So.. honestly, who knew you couldnt do a U-Turn at a stop with traffic lights?!

I got pulled over last night in Sydney (suburbs) when I did a U-turn (very safely) - no traffic behind me for at least 250m and nothing on-coming for at least 300m.

Low and behold, I get pulled (it was dark!) And to my shock I am told I am getting an infringement notice for the offense (which is only an offense in NSW according to the officer...)

Every junction i see, has signs stating when you cannot do a U-turn, some reason.. its different when there is a traffic light!

I doubt I have a case for appeal, I know ignorance isn't an excuse but.. I would have thought he would give me a break

My daughter is learning to drive and it's a no no here in WA too. You can only do a U turn at a traffic light if there is a sign saying you can.

Same in QLD, no u-turn unless signed.

Only second in the grievous crimes list to parking against the flow of traffic.

Apparently tail-gating and having really dodgy headlights is fine though.

I did not know that. I thought it was OK unless there was a sign saying you couldn't. I've been doing it wrong all these years!

That's what I thought too but Katie's driving instructor assures me that it's against the law.

Next they'll be telling us you need to indicate right when going straight across a roundabout

Yep, I think that's how it is

Nothing wrong with this but the UK is the only country that I know of where this is allowed (there may be others but it won't be many)

Kind of threw me a bit when I first moved to the UK and saw this

A child dies every time somebody parks the wrong way of the traffic. Have to think of the children.



Is that a Perth thing? They recently introduced the requirement to indicate when coming off of the roundabout, but I haven't heard of indicating when going straight over...


S

I don't believe it is allowed, I got a ticket in the UK for parking against the flow just days after passing my test. Of course it's possible they changed the law but maybe it's just widely ignored, like the fact you are supposed to have a dude walking in front of your car waving a red flag, or something.

Loads do it in Perth, usually the ones who drive around after dusk with no headlights.

It's forbidden on roads above a certain speed - I think above 40 mph if memory serves, but is acceptable on residential streets etc.



I have noticed in NSW a tendency for people to indicate when just following the road around a bend - even when there's no actual choice of alternative road or junction...


S

That's interesting if it is not actually legal because it seems to be the norm over there

Undertaking (on the left) is not illegal but nobody seems to do it whereas here it's standard practice

It's in the Highway Code as illegal but I've never seen anyone picked up for it. Maybe I've been brainwashed in the past 9 years but it seems like such a dumb thing to do.

As does Katy's driving instructor!! (DD who is STILL learning to drive.......only got 70 hours in the log book so far....ho hum.)