Give way road rules in Victoria to navigate intersections

What does ‘give way’ actually mean?

‘Give way’ means the driver must slow down when approaching the intersection and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision.

The specific rules for giving way can depend on the type of intersection – whether it’s a crossroad, T-intersection or roundabout, for example, and whether the intersection has a ‘give way’ sign and/or related lines or other road markings. Stop signs and stop lines require you to come to a complete stop at the intersection before giving way.

Giving way also applies in many different situations on the road – when making a U-turn, turning at an intersection with traffic lights, responding if the traffic lights aren’t operating correctly, encountering a narrow stretch of road or a narrow bridge, reaching a pedestrian crossing or level crossing, nearing trams, buses, cyclists or emergency services, and much more.

There are dozens of rules governing intersections and giving way, as outlined by Transport Victoria and detailed in state legislation. Also see the ‘road rules’ section on the RACV website for further information.

In essence, drivers must obey traffic lights and all traffic signs and road markings. Where these are not provided or are not clear at an intersection, it’s important to know what to do.

Giving way at a crossroad

A crossroad is a four-way intersection where two roads cross each other at (or near) right angles. Where no traffic lights are provided, but ‘stop’ or ‘give way’ signs and road markings apply to you, the road rules include:

• Whether you're turning left, right or going straight ahead, slow down (stop if necessary) and give way to any vehicle in, entering or approaching the intersection. There are, however, some exceptions.
• One exception to this rule is if you’re going straight ahead, you don’t have to give way to an oncoming vehicle that’s turning right and which also has a stop or give way sign/markings applying to it. The vehicle turning right must give way to you.
• Another exception to this rule is that you don’t have to give way to a vehicle making a U-turn. The vehicle making the U-turn must give way to you.
• You also don’t have to give way to a vehicle turning left at the intersection using a slip lane. That vehicle must give way to you.

More: What to do if you’re in a minor car accident

Giving way at a crossroad with no signs or lines

If there are no ‘give way’ or ‘stop’ signs or road markings that apply to you at a crossroad, and no traffic lights at the intersection, the rules include:

• Whether turning left, right or going straight through the intersection, slow down (stop if necessary) and give way to any vehicle entering or approaching the intersection from your right.
• If you're turning right, give way to oncoming vehicles going straight through the intersection and any vehicles turning left from that oncoming position (unless there is a slip lane for drivers turning left).
• Where a slip lane is provided, drivers turning left must give way to any driver in the intersection turning right. However, this excludes any vehicle making a U-turn at the intersection.
  

Giving way at a T-intersection

A T-intersection is created when one road ends and meets another (continuing) road at a right angle, forming the shape of the letter ‘T’. Road rules specific to T-intersections include:

• At the T junction on the road that is ending (the vertical part of the ‘T’), whether turning right or left you must slow down (stop if necessary) and give way to all vehicles on the continuing road that you’re about to join (the horizontal part of the ‘T’).
• Give way to any pedestrians who are crossing the continuing road at or near the intersection.
• As with a crossroad, there are some exceptions, including vehicles making a U-turn on the continuing road. These vehicles must give way to you.
• If you're turning right from the continuing road into the terminating road, give way to any oncoming vehicle travelling through the intersection and any oncoming vehicle turning left.
• Where a slip lane is provided, drivers turning left must give way to any driver in the intersection turning right, and any vehicle on the road the driver is entering. But note that this excludes any vehicle making a U-turn at the intersection.

More: The most common bad habits of Victorian drivers

Giving way at a roundabout

A roundabout is a type of intersection with one or more lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction around a central traffic island. It might or might not have a roundabout sign at the entrance and motorists must keep to the left of the central traffic island.

When approaching a roundabout, you must slow down and stop if necessary to avoid a crash. When you're at the intersection, the road rules include:

• Give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.
• Give way to any tram entering or approaching the roundabout.

There are other rules for roundabouts when turning left or right or continuing straight. See our video link (above) and refer to the Transport Victoria website for further information.

Giving way when turning at an intersection with traffic lights

Many intersections with traffic lights do not have turning arrow lights (or might only have arrows that operate for part of a traffic light sequence), requiring motorists to give way when making a turn. If you're turning at this type of intersection, the rules include:

• If you're turning right, give way to any oncoming vehicle going straight ahead or turning left, except if a vehicle is turning left using a slip lane.
• Where there is a ‘left turn on red after stopping’ sign at the intersection, give way to any vehicle approaching from the right, turning right into the road you're entering or making a U-turn.
  

Giving way when merging lanes

When you want to change lanes while driving, you must give way to other vehicles. This can be a stressful situation for some drivers when a lane is coming to an end or when navigating a major arterial road with multiple lanes. Acknowledging this, Transport Victoria encourages drivers to follow these simple rules:

• On a freeway, arterial road or wherever there are road markings for more than one lane of traffic, if you move from one lane to another you must give way to vehicles already in that lane. This includes when your lane ends.
• Indicate and change lanes when there is a safe gap in traffic. If the lane in front of you is blocked (eg. by a parked car) you must indicate and give way before you move.

Where two rows of vehicles merge into a single lane, and where there are no lines marked on the road (known as zip merging), you must give way to a vehicle that’s ahead of you, even if it’s only part of that vehicle. This is commonly found at the end of an overtaking lane on country roads.

Note that you're not zip merging if you cross any lines marked on the road. If you cross lines on the road, you must follow the give way rules for changing lanes.

Giving way to pedestrians and cyclists

At all types of intersections, drivers must give way to pedestrians crossing the road they are turning into. When preparing to turn at an intersection, drivers must also give way to cyclists and other road users (such as e-scooter riders) travelling straight ahead.

At a roundabout, you should give pedestrians the time and space they need to cross, however you don’t need to give way to pedestrians at roundabouts unless there is a pedestrian crossing there.

More: Pedestrian road rules in Victoria

What penalties apply for failing to give way?

Under Victorian road rules, failing to give way at an intersection can incur a penalty of three demerit points and $346, or up to $988 if you choose to dispute an infringement in court and lose (current for the 2024/25 financial year). The same penalties apply for similar offences, including failing to give way to a pedestrian, a police vehicle or emergency vehicle and at a roundabout.

Higher penalties ($494, up to $1976) apply for failing to stop and remain stationary at a children's crossing, passing a stopped tram and passing a stopped vehicle at a children’s crossing or pedestrian crossing, while failing to stop or give way at a level crossing can incur a penalty of four demerit points, $988 and up to $3952.

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