Can I drive over the edge of a roundabout?
You might occasionally see a truck or a bus driving over the edge of a roundabout – usually a smaller one – instead of circumnavigating this piece of important road infrastructure.
Is it legal for a bus or long vehicle to do this? And can you do it in your car?
The short answer
No, you can’t drive over a roundabout. After all, they’re designed for drivers to go around, not over. If you do drive over a roundabout, you risk a fine and could even damage your car on the island if the kerb is high.
The rules
The Australian Road Rules state a motorist driving in a roundabout must drive to the left of the central traffic island.
However, there are a couple of exceptions to the rule. If the driver’s vehicle is too large, they may have to drive over the roundabout to navigate the intersection safely.
In this case, it’s legal to drive over the edge of the traffic island when negotiating the intersection. However, it must be safe to do so.
The central traffic island must also be designed to allow a vehicle of that kind to be driven over it – usually the flatter variety you see about the place.
The fine
If you’ve ever driven over a roundabout in your car, you might want to reconsider doing it again. Motorists caught breaking this rule face a $514 fine, $102 Victims of Crime Levy and two demerit points.
In 2023, a NSW woman was fined more than $300 after she was caught driving her car over “the smallest roundabout” she’d ever seen.
So, the lesson here: no matter the size of the roundabout, it’s best to follow the rules and drive to the left of the traffic island.