Parked on the street? Be careful when you’re opening your car door. Drivers must not cause a hazard to a cyclist or any other road user by getting in or out of a vehicle.

You must not drive in a tramway unless avoiding an obstruction and provided you don’t move into the path of an approaching tram.

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Passengers must obey rules too – they can’t cross the road to get on a tram until the tram has stopped at the tram stop, and when getting off a tram, they must cross to the nearest footpath. Learn more by watching our instructional video.

Children ages 4 to 8 (grades K-3) are most susceptible to a school bus fatality. These children, though they represent less than 35% of the student population, were involved in 69% of the fatalities (79 out of 114). Factors that likely contribute to these statistics:

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When a bicycle lane is provided on a road in their direction of travel, cyclists must ride in the bike lane unless it’s impracticable to do so. Drivers can only drive in a bike lane for up to 50 metres to:

By allowing buses just a few seconds of extra courtesy on the road, you’re doing your part to help passengers reach their connecting bus or train without delays.

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Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019 (VTL 1174-A) that authorizes school districts and municipalities to use stop-arm cameras on school buses to impose penalties on the owners of vehicles which pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus are flashing.

When using headlights on high beam, extra care is needed to avoid glare to truck drivers. Truck mirrors are large and don’t have anti-glare positions, so dip your lights as required by law, no closer than 200 metres to a moving vehicle, or further away if it’s safe to do so.

Private vehicles must have at least the same number of occupants (including the driver) as displayed on the sign. For example if the transit lane is signed as ‘T2’, the driver must be carrying at least one passenger, while for ‘T3’ lanes there must be at least two passengers plus the driver. The Road Rules don’t state any minimum age requirements for passengers, therefore you can travel in a transit lane if you have a child in the vehicle.

A safety zone is a platform or marked area on a road which separates vehicles from trams for the protection of pedestrians boarding or leaving trams. You must not drive on a tram safety zone.

It’s illegal to drive over a raised dividing strip. When driving through a break in the dividing strip you must give way to any tram or vehicle travelling on the part of the road you’re entering.

Slow down. School buses make frequent stops, so be patient and drive at a reasonable speed. Remember, in addition to picking up and dropping off students, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings.

No matter what your mode of transport, respect and courtesy are important factors in keeping our roads safe. Here, we summarise key rules around safety zones, giving way and checking for hazards. Learn more about the most important rules to be aware of when travelling around cyclists, what you need to do to keep tram passengers and other road users safe, as well as the key things you need to keep in mind when driving near trucks.

When a school bus stops and flashes its red lights, traffic approaching from either direction must stop before reaching the bus:

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It’s important to remember that larger vehicles handle differently to cars and their drivers have a different field of vision. There are several road rules specifically designed to account for this:

School buses have bigger blind spots, take longer to stop, and need more room to maneuver than a standard vehicle. Buses should be treated differently than you would treat an average-sized vehicle. It is important for drivers to know how to react to a school bus in operation.

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Laws protect students who are getting on and off a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and the red lights on the school bus are flashing, regardless of the direction of approach.

Drivers being overtaken on two lane roads are required not to increase their speed until overtaking is complete and there is enough distance in front to avoid a collision.

When following trucks, make sure there’s a sufficient gap to stop safely to avoid a collision. This also helps the truck driver to be aware of your position. If you can’t see the truck mirrors, the truck driver can’t see you.

Be extra careful to look around before moving your vehicle, as children may be walking in front of, behind, or on the side of school buses. Check for pedestrians - especially near schools, bus stops, playgrounds, parks, and behind parked cars.

Our section on motorcycles provides an overview of the key road rules for riders to be aware of, but as a driver sharing the road, here are the key things to keep in mind:

Trucks displaying a 'do not overtake turning vehicle' sign need extra room to make sharp turns. Drivers must not drive past or overtake to the left of a vehicle displaying this sign if it is indicating to turn left, unless it is safe to do so. This also applies to a vehicle turning right or doing a U-turn from the centre of the road. In practice, this means hanging back even if it looks like the left or right turn lane is vacant – the gap will close quickly once the truck starts its turn.

These painted areas are provided as a safe spot for bike riders to wait at some signalised intersections. Where these exist, drivers must leave these sections clear for riders.

Drivers must not move into the path of an approaching tram with a broken or continuous yellow line parallel to the tracks. If you’re travelling on tram tracks and a tram is approaching, you must move out of the lane as soon as you can do so safely.

The New York State Education Department, Department of Pupil Transportation, states that the youngest students are most at risk.

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Vehicle Operators - There are legal and financial consequences for vehicle operators who pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus are flashing.

Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle. Red flashing lights mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Stop your vehicle and wait until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the driver or police officer to proceed.

Be alert. Always be aware of children and parents that may be waiting at a school bus stop or perhaps running to catch the bus before it departs.

Responsible transport employers will value this information and investigate your concern thoroughly. Dangerous driving behaviour – for drivers of all vehicles – should always be reported to the police. If there’s a passenger in the car, and it’s safe to do so, get them to note the number plate on the truck (preferable) or the trailer.

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A loaded truck may weigh up to 50 times that of a passenger car and needs a longer distance to stop safely. By cutting in front of a stopped truck to get ahead, you might not be leaving the truck driver enough room to avoid a rear-end crash.

You’re not allowed to drive in or across a tram lane when it’s operating – but there’s an exception to the rule. A driver can drive in a tram lane for up to 50 metres, when turning right or avoiding an obstruction provided trams aren’t delayed.

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On some freeways trucks over 4.5 tonnes GVM are restricted from the right lane. ‘No Truck’ signs on the freeway and at entry points indicate this restriction. On these roads, trucks are unable to legally use the right lane to overtake slower moving vehicles. Therefore, rather than driving in the centre lane, it’s courteous to keep left when practical to give trucks free passage past your vehicle.

Nearly all truck drivers, like car drivers, are law abiding and share the road safely. However, if you see a truck driver doing the wrong thing and there’s a sign on the back of the truck showing a company number to call, consider asking a passenger to note it down and telephone when safe to do so.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) reports that in New York State, 2.3 million children are transported by more than 50,000 school buses annually.

The summaries RACV provide on Victorian road rules are based on the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2017. We make sure to reference the exact rule where possible. When reading, keep in mind that we’re providing general information, not legal advice. If you’re looking for specific questions on any legal matter, consult with a lawyer for help.

Transit lanes are in operation throughout Melbourne, including Hoddle Street, Eastern Freeway, CityLink, Tullamarine Freeway and on some freeway entry ramps such as the Warrigal Road ramp onto the Monash Freeway.

Fatal crashes involving students who were struck by passing motorists typically involved one or more of the following factors: