 158, Australian Road Rules: bus lanes and their exceptions.
A 110 km/h road with two lanes in each direction. B has finished overtaking and the right lane ahead is clear.
On a multi-lane road where the limit is over 80 km/h, or where a Keep Left Unless Overtaking sign applies, you must not drive in the right lane except to overtake, turn right, make a U-turn or avoid an obstruction. Cruising in the right lane is an offence, not a preference.
Rule 130, Australian Road Rules: keeping to the left on a multi-lane road.
A car is parked on B side of the road. A is oncoming on the clear side.
Vehicle B must give way. You may only cross the centre line to pass an obstruction when it is necessary, reasonable and safe, with a clear view of approaching traffic. In practice the oncoming vehicle goes first.
Australian Road Rules, keeping left of a dividing line: the obstruction exception, per official guidance.
Car A has stopped to turn right and is signalling right. Car B wants to continue past.
You may overtake to the left of a vehicle that is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, while it signals right, but only when it is safe. Otherwise, overtake on the left only in a marked lane on a multi-lane road.
Rule 141, Australian Road Rules: no overtaking to the left of a vehicle.
The long vehicle is signalling left and swinging wide from the second lane. B is in the left lane.
Hold back. A long vehicle showing a Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle sign may use both lanes to turn, and you must not pass on its left while it is signalling and turning left unless it is clearly safe.
Rules 143 and 28, Australian Road Rules: do not overtake turning vehicle signs.
B is following another car. The gap matters more than the speed.
You must drive far enough behind the vehicle in front to stop safely and avoid a collision. The easy measure is three seconds: when the car ahead passes a pole, you should not reach it before you count three. Double it in rain, at night or behind anything big.
Rule 126, Australian Road Rules: keeping a safe distance behind vehicles.
Section 7 · 11 cards
Crossings of every kind, shared zones and the people on foot who come first.
B is turning left. A pedestrian is crossing the road that B is entering.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver turning left or right must give way to any pedestrian at or near the intersection who is crossing the road the driver is entering.
Rule 72(3), Australian Road Rules: giving way to pedestrians when turning.
B is turning left. The pedestrian is crossing the road B is leaving, behind the turn.
A turning driver gives way to pedestrians crossing the road they are entering, not the road they are leaving. B may continue, but always drive with care around any pedestrian.
Rule 353, Australian Road Rules: pedestrians crossing the road a driver is leaving.
A pedestrian is on the marked crossing. B is approaching it.
Vehicle B must give way. A driver approaching a pedestrian crossing must be able to stop safely before it, and must give way to any pedestrian on or entering the crossing. Never overtake a vehicle that is slowing or stopped at a crossing.
Rule 81, Australian Road Rules: giving way at a pedestrian crossing.
A has stopped for the crossing. B is waiting behind. Overtaking here is illegal.
Both cars must wait. You must never overtake or pass a vehicle that is slowing down or has stopped at a pedestrian or children's crossing. The driver in front can see something you cannot.
Rule 82, Australian Road Rules: overtaking at crossings.
Flags are out and a child is on the crossing. B must stop at the solid line.
Vehicle B must stop at the stop line and must not move off until there is no pedestrian or bicycle rider on or entering the crossing. Approach slowly enough that you can always stop safely.
Rule 80, Australian Road Rules: stopping at a children's crossing.
The crossing light is flashing yellow. A pedestrian is still on the crossing.
Vehicle B must give way to any pedestrian on the crossing, and must not overtake or pass a vehicle that has stopped to give way. Once the crossing is completely clear, B may proceed.
Rule 65, Australian Road Rules: marked foot crossings with a flashing yellow light.
A pedestrian steps onto a raised crossing. Car B passed the 40 km/h sign on approach.
A wombat crossing is a pedestrian crossing built on a raised platform. Approach at the signed 40 km/h, be ready to stop, and give way to any pedestrian on or entering the crossing.
Rule 81, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: wombat crossings.
The koala crossing lights are flashing and a child is on the crossing.
Stop for anyone on or entering the crossing while the lights flash, and keep to 25 km/h between the signs. Children move unpredictably, so stay ready until the crossing is completely clear.
Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) and the SA Driver's Handbook: school (koala) crossings.
B is driving through a signed shared zone. A pedestrian is walking in the zone.
Vehicle B must give way. In a shared zone you must give way to any pedestrian anywhere in the zone, not just at crossings, and keep to the speed limit shown on the zone sign.
Rule 83, Australian Road Rules: giving way to pedestrians in a shared zone.
A pedestrian is waiting at a refuge island. There are no zebra stripes, lights or crossing signs.
Without zebra markings, signals or crossing signs, a refuge island is not a pedestrian crossing, so the stop and give way duties for crossings do not apply. The island simply lets people cross one half of the road at a time. You are not required to stop, but ease off, watch them, and never wave anyone across.
Rule 81, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: marked crossings and refuges.
B is turning left in the slip lane. A pedestrian is crossing the slip lane toward the island.
Vehicle B must give way. In a slip lane you give way to vehicles on the road you are entering and to any pedestrian or bicycle rider in or entering the slip lane. People heading for the island are exactly who the rule protects, so come in slow and cover the brake.
Rules 72 and 69, Australian Road Rules: turning left using a slip lane.
Section 8 · 6 cards
Riders are vehicles too: bike lanes, hook turns, passing distance and lane filtering.
B is turning right at a green light. An oncoming bicycle rider is going straight through.
Vehicle B must give way. A bicycle is a vehicle under the Australian Road Rules, so an oncoming rider going straight has the same right of way as an oncoming car. Wait for the bike, and do not try to beat it. Judging a rider's speed is harder than it looks.
Rule 62, Australian Road Rules: giving way when turning right at traffic lights.
B is turning left across the bicycle lane. A bicycle is riding along the lane.
Vehicle B must give way. You may drive in a bicycle lane for up to 50 metres to turn left, but first give way to any bicycle travelling in the lane.
Rules 158 and 148, Australian Road Rules: driving in a bicycle lane and giving way when moving into another lane.
B is turning left across the bicycle lane with the indicator on. A rider in the lane is coming up behind.
Your indicator decides this one. A bicycle rider must not pass on the left of a vehicle that is turning left and signalling left, but riders may lawfully pass on the left of everyone else. So signal early, check the mirror and your blind spot, and only turn once the lane is clear. Turning across a rider without warning is the classic left hook crash.
Rule 141, Australian Road Rules: overtaking to the left and bicycle riders.
A rider has hook turned and is waiting in front of B at the lights. The light has just gone green.
Bicycle riders may turn right at most intersections with a hook turn. The rider keeps far left, crosses to the far side of the road they are entering, waits there for the lights on that road to turn green, then rides through. When your green comes up with a rider sitting in front of you, give them room to move off first.
Rule 35, Australian Road Rules: optional hook turn by a bicycle rider.
B is overtaking a bicycle rider. The speed limit here is 60 km/h.
When passing a cyclist you must leave at least 1 metre where the limit is 60 km/h or less, and 1.5 metres where it is over 60, measured from the widest point of the bike to the widest point of your car, mirrors included. You may cross centre lines to do it when it is safe. If you cannot give the space, wait behind.
South Australian minimum passing distance law and the SA Driver's Handbook: passing cyclists.
Two lanes queued at a red light. A motorcycle is filtering between them.
Lane filtering is legal in South Australia under strict conditions: no faster than 30 km/h, never in school zones, never where a no filtering sign applies, and only when it is safe. As a driver, expect bikes between the queues at lights. Hold your line, check before you change lanes, and never open a door into the gap.
Rule 151A, Australian Road Rules: lane filtering between vehicles on a motor bike.
Section 9 · 7 cards
Rails always win: trams, passengers, boom gates and stop signs at crossings.
The tram has stopped and passengers are crossing to it. B is driving between the kerb and the tram.
Vehicle B must stop and give way to any pedestrian crossing between the edge of the road and a stationary tram, and stay stopped until they are clear of your side of the road.
Australian Road Rules Part 11 and the SA Driver's Handbook: trams and tram passengers.
B has drifted onto tram tracks marked with a broken yellow line. A tram is coming up behind.
Vehicle B must move out of the way as soon as it can do so safely. Where tram tracks are marked with a yellow line, never move into the path of a tram, and if you are on the tracks, get off them promptly.
Rule 76, Australian Road Rules: keeping clear of trams.
A train is approaching the level crossing. B is approaching on the road.
Vehicle B must give way. At a level crossing you must give way to any train or tram on or approaching the crossing, from any direction. Never enter unless the crossing is completely clear ahead.
Australian Road Rules Part 10 and the SA Driver's Handbook: level crossings.
Car B reaches a railway level crossing with a stop sign. A train is coming.
Stop completely at the stop line, then give way to any train or tram on, entering or approaching the crossing. Cross only when no train is coming and the road on the other side is clear.
Rule 121, Australian Road Rules: stopping and giving way at a stop sign at a level crossing.
A give way sign and broken line guard the crossing. A train is approaching.
At a give way sign or give way line at a level crossing, slow down, look both ways and be ready to stop. Give way to any train or tram on or approaching the crossing. If you are not certain you can clear the tracks, stay out. Trains cannot stop for you.
Rule 122, Australian Road Rules: give way signs and lines at level crossings.
The booms are down and the red lights are flashing as Car B arrives.
Never enter a level crossing while the boom is down or still moving, or while the red lights are flashing. Wait until the boom is fully up and the lights stop before crossing.
Rule 123, Australian Road Rules: entering a level crossing when a train or tram is approaching.
Traffic is queued just beyond the level crossing. B has not entered yet.
Never enter a level crossing unless there is room for your whole vehicle on the far side. If the road beyond is blocked, stop before the tracks and wait, no matter what the signals show.
Rule 123, Australian Road Rules: entering a level crossing.
Section 10 · 7 cards
Sirens, school buses, the 25 km/h rules and animals on the road.
Built-up area. The bus is signalling right to pull out from a bus stop. B is approaching behind.
Vehicle B must give way. In a built-up area you must give way to a bus that is signalling to pull out from a bus stop and displays a give way to buses sign.
Rule 77, Australian Road Rules: giving way to buses.
A school bus has stopped on the other side to pick up children, lights flashing.
Pass at no more than 25 km/h, in either direction, whenever a school bus has stopped to set down or pick up children. Its yellow lights flash as the warning. Watch for children crossing the road.
Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) section 82, and the SA Driver's Handbook: passing school buses.
An emergency vehicle is approaching behind B with flashing lights and siren.
Vehicle B must give way. You must move out of the path of a police or emergency vehicle with a siren or flashing red and blue lights, and you must not move into its path. This rule overrides every other give way rule.
Rules 78 and 79, Australian Road Rules: giving way to police and emergency vehicles.
An ambulance with lights and siren is coming up behind B.
Move out of its path and give way so it gets a clear, uninterrupted run. Indicate and move left as soon as it is safe. You may bend another road rule to get out of the way, but only if you can do it safely.
Rules 78 and 79, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: emergency vehicles.
B has a green light. An ambulance with lights and siren on is crossing the intersection.
Vehicle B must give way. You must give an emergency vehicle a clear and uninterrupted passage, even when your light is green. Hold your position until it has passed, then go if the way is clear. Never block the intersection trying to get out of the way.
Rules 78 and 79, Australian Road Rules: giving way to police and emergency vehicles.
A police car is stopped ahead with red and blue lights flashing.
Pass at no more than 25 km/h whenever an emergency vehicle is stopped with red or blue lights flashing. Since 19 May 2025 breakdown service vehicles with flashing amber lights get the same 25 km/h, but only on your side of the road.
Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) sections 82A and 83, and the SA Driver's Handbook: emergency service speed zones.
The rider of a restive horse has raised a hand, pointing to the horse.
Pull as far left as you safely can, stop, and switch off the engine. Stay put until moving off will not frighten the horse again. The signal is the rider raising a hand and pointing to the horse.
Rule 303A, Australian Road Rules: giving way to restive horses.
Section 11 · 16 cards
Speed limits, signalling, lights, and where you can and cannot stop.
A suburban street with houses and street lights, and not a speed sign anywhere.
Where no speed limit sign applies, the default limit is 50 km/h in a built-up area, an area with buildings or street lighting, and 100 km/h everywhere else. Turning into an unsigned side street resets you to the default until a sign says otherwise.
Rule 25, Australian Road Rules: the default speed limit.
B is crawling well under the limit for no reason, with a queue building behind.
A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian. Driving slower than the limit is fine, but driving abnormally slowly without a reason, like 20 km/h in a clear 60 zone, is an offence. Confidence at the right speed is part of safe driving.
Rule 125, Australian Road Rules: unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians.
B is turning left into the side street ahead, indicator already flashing well back from the corner.
You must signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians, and a flick as you turn warns nobody. Indicate first, then brake, then turn, and cancel the blinker once the turn is done. From a parked position the law sets a hard minimum of five seconds.
Rules 46 and 48, Australian Road Rules: giving change of direction signals.
Night driving. B is on high beam with a car coming the other way.
Do not use high beam within 200 metres of an oncoming vehicle, or within 200 metres behind a vehicle you are following. Dazzled drivers steer at what they are looking at. The one exception: you may flick to high beam briefly just before you begin overtaking.
Rule 218, Australian Road Rules: using headlights on high beam.
Traffic is queued past a side road. A Keep Clear box is painted on the lane. Car A is waiting to cross.
A driver must not stop on a road area marked with a Keep Clear marking. If traffic is queued ahead, stop before the words and leave the whole box open so vehicles like Car A can get through.
Rule 96, Australian Road Rules: keep clear markings.
B wants the side street, but a NO ENTRY sign faces it. Traffic comes the other way.
A NO ENTRY sign marks the exit end of a one way street. Driving past it, even a few metres to grab a park, puts you head on with drivers who are not expecting you. Enter one way streets only from the entry end, with the flow of the arrows.
Rule 100, Australian Road Rules: no entry signs.
A traffic island sits mid road with a Keep Left sign on it.
A Keep Left sign on an island or obstruction means you must pass to the left of it, so the sign and island stay on your right as you go by. Oncoming traffic does the same on its side, which is exactly what keeps head on traffic apart at islands. Keep Right works the mirror way.
Rule 99, Australian Road Rules: keep left and keep right signs.
B has parked near a T intersection, outside the no stopping zone at the corner.
Do not stop within 10 metres of an intersection without traffic lights, or within 20 metres of one with lights, unless a parking sign says you may. Any part of your car inside the zone counts. The one exception is the unbroken side of a T intersection, where you may park along the continuing road.
Rule 170, Australian Road Rules: stopping in or near an intersection.
A pedestrian crossing mid block. The no stopping zones are marked in red.
Do not stop on a pedestrian crossing, or within 20 metres before it and 10 metres after it, unless a parking sign allows. Parked cars beside a crossing hide people stepping out, especially children. The zones exist so drivers and walkers can see each other in time.
Rule 172, Australian Road Rules: stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing.
A bus stop sign on the kerb. The no stopping zones run either side of it.
Unless you are driving a public bus, do not stop at a bus stop or within 20 metres before the sign and 10 metres after it, unless a parking sign allows. Any part of your car inside the zone counts. Buses need the full length to pull in flat against the kerb for prams and wheelchairs.
Rule 195, Australian Road Rules: stopping at or near a bus stop.
A continuous yellow line runs along the kerb. A car has stopped on it.
You must not stop at the side of a road marked with a continuous yellow edge line. It works like a no stopping sign painted on the bitumen, and it covers the whole length of the line, day and night unless signed otherwise. Adelaide uses them heavily on clearways and busy arterials.
Rule 169, Australian Road Rules: no stopping on a road with a yellow edge line.
Two cars parked on opposite kerbs. One faces with the traffic on its side, one faces against it.
When you parallel park you must face the direction of travel of the lane beside you, parked parallel and as close as practicable to the left kerb, with at least a metre to the cars in front and behind. Parking nose against the flow means crossing traffic twice and dazzling oncoming drivers at night.
Rule 208, Australian Road Rules: parallel parking.
A car has parked half on the road, half on the nature strip. B drives on past.
In a built-up area you must not stop on a footpath, shared path, bicycle path, dividing strip or nature strip unless a parking sign allows it. Half on, half off still counts. Verges hide kids, cover service pits and belong to the people walking, not the parked car.
Rule 197, Australian Road Rules: stopping on a path, dividing strip or nature strip.
B has stopped beside a parked car, just for a minute. The lane behind is already banking up.
You must not stop with any part of your car between a parked vehicle and the centre of the road. That is double parking, and hazard lights do not make it legal. Even a quick school pickup or food grab forces everyone behind you onto the wrong side of the road.
Rule 189, Australian Road Rules: double parking.
Two signs, two very different rules. B is dropping someone off under the No Parking sign.
No Stopping means never, not even for a moment. No Parking allows a stop only to drop off or pick up passengers or goods: stay within 3 metres of the car and be gone within 2 minutes. Treat the P with the slash as a kiss and drop zone, and the circle with the slash as a brick wall.
Rules 167 and 168, Australian Road Rules: no stopping and no parking signs.
B is parked at the kerb about to open the driver's door. A bicycle rider is coming along the bicycle lane.
The person opening the door must wait. You must not cause a hazard to any person or vehicle by opening a door, leaving it open, or getting out. Check the mirror and look over your shoulder first. Car dooring is one of the most common ways riders get seriously hurt in Adelaide.
Rule 269(3), Australian Road Rules: opening doors and getting out of a vehicle.
Section 12 · 12 cards
Two or three rules colliding at once: standoffs, chains of priority, dead signals and sirens — the combinations drivers ask the motoring clubs about most.
A four-way uncontrolled crossroad. Four cars arrive at the same moment, all going straight. Every driver has a vehicle on their right.
Give way to the right runs in a circle here: A waits for B, B waits for C, C waits for D, and D waits for A. The Australian Road Rules deliberately leave the tie unbroken, so the deadlock is solved by people, not law. In practice the driver who stopped first eases forward, or one driver clearly waves another through. Make eye contact, move off slowly, and never assume — only go when the car on your right is definitely staying put.
Rule 72, Australian Road Rules: the give way to the right duty is circular when four vehicles arrive together — courtesy, not law, breaks the tie.
Every corner of this crossroad has a Stop sign. A arrived and stopped first, going straight. B stopped a moment later on A's right, also going straight.
Everyone must come to a complete stop. After that the signs cancel each other out and the ordinary rules take over: B is approaching from A's right, so A gives way. There is no first-in, first-out rule in Australia — that is an American system. However long you have waited, you still work it from the right, and a right-turner still gives way to oncoming traffic.
Rules 67 and 72, Australian Road Rules: after stopping, normal give way rules decide between stop-signed drivers.
A faces a Stop sign and is turning right. B faces a Give Way sign coming the other way, going straight. The crossing road is empty.
A Stop sign is not stronger than a Give Way sign — between two signed drivers the signs cancel out and the ordinary rules decide. A is turning right across B's path, and a right-turner gives way to oncoming traffic going straight ahead. The only extra duty the Stop sign adds is A's complete stop; B only needs to slow enough to be safe.
Rules 67, 69 and 72(5), Australian Road Rules: opposing signs cancel out; the right-turner gives way.
The side streets meet the main road at an offset. A wants to cross from one side street to the other. B is coming along the main road from A's right.
Because the side streets don't line up, the law treats this as two separate T-intersections. Entering the main road, A is on a terminating road and gives way to everything on the continuing road, including B. Once on the main road, A becomes an ordinary right/left turner at the second junction and must give way again before leaving it. Two intersections, two give way decisions, and a separate signal for each turn.
Rule 72, Australian Road Rules: T-intersection duties apply separately at each leg of a staggered T.
A is turning right off the road into a driveway. B is oncoming, going straight. C is nosing out of the same driveway, wanting to leave.
Two duties stack up here. A is leaving the road across oncoming traffic, so A waits for B. C is entering the road from a road-related area and must give way to every vehicle on the road, the footpath and the driveway itself — that includes A, who is still on the road while turning in. So B rolls through first, A completes the turn, and C waits for both before joining the road.
Rule 74, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: entering or leaving a road-related area gives way to the road.
A is turning right on a full green with no arrow. B is oncoming on its own green, going straight. A pedestrian is crossing the road A wants to enter.
A full green means you may enter the intersection, not that you own it. Move in and wait near the centre. Give way to every oncoming vehicle going straight or turning left, then to any pedestrian crossing the road you are entering, then complete the turn. If the lights change to yellow or red while you are waiting inside, finish the turn as soon as it is safe — you entered lawfully on green.
Rule 62, Australian Road Rules: giving way when turning right at traffic lights.
B, on the continuing road, is turning right into the side street. A pedestrian is already crossing the mouth of that street. A waits on the terminating road, turning right.
Work the chain from the most protected road user down. B is turning into the side street, so B gives way to the pedestrian crossing the road B is entering. A is on the terminating road, so A gives way to every vehicle on the continuing road — including B swinging across. The pedestrian is crossing the road A is leaving, not entering, so A owes them no turning duty — but A still can't move until B is through.
Rules 72 and 72(3), Australian Road Rules: terminating roads and turning drivers give way in a chain.
A and B arrive together at opposite entries of a single-lane roundabout, both turning right. Neither is on the roundabout yet.
There is no give way to the right at a roundabout: you give way to any vehicle already on it. Two cars entering from opposite sides and turning right follow each other clockwise around the island — their paths chase, they don't cross at entry. So both can roll in together. The duty only bites if one is a beat ahead: the moment a car is circulating before your entry point, it is 'in the roundabout' and you wait.
Rule 114, Australian Road Rules: give way to vehicles in the roundabout, not to your right.
The signals are completely dead. A is turning left in the slip lane. B, oncoming, is turning right into the same road A wants to enter.
Dead or flashing-yellow signals hand the intersection back to ordinary rules — and the slip lane rule doesn't need lights at all. Turning left from a slip lane, A gives way to any vehicle turning right into the road A is entering — that is exactly B — plus any pedestrian or rider on the slip lane. Everyone else at a dead crossroad works give way to the right, and treats any posted signs as still standing.
Rules 72 and 69, Australian Road Rules: slip lane duties and unsignalised intersection rules when signals fail.
A waits at a red light. An ambulance closes in behind with lights and siren. Cross traffic still has a green light.
You must clear an emergency vehicle's path, but only when it is safe. First look for a legal escape: move left within your lane or into a vacant legal space. In SA you may edge past the stop line against the red only if that is the only way to let it through and it is clearly safe — never roll into the path of cross traffic. If you are boxed in, stay put: emergency drivers are trained for this and will find a way around. If a red-light camera flashes while you make way, the fine can be reviewed.
Rules 78 and 79, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: emergency vehicles.
A is about to enter the roundabout. B is already circulating. A fire truck arrives at the opposite entry, lights and siren going.
Never stop inside a roundabout for a siren if you can help it — a blocked circle traps everyone, including the emergency crew. If you haven't entered, wait at the give way line and leave the circulating lane empty. If you are already on the roundabout, exit as you normally would, then pull to the left and stop once you are clear. The rule is the same as everywhere else: get out of the path as soon as you can do it safely.
Rules 78 and 79, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: emergency vehicles at intersections.
A is making a U-turn on a quiet street. C is waiting in a driveway ahead, about to turn onto the same side of the road.
A U-turn is the lowest-priority move on the road — you give way to every vehicle and pedestrian before you start. But the SA rules carve out exactly one exception: you do not have to give way to drivers entering the road from a road-related area or private property. C, coming off a driveway, must give way to everything already on the road — and mid-U-turn, A is on the road. Both rules point the same way: C waits. A should still only start the turn when the whole street, driveways included, is clear.
Rules 38 and 74, Australian Road Rules, and the SA Driver's Handbook: U-turns and driveways.