Thread: The keep left unless overtaking - regulations

Originally Posted by Hall

There was not that long ago a announcement by both the police and the state government stating that they would not be enforcing the keep left rule. Apparently enforcement uses up more resources than the revenue it raises and does little to increase road safety.
Cheers Hall

So where is this loop hole gazetted? so when we get pulled over we have the evidence

I've never seen it enforced but I hardly ever see a Cop car on the roads now so that's probably why. It's not just the keep left rule being broken, it's pretty much all of them all the time around the city.

Drove Brisbane to Gympie today......traffic struggled to maintain the posted speed limited from bracken ridge to Cooroy 100 odd km, left Brisbane around 9am.

I stayed in the left lane the whole way generally sitting behind a line of cars traveling 5-10km below the speed limit and for the few sections that allowed me to at posted speed limit (GPS) I moved to the right lane three times. Basically it didn't really matter which lane you were in today.

I'm thinking the contributing factors are, number of off/on ramps, merges, no. of vehicles, number of cameras (everybody dabs the brakes even for the monitoring cameras), trucks, caravans, roadworks, signage, phones and the list goes on.

If there was three lanes heading north I would probably sit in the middle lane.....

I got done.
Dual carriageway in the hunter valley, on dusk, double demerits. Disobeyed keep left unless overtaking sign. Camberwell bends on the new england, if anyone knows the road.

Cop was not at all interested in all the dead wildlife on the side of the road, and my reasoning that there was not a single car around me to block the flow of traffic.
I appealed the fine and points, a good driving record got me off with a warning. Yeah, I disregarded a road sign, but IMO, it was petty.
Before anyone gets agro, I too get ****ty at drivers who clog busy roads by not keeping left, but in my defence, I was, In my opinion, keeping a buffer around my vehicle for safety, when there was no traffic to impede.

All in all, BS rule is BS.
Fair suck of the sav I say. I'd cop it up the arse if I was obstructing traffic or potentially endangering other road users on a single lane road or blind corner... but my instance was a pure money grab on a souble demerit weekend. Famous last words, but take it or leave it.

Below is what I wrote to appeal the fine/demerits. It was worth a shot- If I wasted just 5 minutes of some government counter-muppet's time, then it would be worth it.

Disobey keep left unless overtaking sign during time of high wildlife activity
Accessory information pertaining to penalty notice:
1) I have a good driving record, with no convictions in the past 10 years. I have undertaken safe driver training through 'streets ahead driver training? through work, and have been diligent in my observations of road rules up to the time in which I was observed committing the offence. I am seeking leniency in this regard.

2) Please review article below, showing notable statistics regarding accidents regarding wildlife
a) http://www.allianz.com.au/car-insura...e-on-our-roads
i) ?Thousands of collisions between animals and motor vehicles occur on Australian road per year.?
ii) ?NSW Roads and Maritime Services claim that one in five crashes on rural roads involve an animal?
iii) ?A high speed collision with an animal may cause the loss of control of your vehicle, major vehicle damage, serious personal injury or even death.?
Reasoning in my defence: The risks and danger of an animal impact are known, epecially drivers from rural areas such as myself. The risks involved are in one's own interest to mitigate, where possible, and when safe to do so. I believe I was driving safely.

3) Australian road rules Reg 125- Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians
i) ?A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian.?
Reasoning in my defence: Due to the road design (dual carriage way) and absence of traffic, I believe I was not in breach of this road rule. The ?keep left unless overtaking? signage is designed as a 'traffic control? sign, as per the regulation.

4) Please also note Australian road rules Reg 139 (2) a, b, and c ? ?Exceptions for avoiding obstructions on a road?
(2) A driver on a road with a dividing line may drive to the right of the dividing line to avoid an obstruction if:
(a) the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic; and
(b) it is necessary and reasonable, in all the circumstances, for the driver to drive to the right of the dividing line to avoid the obstruction; and
(c) the driver can do so safely.
Reasoning in my defence: I believe I had a clear view of approaching traffic in this instance, and it was necessary and reasonable to be in the right lane to avoid collision. I believe I was being safe in doing so.

Spot on Mitch,

On many of the back roads out here at night I will (if there is no traffic) straddle the centre line for the very reasons you mention.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Spot on Mitch,

On many of the back roads out here at night I will (if there is no traffic) straddle the centre line for the very reasons you mention.

A roo, emu or heaven forbid, a black cow, and you're going to have a very bad day. I drive to survive no matter what the rules... we're all just bags of meat afterall.

I was actually in the inside lane of a dual carriageway with a 2m wide painted median. Not unsafe, but not 'legal' according to the sign. A bit of suckarsery got me off 3 points and $300 clams.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Spot on Mitch,

On many of the back roads out here at night I will (if there is no traffic) straddle the centre line for the very reasons you mention.

I hope we're never travelling in opposite directions, on the same road at night..............................coz I do the same.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

A roo, ...... and you're going to have a very bad day.

Roos just bounce off Commodores and Camrys.