After rule 154 of the Principal Rules , the following rule is inserted in Division 6:

154A.     Bus only lanes

(1)  A driver (except the driver of a public bus) must not drive in a bus only lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive in the bus only lane under subrule (2).

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.

Note Bus and public bus are defined in the dictionary and bus only lane is defined in subrule (6).

(2)  A driver may drive in a bus only lane if –

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the bus only lane to avoid an obstruction; and

(b) the driver does not obstruct the path of a public bus travelling in the bus only lane; and

(c) where the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane – the driver approaches the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane; and

(d) the driver gives way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

(3)  A driver must not drive across a bus only lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive across the bus only lane under subrule (4).

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.

(4)  A driver may drive across a bus only lane only if –

(a) the driver is driving across the bus only lane to –

(i) enter or leave a road; or

(ii) enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind (for example, moving to or from a service road, the shoulder of the road or an emergency stopping lane); and

(b) where the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane – the driver approaches the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane; and

(c) the driver gives way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

(5)  A driver turning at an intersection immediately after a bus only lane must –

(a) if the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane – approach the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane; and

(b) give way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 5 penalty units.

(6)  A bus only lane is a marked lane or the part of a marked lane –

(a) beginning at a bus only lane sign (whether or not there is also a bus only lane road marking) and ending at the nearest of the following:

(i) an end bus only lane sign ;

(ii) a traffic sign that indicates the beginning of a special purpose lane;

(iii) a traffic sign that indicates drivers of vehicles may drive in the lane beyond the sign;

(iv) an intersection with traffic lights or traffic arrows; or

(b) beginning at a bus only lane road marking (if there is no bus only lane sign ) and ending at the next intersection; or

(c) that is marked with a continuous line starting at the beginning of a bus only lane road marking and ending at an end bus only lane road marking.

Note Bus only lane road marking , marked lane , special purpose lane and traffic sign are defined in the dictionary.

Bus only lane sign

End bus only lane sign