Division 4 Keeping clear of and giving way to particular vehicles

76   Keeping clear of trams travelling in tram lanes etc

(1)  A driver must not move into the path of an approaching tram travelling in a tram lane, or on tram tracks marked along the left side of the tracks by a broken or continuous yellow line parallel to the tracks.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note. Approaching, left, tram and tram tracks are defined in the Dictionary, and tram lane is defined in rule 155.

(2)  If a driver is in the path of an approaching tram travelling in a tram lane, or on tram tracks marked along the left side of the tracks by a broken or continuous yellow line parallel to the tracks, the driver must move out of the path of the tram as soon as the driver can do so safely.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

(3)  In this rule:

tram includes a bus travelling along tram tracks.

Note. Bus and travelling along tram tracks are defined in the Dictionary.

77   Giving way to buses

(1)  A driver driving on a length of road in a built-up area, in the left lane or left line of traffic, or in a bicycle lane on the far left side of the road, must give way to a bus in front of the driver if:

(a)  the bus has stopped, or is moving slowly, at the far left side of the road, on a shoulder of the road, or in a bus-stop bay, and

(b)  the bus displays a give way to buses sign and the right direction indicator lights of the bus are operating, and

(c)  the bus is about to enter or proceed in the lane or line of traffic in which the driver is driving.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note 1. Built-up area, bus and length of road are defined in the Dictionary, left lane and left line of traffic are defined in subrule (2), and shoulder is defined in rule 12.

Note 2. For this rule, give way means the driver must slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision—see the definition in the Dictionary.

Note 3. The driver of the bus must give the change of direction signal for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians—see rule 48 (2) and (3).

Note 4. Under rule 87 (1), a driver entering a marked lane, or a line of traffic, from the side of the road must give way to any vehicle travelling in the lane or line of traffic. However, the driver of a public bus does not have to give way to a vehicle if the vehicle is required to give way to the bus under this rule and it is safe for the bus to enter the lane, or line of traffic, in which the other vehicle is travelling—see rule 87 (2).

(2)  In this rule:

left lane, of a road, means:

(a)  the marked lane nearest to the far left side of the road (the first lane) or, if the first lane is a bicycle lane, the marked lane next to the first lane, or

(b)  if there is an obstruction in the first lane (for example, a parked car or roadworks) and the first lane is not a bicycle lane—the marked lane next to the first lane.

left line of traffic, for a road, means the line of traffic nearest to the far left side of the road.

Note. Marked lane and obstruction are defined in the Dictionary, and bicycle lane is defined in rule 153.

 

Give way to buses sign

Note 1 for diagram. This sign is displayed on buses.

Note 2 for diagram. This sign must comply with the size requirements set out in rule 316–1.

78   Keeping clear of police and emergency vehicles

(1)  A driver must not move into the path of an approaching police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note. Approaching, emergency vehicle and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.

(2)  If a driver is in the path of an approaching police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm, the driver must move out of the path of the vehicle as soon as the driver can do so safely.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

(3)  This rule applies to the driver despite any other rule of these Rules.

79   Giving way to police and emergency vehicles

(1)  A driver must give way to a police or emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing blue or red light (whether or not it is also displaying other lights) or sounding an alarm.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note 1. Emergency vehicle and police vehicle are defined in the Dictionary.

Note 2. For this rule, give way means:

(a)  if the driver is stopped—remain stationary until it is safe to proceed, or

(b)  in any other case—slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision,

      —see the definition in the Dictionary.

(2)  This rule applies to the driver despite any other rule that would otherwise require the driver of a police or emergency vehicle to give way to the driver.

79–1   NSW rule: interfering or interrupting funeral cortege or authorised procession

(cf RRR, cl 84)

A driver must not interfere with, or interrupt, the free passage along any length of road of:

(a)  any funeral cortege or authorised procession, or

(b)  any vehicle or person apparently forming part of the cortege or procession.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note. This rule is an additional NSW road rule. There is no corresponding rule in the Australian Road Rules.

79–2   NSW rule: precedence at ferries, punts, bridges or railway crossings

(cf RRR, cl 85)

(1)  A driver must on arrival at any ferry, punt, bridge or railway crossing at which the driver is required to wait:

(a)  keep the driver’s vehicle as near as practicable to that boundary of the carriageway of the road that is on the driver's left, and at the end of the line of vehicles waiting to proceed on board the ferry or punt or over the bridge or railway crossing, and

(b)  not break out of that line to take precedence of any vehicle that from its position had a prior right to proceed on board the ferry or punt or over the bridge or railway crossing.

Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

Note. Carriageway and driver’s vehicle are defined in the Dictionary, and vehicle is defined in rule 15.

(2)  However, subrule (1) does not apply to a driver at a ferry or punt if:

(a)  an authorised person has given permission under this rule for the driver’s vehicle to break out of the line and take precedence of any vehicle that had a prior right to proceed on board the ferry or punt, and

(b)  the driver complies with any directions given by the authorised person as to the order or position in which the driver’s vehicle is to be placed and in which it may proceed to board the ferry or punt.

Note. Authorised person is defined in subrule (4).

(3)  An authorised person may give permission for a driver to break out of line and take precedence of any vehicle that had a prior right to proceed on board a ferry or punt, in accordance with the directions of the authorised person, if the authorised person considers that an emergency or all the circumstances of the case make it necessary or appropriate for the driver to be given precedence.

Note. Precedence might, for example, be given to the driver of an ambulance proceeding to or from an accident, or to a fire fighter or police officer proceeding to an emergency or a bus being used to provide a regular bus service.

(4)  In this rule:

authorised person means a police officer or, if no police officer is present, the person in charge of the ferry or punt concerned.

driver does not include a rider of a bicycle.

Note. This rule is an additional NSW road rule. There is no corresponding rule in the Australian Road Rules.