Our roads are full of intersections – T-junctions, crossroads, roundabouts, dog legs… you name it. See if you know the rules to safely negotiate these real-life SA intersections.

*Enter your answers, then click ‘see my results’ at the end to check your score.

1. The blue car is turning left onto Osmond Terrace but there's a red left-turn arrow shown. There's space in the left lane to pull up next to the red car, but the blue car would be stopped in a bike lane. Which of the following statements is most accurate?

A. The blue car can’t stop to turn left because it’d be blocking a bike lane

B. The blue car can stop to turn left, but only outside of peak times

C. The blue car can stop to turn left after giving way to cyclists

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2. Middleton has offset T-junctions where Mindacowie Terrace and Ocean Road intersect with Goolwa Road. In which order should the cars proceed?

A. Blue car, red car, yellow car

B. Yellow car, blue car, red car

C. Red car, blue car, yellow car

D. Yellow car, red car, blue car

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3. The blue car is turning at a Y-junction onto Mudla Wirra Road near Gawler. The red car is coming from the opposite direction and continuing straight ahead. Who must give way?

A. The blue car

B. The red car

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4. The blue car is turning right onto Penneys Hill Road at Huntfield Heights, where there's a green light but no arrow. The red car is turning left onto Penneys Hill Road with a green light and no arrow. Who must give way?

A. The red car

B. The blue car

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5. The blue car is turning right onto North Terrace. As it turns, the driver notices a red traffic light next to the tram line. Is the blue car required to stop at the red lights?

A. Yes, of course – they’re red lights

B. No, these particular red lights are for the eastbound traffic, including the red car, on North Terrace

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6. The red car is turning right from the right lane of James Schofield Drive onto Frank Collopy Court. Meanwhile, the blue car is turning right from the left lane of Western Link Road onto James Schofield Drive. Which car must give way?

A. The red car

B. The blue car

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7. The blue car on Tapleys Hill Road near Harbour Town is stopped in the left lane at the intersection with West Beach Road, where three lanes become two up ahead. There's also a red car in the middle lane. Once the lights turn green, what is the safest way for the blue car to complete a zip merge?

A. Minimise potential collisions by flooring it to get to the merge point first

B. Accelerate slowly, then stop to give way to all cars in the middle lane

C. Accelerate in an appropriate manner, giving way to the red car if it is in front at the merge point

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8. The red car is turning left into the left lane on Bookpurnong Terrace in Loxton. At the same time, a blue car is exiting the roundabout onto Bookpurnong Terrace. Which of the following is most accurate?

A. The blue car isn’t allowed to exit the roundabout at Bookpurnong Terrace

B. The blue car is allowed to cross into the left lane when exiting

C. The red car must come to a complete stop before turning onto Bookpurnong Terrace

D. The red car can proceed with care because the blue car must exit the roundabout into the right lane at Bookpurnong Terrace

The post Quiz: Intersection intuition appeared first on samove.com.au.

Chances are you’ve heard that leaving a child alone in a car can be catastrophic, especially on hot days. 

So, is there ever an acceptable time to leave them in a vehicle and, if so, at what age? First things first, RAA advises that a child should never be left unattended in a vehicle, even for those quick dashes into the servo to pay for fuel. However, it’s not actually illegal to leave a child alone in a car in South Australia. It’s a different story when the key is in the ignition or is left in the car. Children playing with the key can inadvertently lock themselves in the vehicle with you on the outside.

In South Australia, if a child under 16 years of age is in the car, and the driver is more than three metres away, the driver can be fined.

What RAA says 

Leaving children unattended under the age of 16 is never safe, even more so in summer.

RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says leaving a child alone in a car shouldn’t happen at any time of year. 

“Don’t be fooled by cooler weather,” Charles says. “The car’s interior can quickly rise, even in winter.” 

In the past four years, RAA has received more than 1600 callouts to help children locked in vehicles.

What you should do 

Get into the habit of unbuckling the little ones and taking them with you when you leave the car. If that sounds like a challenge, plan to do chores, like filling the tank, when the kids aren’t in the car.  

If the kids can’t be cared for by someone else, pay for petrol at the pump if you can, or buy groceries using click and collect. 

If you do accidentally lock a child, or even a pet, in the car, call RAA on 13 11 11 or get in touch via the RAA App. 

What happens if you see someone else’s child alone in a car? 

Look around for the owner of the car. If you can’t find them, call 000 for help. In some circumstances, SA Police may authorise forced entry to remove the child from the car if it’s safe to do so.

The post When can you leave a child alone in the car? appeared first on samove.com.au.

Your navigation app suggests a shortcut down a quiet suburban street, but as you approach, there’s a sign that says, ‘local traffic only’. Can you drive here?

If you live there, absolutely – you are the local traffic. The same goes for family, friends, tradespeople, delivery drivers and emergency services.

But here’s the surprising part. In South Australia, technically anyone can drive down a road marked ‘local traffic only’.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should

Unlike regulatory signs like stop, give way or speed limit signs, ‘local traffic only’ is designed to deter through traffic, not ban it. The sign is advisory, not regulatory, so it can’t be enforced by council or SA Police on its own. This is also the case in other Australian states, where authorities classify it as a courtesy heads-up, not a law.

But here’s why it’s worth taking the hint.

1. Ignoring the sign can be more trouble than it’s worth

These roads often have ‘local traffic only’ signs in place because of roadworks, lane closures or difficult layouts that make them unsuitable for through traffic.

Non-local drivers may find themselves navigating obstacles like traffic cones and bottlenecks, making awkward U-turn manoeuvres and facing delays that could’ve been avoided by sticking to the main route. If the shortcut is also on everyone else’s navigation app, you won’t be the only one who had the idea, and what looked like a quick escape can turn into a slow-moving queue.

2. It affects the people who live there

For a non-local, taking this route may mean getting to the destination a bit quicker. But for residents, a steady stream of cut-through traffic means noise, fumes, congestion and sometimes being unable to get out of their own driveway.

These are residential streets, not arterial roads and traffic can negatively impact residents when a quiet street becomes an unofficial shortcut.

3. The road may not be built for it

Narrow streets, blind spots, and proximity to schools are common reasons these signs are in place. Residential streets are designed for low, slow and local traffic and not as alternatives to main roads. Add on-street parking on both sides and there’s little margin for error when two cars come face-to-face, plus pedestrians and kids on bikes and the safety risk can increases quickly.

What about walking, cycling or scooting?

Pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter riders aren’t legally prohibited either, though cyclists and pedestrians should use the footpath were possible. Mobility scooter and motorised wheelchair users are treated as pedestrians under law. Happen to be riding a horse? Horses count as vehicles, so unless you live there, probably best to keep your pony on the main road.

Is it ever enforceable?

As a standalone sign, not usually. But when paired with regulatory signs, it can be. If ‘local traffic only’ appears alongside ‘road closed’ or ‘no entry’, those accompanying signs are enforceable. A car navigating through these areas might be heading to their driveway. A non-local might be driving straight into a dead-end, and potentially a fine.

To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum: “You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should.”

You can drive down a ‘local traffic only’ street if you don’t live there, but it’s often a shortcut that’s not much of a shortcut at all.

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Chances are you already know to stop if you’re involved in a car crash. But what happens if you’re just a witness to one? Are you legally required to pull over?

The scenario

You’ve just seen a car T-bone another. You’re travelling a few metres away and witness the entire crash. Shaken, you don’t know whether you’re supposed to stop to check if everyone’s okay.

In this instance, your moral and legal obligations are very different. While you should stop if it’s safe to do so, it’s not legally required. That said, if you’re involved in the crash in any way, you must stop your vehicle. This is where you can, in fact, be fined for not stopping, and the penalties are hefty.

The Australian Road Rules state a motorist can be fined up to $2500 if they’re involved in a crash and fail to stop. When someone is injured or killed in a road crash, a motorist can face up to five years imprisonment, and sometimes an on-the-spot licence disqualification, if they don’t stop at the scene of the crash.

So, what should you do if you witness a serious crash?

While you won’t be fined for not stopping if you witness a crash (serious or not), it’s advised you stop in a safe place if possible to see if you can assist anyone involved in the crash.

RAA Senior Manager for Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says a motorist should only pull over if it’s safe to do so and they’re confident they can help if required.

“If you see a crash or are the first to arrive at the scene, your quick-thinking and action can save lives,” Charles says.

3 steps to follow if you witness a crash

You’ve stopped; now what? Keep calm and follow these simple steps.

1.  Stop

Find a safe place on the side of the road to stop, turn off your engine and put your hazard lights on.

“Park a few metres from the crash site to avoid broken glass, active fires, or spilled fuels on the road,” Charles says.

2. Report

Call emergency services immediately on 000, unless this has already been done by other witnesses.

3. Help

If it’s safe to approach the crash site, check on the health of the cars’ occupants and provide help where you can. Avoid moving them if you can in case their injuries worsen. If there’s an active fire or other high-risk danger, wait for emergency services.

“Witnessing a car crash, serious or not, can be a traumatic experience but knowing what actions to take can make you a valuable asset to everyone involved,” Charles says.

The post Can I be fined for not stopping after witnessing a crash? appeared first on samove.com.au.

You’re driving down Jetty Road at Glenelg and a hit tune comes on the radio. Without hesitation, you crank up the music to the maximum volume and start singing along.

The music is so loud that the entire street knows what song you’re listening to, and you’re unable to hear anything happening outside of the car, whether it’s sirens from an ambulance or somebody honking the horn.

Playing deafening music in your car might seem harmless, but have you broken the law? Potentially.

While there isn’t a specific rule in South Australia that says you can be fined for playing loud music, there is an offence for ‘emitting excessive noise from a vehicle’.

According to the rule, police can stop anybody driving a vehicle that’s making excessive noise from sound equipment or other devices. What’s excessive? Noise that’s unreasonably disturbing people near the vehicle.

Drivers playing excessively loud music from their vehicle can be issued a written warning to turn it off immediately. If the motorist ignores the warning, they can then be fined up to $1250.

Could loud music put you at risk?

Not only could you be disturbing the peace, with the loud music you’re playing, but you could also be putting you and other road users at risk.

RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says loud music can reduce your awareness of your surroundings.

Apart from reducing your awareness of what’s happening around you, listening to loud music for long periods in a confined space can cause long-term hearing loss.

“You may not hear sirens from emergency vehicles, horns from other drivers or level crossing warnings,” Charles says.

“It could also put vulnerable road users at risk if you can’t hear a cyclist’s bell, or the music may drown out the sound of motorcycles lane filtering.

“It’s best to keep your music at a reasonable level so you can still hear what’s going on around you.”

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Drive or ride through Adelaide’s CBD or on certain arterial roads often enough and you’ll come across a bus lane.

Given the name, it seems obvious, but are there circumstances where you can drive in a bus lane?

There are two types of bus lanes in SA – bus-only lanes and priority bus lanes.

Bus only lanes

Bus-only lanes are painted red or have red line markings and ‘BUS ONLY’ in white lettering at least every 200 metres. For example, on Hackney Road where the lanes are only for O-Bahn buses.

Only public buses and emergency vehicles can use bus-only lanes legally.

Get caught driving, riding or stopping in a bus only lane and you’re looking at a fine of $289, plus a $105 Victims of Crime Levy.

Remember, don’t drive in the red.

Priority bus lanes

Priority bus lanes, found on roads like Grenfell Street, Currie Street and Anzac Highway, are shown by painted signs in the lane.

These lanes are for buses, emergency vehicles, cyclists and taxi drivers to use during the times stated on the signs or marked on the road.

Some bus lanes operate on weekdays between 7am and 7pm, while others operate during the morning and afternoon peak times. Outside the indicated times, any vehicle can use them. If no times or days are specified, restrictions always apply.

While a priority bus lane is active, you must not park, stop, drive or ride in the lane, except when entering or leaving a road, overtaking a vehicle turning right or making a U-turn, or avoiding an obstruction. In each case, the maximum distance you can travel in the priority bus lane is 100 metres.

For example, you’re travelling west along Currie Street in the right lane and turning left onto Morphett Street at Light Square. You can legally use the bus lane to make the turn if you travel less than 100 metres in the lane.

Fail to follow the rules and you risk a $329 fine and a $105 Victims of Crime Levy.

Giving way to buses

While we’re talking buses, it’s timely to mention the rules around giving way to them.

In a built-up area, motorists and cyclists must give way to any bus displaying a ‘give way to buses’ sign if it’s indicating to pull out from the kerb.

On roads with two or more lanes, this applies only to motorists in the left lane or cyclists in a bike lane. If the left lane is blocked by a parked vehicle, motorists in the next lane over must also give way.

If there’s no give way sign displayed on the bus, you don’t need to legally give way. The rule only applies when a bus is entering traffic, not changing lanes, although it’s always courteous to let the bus in if you can. Bus drivers are still required to indicate right for at least five seconds before moving off from the side of the road.

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There are about 1.7 million people carrying smartphones and 1.5 million registered vehicles on SA roads. Statistically there are more phones than cars – a potentially fatal combination.

The ongoing mobile phone detection camera roll-out means the rules are suddenly more prominent in our recent memory.

But laws banning motorists from holding and using a phone while driving have been in place in SA for almost two decades, with a handful of changes and updates made along the way.

And as our phones rapidly absorb more of what used to live in our wallets, the rules have had to keep being fine-tuned along the way.

Here are four times you can legally use your mobile phone while sitting behind the wheel of a running vehicle.

1. To pay

It’s been 10 years since tap-to-pay smartphone technology started nudging physical cards out of our wallets, making using a phone to pay while behind the wheel a bit of a grey area.

South Australian Road rules state that a driver can be stationary in a road-related area, engine running and keys in ignition – and legally hold their phone to make a payment – provided that the payment is required in the road related area. That can be when you’re at:

• A fast food drive-thru payment window, before stowing your phone  (not on your lap) before driving on to collect your meal
• A car park boom gate requiring payment to exit
• A grocery service window to present a digital gift card, QR code or voucher
• A car wash payment terminal.

This means you can’t pay back your passenger for your share of the meal as you drive away, or at lights, intersections or times when stopped in traffic.

2. To show ID

In October 2017, SA became the first Australian state to launch a digital driver’s licence, pipping NSW by one month and giving wallet manufacturers further cause for anxiety.

Through the mySA GOV app, South Australians could leave their physical wallet at home, instead presenting their phone to verify age for entry into pubs and clubs, and for roadside police checks.

Like paying for goods and services, holding a phone for purposes of ID has been cleared up in the legislation. You may hold your phone in your hand when your car is stationary in a road-related area to:

• Open the mySA GOV app and show your digital driver’s licence when asked by police
• Display a digital pass (such as when entering a gated car park) or staff access card at a boom gate for entry or exit
• Present digital proof of concession at a car park entry for discounted rate
• Show a digital boat registration or permit (as of November 2024) at a boat ramp entry point.

Again, this doesn’t mean you can hold your phone when stopped in traffic or at traffic lights.

3. To get from A to B

Gone are the days of carefully plotting your route page by page using a Gregorys Street Directory (and definitely not balancing it precariously on your knees while driving).

While digital navigating has been around since the 1990s, messing about with navigation on any touch screen (phone or otherwise), is just as distracting as balancing the street directory on your knees.

Many cars on the road predate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto entirely. Even in newer cars, built-in map updates can cost hundreds of dollars and may already be out of date on arrival. Smartphone apps with real-time traffic rerouting remain, for many drivers, simply more reliable.

What does this mean under SA’s phone laws? Unlike the previous two examples, using a mobile phone as a navigation aid can be done while the car is moving (unless you’re a L or P1 licence holder), but only under specific conditions.

The Australian Road Rules state that you can use your phone as a navigational tool while moving, but only if it’s secured in a proper mount and you can’t touch or tap any part of the phone or screen at any point while driving.

4. To make or receive an audio call

The car-phone was the original mobile phone, with technology so large it needed a vehicle to make and take calls transportable. Today, it’s still possible to use your phone to make or receive an audio call while driving, but only under certain circumstances.

• If your phone is securely mounted in a cradle attached to the vehicle, you may touch it to accept or end a call
• If your phone isn’t mounted (say, in your centre console or pocket) you may still make or receive an audio call without touching the phone. For example, you can use Bluetooth or voice activation. You can’t hold or look at the phone, rest it on your body (including your lap) or press or manipulate it in any way.

A quick note on what audio call means. You can’t make video calls, read or write text messages, or scroll through social media. It’s best to pull over and park, so you can give your recipient your full attention.

Rules for learners and P1 licence holders

If you have a learner’s permit or are a P1 provisional licence holder, there are special rules. You can use a mobile function to: pay for goods and services or show a code or coupon, or show identification.

You can’t use a smartphone as a navigation tool, even mounted in a cradle, or use any phone function while the car is moving, like hands-free or Bluetooth.

And, like all other motorists on the road, you still can’t use it when stopped at traffic lights or stationary in traffic.

The post 4 scenarios where you can use your phone at the wheel appeared first on samove.com.au.

In this short and sharp quiz, we test your knowledge on a new speed-rule that’s catching people out, the definition of a common SA pedestrian crossing, and the law to keep students safer near the school bus.

*Enter your answers, then click ‘submit’ at the end to check your score.

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