Fake road sign removed in WA as Aussies argue it should have stayed

A fake sign has been removed after someone seemingly took the road rules into their own hands – but now there are calls for it to be put back.

Someone is believed to have taken the road rules into their own hands in Western Australia after an official-looking but fake sign appeared at an intersection in Perth.

Main Roads has confirmed the “Left turn on red permitted after stopping” sign, which has gone viral on social media, was not legitimate and has been removed.

Local media reported the sign, located on the “notorious” corner of Third and Railway Avenues in the suburb of Kelmscott, appeared over the weekend.

A Main Roads spokesperson told news.com.au the “unauthorised” sign was first identified by an ABC Radio talkback caller and removed on Monday.

“The sign was not authorised or installed by Main Roads,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The practice of allowing a left turn on a red traffic signal is allowed in some other Australian road jurisdictions on certain roads, but has not been adopted in Western Australia for safety reasons.

“Much of the WA road network has left-turn opportunities at signalised intersections with dedicated left-turn pockets controlled by a ‘give way’ sign.”

Main Roads did not say if it was investigating who installed the sign. WA Police said it was not a police matter.

A picture of the unauthorised road sign was shared on Facebook by ABC Perth, prompting many motorists to demand the signs be implemented in the state. Picture: Supplied / ABC

Now, Aussies from across the country are arguing Main Roads should have kept it.

“Have there been any accidents caused by this sign? Has it improved traffic flow? Why not use this as a free trial,” one woman suggested.

“Had them in NSW forever. Always wondered why they weren’t in WA. So many intersections they can work at,” wrote a man.

“Great rule though. Makes no sense to wait when there are no cars,” agreed another.

“Heaven forbid we do something that improves traffic flow!” a woman added sarcastically.

“Shows how far behind other states WA Main Roads are,” claimed one man. “Works very well in other states. So many intersections I’ve pulled up at and said to passengers we could have turned left and be gone by now.”

Some Australians and foreigners drew comparisons to the rule in the US and Canada, but when turning right as they drive on the opposite side of the road.

“Why do main roads think we cannot safely do the same things as the rest of the world?” asked a frustrated West Australian.

“I’d love to see this implemented, it would help a lot of congestion. Treat a left turn at a traffic light like a stop sign … It works very well in other parts of the world,” another man said.

“I spent 16 years in Canada and the US and they had ‘right turn on red’ and it worked a treat. Minimal crashes as a result. The problem I can see here is more from pedestrians who cross against a ‘Don’t Walk’ signal, or too absorbed with their mobiles to watch where they’re going!” wrote someone else.

“Literally been the norm in Canada forever!!! Thought it was brilliant when I lived there 20 odd years ago and it worked well! But WA is always behind other states and countries,” said another Aussie who had lived overseas.

“Works fine in the USA for a Right Turn on Red, no reason it can’t work in Australia,” wrote a fifth person.

But not everyone was in favour of the road rule. Others agreed with Main Roads over the rule creating safety issues.

“The real question is, how many people will stop and turn without actually looking for traffic,” one person said.

“I nearly got run over because of a sign like this in Tasmania. Not sure why states have different rules,” added another.