Giving way to pedestrians: Road rule almost no Aussies know about

A simple right-of-way road rule has baffled Aussies, with many saying they didn’t know it existed and certainly don’t follow it.

The road rule few Aussies know about. Picture: YouTube.

A simple right-of-way road rule has baffled Aussies, with many saying they didn’t know it existed and certainly don’t follow it.

A short video, posted to YouTube by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, explains the rules around when a car is required to give way to a pedestrian.

“When turning at an intersection, give way to any pedestrians who are crossing or about to cross the road you are entering,” the narrator of the video explains, overtop of an animation demonstrating the give way rules.

“When turning left at a slip lane, give way to any pedestrians on or entering the slip lane.

“When entering or exiting a driveway, give way to pedestrians on the footpath and on the road if there is no footpath.”

The rules are technically correct. According to Australian Road Rules, rule 353, a turning car is required to give way to pedestrians crossing the road the driver is turning onto. The car is not required to give way to pedestrians crossing the road the driver is leaving.

But when the video was shared to Reddit, many Aussies said they had no idea the rules existed.

“Holy moly, does anyone follow this road rule?” the user who shared the video asked.

“Pretty sure if I did that as a pedestrian crossing in front of the car it would horn very loudly at me … or if it was a Ute be accompanied by many swear words and perhaps tyre marks on the face,” they added.

“I always give way to cars as a pedestrian in these situations — ‘cause, it‘s a road, duh — unless it is a zebra crossing or lighted intersection.”

“When turning at an intersection, give way to any pedestrians who are crossing or about to cross the road you are entering,” the video explained. Picture: YouTube.

Many fellow users said they, too, were confused by the video.

“There is no way a pedestrian would survive an hour around Melbourne roads without being taken out trying to follow these rules,” one person said.

“Once again the person behind the 1 tonne metal hunk ultimately has right of way … As a cyclist if I stood my ground on the road when I was in the right I wouldn’t be long for this world.”

A second added: “If I was that pedestrian I would never expect that vehicle to stop for me. If it did I would be stressing out because I’d have to run to not hold up the traffic unduly.”

“That poor yellow car. Would probably have been rear ended two or three times in that clip through no fault of its own,” joked a third.

The same rule applies at sliplanes. Picture: YouTube.

And at driveways. Picture: YouTube.

Other users, however, said the rules weren’t as important as common sense.

“Only the slip lane one doesn’t make sense, the pedestrian wasn’t on the road before the car started turning. The rest are standard, known to all who care to educate themselves on the road rules,” one person said.

“These are the laws but safety first. Always make eye contact with the driver and use body language to show that you are going before them,” added another.

“You are still going to get honks, swear words and confused looks but at least you’re not dead.”

Originally published as Giving way to pedestrians: Road rule almost no Aussies know about