26-05-2008, 02:41 PM
the last time i went to melbourne was actually the first time i had ever driven there and, as i was staying in lonsdale street, i was driving in and out of the cbd a fair bit. i wasn't prepared for those hook turns, and i ended up just trying to avoid intersections where you had to do them instead, even if it meant going a longer way around than i had to. as i'm planning on going back later this year, i did a bit of checking to see what i could find out about this strange manouevre. it really is quite simple, if a bit weird. here's an explanation from the vicroads site:
At some intersections in Melbourne where trams operate, to turn right you must do a 'hook turn'. These intersections are clearly marked, with a sign hanging overhead or on the side of the road.
[url="http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/8E49A9CE-A921-4CDF-91DC-3958E92300F9/0/HookTurn.jpg"][/url]
To do a hook turn a driver must:
1. Approach and enter the intersection from, as near as practicable, to the far left side of the road.
2. Move forward, keeping to the left of the intersection and clear of any marked foot crossing until the driver is as near as practicable to the far side of the road the driver is entering.
3. Then wait until the traffic lights on the road they are entering into turn green before they make the turn.
if you need to find out more about victorian road rules, here's a link to the vicroads info: [url="http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/InformationForTourists.htm"]clicky[/url]
At some intersections in Melbourne where trams operate, to turn right you must do a 'hook turn'. These intersections are clearly marked, with a sign hanging overhead or on the side of the road.
[url="http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/8E49A9CE-A921-4CDF-91DC-3958E92300F9/0/HookTurn.jpg"][/url]
To do a hook turn a driver must:
1. Approach and enter the intersection from, as near as practicable, to the far left side of the road.
2. Move forward, keeping to the left of the intersection and clear of any marked foot crossing until the driver is as near as practicable to the far side of the road the driver is entering.
3. Then wait until the traffic lights on the road they are entering into turn green before they make the turn.
if you need to find out more about victorian road rules, here's a link to the vicroads info: [url="http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/InformationForTourists.htm"]clicky[/url]