RACV has laid bare Victoria’s most misunderstood road rules and warned that confusion behind the wheel could put lives at risk.
As National Road Safety Week runs from 17th to 24th May, the motoring body is urging drivers to revisit the basics—pointing to a surprising gap between what motorists think they know and the actual rules on Victorian roads.
More than 1,300 people died on Australian roads last year, according to national road safety data, and Victoria has already recorded 100 deaths in 2026 as of mid-May. Tens of thousands more suffer serious injuries each year, and RACV says these figures highlight the need for clearer understanding, not just stricter enforcement.
“Road safety starts with knowledge,” RACV Head of Policy James Williams said, noting many drivers unknowingly carry bad habits for years. “People are often surprised to learn they’ve been getting basic rules wrong—sometimes for decades,” he said. “It’s not just about avoiding fines; it’s about reducing risk for everyone on the road.”
The rules drivers are getting wrong
Among the most commonly misunderstood rules is the meaning of a yellow traffic light—which signals drivers to stop if it’s safe, not speed through. Likewise, passing emergency and incident response vehicles requires motorists to slow to 40km/h, a rule that applies across police, ambulance, tow trucks and breakdown services.
Melburnians may pride themselves on mastering the city’s famously tricky hook turns, but RACV warns they’re not optional. If signage indicates a hook turn, drivers must follow it — no exceptions. Similarly, tram etiquette remains a sticking point, as motorists must stop whenever a tram is stationary to pick up or drop off passengers, even if no one is visibly boarding.
Merging rules also continue to trip drivers up. Drivers should not rely on a blanket “give way to the right” rule; in a zip merge, the vehicle ahead has priority, while lane markings determine right of way in other situations.
More Key road rules in Victoria
Other frequently misunderstood rules include:
- School zones apply during set times on school days, even if no children are visible.
- Victoria bans learner and P-plate drivers from touching their phones entirely, including hands-free use.
- At roundabouts, drivers must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout—not just those approaching from the right.
- U-turns at traffic lights are legal in Victoria unless signage states otherwise, making it the only Australian state where this is the default rule.
Williams said National Road Safety Week also serves as a moment of reflection, encouraging drivers to consider the real-world consequences behind the statistics.
“This week is about remembering lives lost and recognising the impact of road trauma,” he said. “We’re asking Victorians to commit to safer driving—starting with understanding the rules they follow every day.”
RACV is backing the national “Drive So Others Survive” pledge, which calls on Australians to take personal responsibility for safer behaviour behind the wheel.