Part 4Making turns#

Division 1Left turns#

(1)This division does not apply to a driver entering or leaving a roundabout.
(2)This division applies to a driver turning left from a road into a road-related area or adjacent land, or from a road-related area into a road, as if the driver were turning left at an intersection.
(3)In this section—

road: road does not include a road-related area.

27Starting a left turn from a road (except a multi-lane road)#

(1)A driver turning left at an intersection from a road (except a multi-lane road) must approach and enter the intersection from as near as practicable to the far left side of the road.
(1A)Subsection (1) also applies to a rider of a bicycle or a personal mobility device who approaches and enters an intersection from a bicycle storage area.
(1B)Despite subsection (1), if there is space in a bicycle storage area for 2 riders of bicycles or personal mobility devices, or a rider of a bicycle and a rider of a personal mobility device, to be next to each other, the rider on the right may approach and enter the intersection as near as practicable to the right side of the other rider, but only if that other rider approaches and enters the intersection in accordance with this section.
(2)In this section—

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

road: road does not include a road-related area.

28Starting a left turn from a multi-lane road#

(1)A driver turning left at an intersection from a multi-lane road must approach and enter the intersection from within the left lane unless—
(a)the driver is required or permitted to approach and enter the intersection from within another marked lane under section 88(1), 92 or 159; or
(b)the driver is turning, at B lights or a white traffic arrow, in accordance with part 17, division 2; or
(c)subsection (1A) or (2) applies to the driver; or
(d)the lane is a bus only lane.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(1A)A driver turning left at an intersection from a multi-lane road that has a slip lane must approach and enter the intersection—
(a)from within the slip lane; or
(b)if there is an obstruction that prevents the driver from entering the intersection from within the slip lane—from within the left lane.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(2)A driver may approach and enter the intersection from the marked lane next to the left lane as well as, or instead of, the left lane if—
(a)the driver's vehicle, together with any load or projection, is 7.5m long, or longer; and
(b)the vehicle displays a do not overtake turning vehicle sign; and
(c)any part of the vehicle is within 50m of the nearest point of the intersection; and
(d)it is not practicable for the driver to turn left from within the left lane; and
(e)the driver can safely occupy the next marked lane and can safely turn left at the intersection by occupying the next marked lane, or both lanes.

(2A)If there is a bicycle storage area before an intersection that extends across 1 or more marked lanes of a multi-lane road, a rider of a bicycle or a personal mobility device turning left must approach and enter the intersection from within the part of the bicycle storage area that is directly in front of the left marked lane or of a bicycle lane that is on the left side of the road.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(3)In this section—

left lane: means—
(a): the marked lane nearest to the far left side of the road; or
(b): if there is an obstruction (for example, a parked car or roadworks) in that marked lane—the marked lane nearest to that marked lane that is not obstructed.
marked lane, for a driver,: does not include a special purpose lane in which the driver is not permitted to drive.

29Making a left turn as indicated by a turn line#

(1)If a driver is turning left at an intersection and there is a turn line indicating how the turn is required to be made, the driver must make the turn as indicated by the turn line unless—
(a)the driver is turning, at B lights or traffic arrows, in accordance with part 17, division 2; or
(b)subsection (2) applies to the driver.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(2)A driver may turn left at an intersection other than as indicated by a turn line if—
(a)the driver's vehicle, together with any load or projection, is 7.5m long, or longer; and
(b)the vehicle displays a do not overtake turning vehicle sign; and
(c)it is not practicable for the driver to turn left as indicated by the turn line; and
(d)the driver can safely turn left other than as indicated by the turn line.

Division 2Right turns#

30Application of division to certain right turns#

(1)This division does not apply to—
(a)a driver turning right at an intersection where there is a hook turn only sign; or
(b)the rider of a bicycle or a personal mobility device making a hook turn under division 3; or
(c)a driver making a U-turn; or
(d)a driver entering or leaving a roundabout.
(2)This division applies to a driver turning right from a road into a road-related area or adjacent land, or from a road-related area into a road, as if the driver were turning right at an intersection.
(3)In this section—

road: does not include a road-related area.

31Starting a right turn from a road (except a multi-lane road)#

(1)A driver turning right at an intersection from a road (except a multi-lane road) must approach and enter the intersection in accordance with this section.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(2)If the road has a dividing line or median strip, the driver must approach and enter the intersection from the left of, parallel to, and as near as practicable to, the dividing line or median strip.
(3)If the road does not have a dividing line or median strip and is not a one-way road, the driver must approach and enter the intersection from the left of, parallel to, and as near as practicable to, the centre of the road.

(4)If the road is a one-way road, the driver must approach and enter the intersection from as near as practicable to the far right side of the road.
(4A)Subsections (2), (3) and (4) also apply to a rider of a bicycle or a personal mobility device who approaches and enters an intersection from a bicycle storage area.
(4B)Despite subsections (2), (3) and (4), if there is space in a bicycle storage area for 2 riders of bicycles or personal mobility devices, or a rider of a bicycle and a rider of a personal mobility device, to be next to each other, the rider on the left may approach and enter the intersection as near as practicable to the left side of the other rider, but only if that other rider approaches and enters the intersection in accordance with this section.
(5)In this section—

road: road does not include a road-related area.

32Starting a right turn from a multi-lane road#

(1)A driver turning right at an intersection from a multi-lane road must approach and enter the intersection from within the right lane unless—
(a)the driver is required or permitted to approach and enter the intersection from within another marked lane in accordance with section 89(1), 92 or 159; or
(b)the driver is turning, at B lights or a white traffic arrow, in accordance with part 17, division 2; or
(c)subsection (2) applies to the driver; or
(d)the lane is a bus only lane.
(2)A driver may approach and enter the intersection from the marked lane next to the right lane as well as, or instead of, the right lane if—
(a)the driver's vehicle, together with any load or projection, is 7.5m long, or longer; and
(b)the vehicle displays a do not overtake turning vehicle sign; and
(c)any part of the vehicle is within 50m of the nearest point of the intersection; and
(d)it is not practicable for the driver to turn right from within the right lane; and
(e)the driver can safely occupy the next marked lane and can safely turn right at the intersection by occupying the next marked lane, or both lanes.
(2A)If there is a bicycle storage area before an intersection that extends across 1 or more marked lanes of a multi-lane road, a rider of a bicycle or a personal mobility device turning right (but not making a hook turn) must approach and enter the intersection from within the part of the bicycle storage area that is directly in front of the right marked lane or of a bicycle lane that is on the right side of the road.
(3)In this section—

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

marked lane: marked lane, for a driver, does not include a special purpose lane in which the driver is not permitted to drive.
right lane: right lane means— (a) the marked lane nearest to the dividing line or median strip on the road; or (b) if there is an obstruction (for example, a parked car or roadworks) in that marked lane—the marked lane nearest to that marked lane that is not obstructed.

33Making a right turn#

(1)A driver turning right at an intersection must make the turn in accordance with this section unless—
(a)the driver is turning, at B lights or traffic arrows, in accordance with part 17, division 2; or
(b)subsection (4) applies to the driver.
(2)If there is a turn line indicating how the turn is required to be made, the driver must make the turn as indicated by the turn line.
(3)If there is no turn line indicating how the turn is required to be made, the driver must make the turn so the driver—
(a)passes as near as practicable to the right of the centre of the intersection; and
(b)turns into the left of the centre of the road the driver is entering, unless the driver is entering a one-way road.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

A driver may turn right other than as indicated by a turn line if—

(a)the driver's vehicle, together with any load or projection, is 7.5m long, or longer; and
(b)the vehicle displays a do not overtake turning vehicle sign; and
(c)it is not practicable for the driver to turn right as indicated by the turn line; and
(d)the driver can safely make the turn other than as indicated by the turn line.

Examples of do not overtake turning vehicle signs—

Division 3Hook turns at intersections#

34Making a hook turn at a hook turn only sign#

A driver turning right at an intersection with traffic lights and a hook turn only sign must turn right by making a hook turn in accordance with this section.

To make a hook turn, the driver must take, in sequence, each of the following steps—

1Approach and enter the intersection from as near as practicable to the far left side of the road that the driver is leaving.
2Move forward—
(a)keeping as near as practicable to the far left side of the intersection; and
(b)keeping clear of any marked foot crossing;
3Remain at the position reached under step 2 until the traffic lights on the road that the driver is entering change to green.
4Turn right into the road that the driver is entering.

until the driver is as near as practicable to the far side of the road that the driver is entering.

In this section—

road does not include a road-related area.

Examples—

35Optional hook turn by a bicycle or personal mobility device rider#

The rider of a bicycle turning right at an intersection without a hook turn only sign or a no hook turn by bicycles sign, or the rider of a personal mobility device turning right at an intersection without a hook turn only sign, may turn right at the intersection by making—

(a)a right turn under division 2; or
(b)a hook turn under this section.

The rider must make a hook turn under this section in accordance with subsection (3).

To make a hook turn under this section, the rider must take, in sequence, each of the following steps—

1Approach and enter the intersection from as near as practicable to the far left side of the road that the rider is leaving.
2Move forward—
(a)keeping as near as practicable to the far left side of the intersection; and
(b)keeping clear of any marked foot crossing; and
(c)keeping clear, as far as practicable, of any driver turning left from the left of the intersection;
3If there are traffic lights at the intersection, remain at the position reached under step 2 until the traffic lights on the road that the rider is entering change to green.
4If there are no traffic lights at the intersection, remain at the position reached under step 2 until the rider has given way to approaching drivers on the road that the rider is leaving.
5Turn right into the road that the rider is entering.

until the rider is as near as practicable to the far side of the road that the rider is entering.

To make a hook turn under this section at an intersection that has a bicycle hook turn storage area on the left side of the intersection as the rider approaches the intersection, the rider must take the following initial 2 steps instead of the initial 2 steps listed in subsection (3)—

1Approach the intersection from the far left side of the road the rider is leaving and enter the intersection by moving into the bicycle hook turn storage area, keeping clear of any marked foot crossing.
2Move forward in the bicycle hook turn storage area until the rider is as near as practicable to the far side of the road that the rider is entering.

Example 1—

Example 2—

Bicycle rider making a hook turn at an intersection without traffic lightsp. 49

(5) In this section—

bicycle hook turn storage area: means an area between an intersection and a marked foot crossing, or if there is no marked foot crossing, a stop line, before the intersection that has painted on it 1 or more bicycle symbols and 1 or more right traffic lane arrows; and includes any line that delineates the right side of the area, and any line that delineates the left side of the area that is not also a stop line or part of a marked foot crossing and excludes any bicycle storage area.

36Bicycle rider making a hook turn contrary to no hook turn by bicycles sign#

The rider of a bicycle must not make a hook turn at an intersection that has a no hook turn by bicycles sign. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Example—

View this figure on page 50 of the PDF ↗

No hook turn by bicycles signp. 50

Division 4U-turns#

37Beginning a U-turn#

A driver must not begin a U-turn unless—

(a) the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic; and
(b) the driver can safely make the U-turn without unreasonably obstructing the free movement of traffic.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

38Giving way when making a U-turn#

A driver making a U-turn must give way to all vehicles and pedestrians. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

39Making a U-turn contrary to a no U-turn sign#

(1)A driver must not make a U-turn at a break in a dividing strip on a road if there is a no U-turn sign at the break in the dividing strip.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(2)A driver must not make a U-turn on a length of road to which a no U-turn sign applies.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

(3)A no U-turn sign on a road (except a no U-turn sign at an intersection or at a break in a dividing strip) applies to the length of road beginning at the sign and ending at the nearer of the following—

(a) the next intersection on the road;
(b) if the road ends at a T-intersection or dead end—the end of the road.

Example of no U-turn signs—

Page 51 of Qld Road Rules 2009 showing No U-turn sign (Standard sign) No U-turn sign (Variable illuminated message sign) — No U-turn sign (Standard sign) No U-turn sign (Variable illuminated message sign)p. 51

40Making a U-turn at an intersection with traffic lights#

A driver must not make a U-turn at an intersection with traffic lights unless there is a U-turn permitted sign at the intersection. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Example of U-turn permitted sign—

41Making a U-turn at an intersection without traffic lights#

A driver must not make a U-turn at an intersection without traffic lights if there is a no U-turn sign at the intersection. Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

42Starting a U-turn at an intersection#

A driver making a U-turn at an intersection must start the U-turn—

(a) if the road where the driver is turning has a dividing line or median strip—from the marked lane nearest, or as near as practicable, to the dividing line or median strip; or
(b) in any other case—from the left of the centre of the road.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

Example—

Starting a U-turn on a road with a median stripp. 52

43Making a U-turn at particular crossings#

A driver must not make a U-turn at any of the following crossings, with or without traffic lights, unless there is a U-turn permitted sign at the crossing—

(a) a children's crossing;
(b) a level crossing;
(c) a marked foot crossing;
(d) a pedestrian crossing.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.

A driver must not make a U-turn at a place with traffic lights where a road and road-related area intersect unless there is a U-turn permitted sign at the place.

Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.