Victorian Numbered Regulations

ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES AMENDMENT RULES 2020 (SR NO 121 OF 2020) - REG 23

After rule 154 of the Principal Rules insert —

        " 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:     3 penalty units.

Note

Public bus is 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:     3 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:     3 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", end bus only lane road marking , "marked lane", road marking , special purpose lane and traffic sign are defined in the dictionary.

Bus only lane sign	End bus only lane sign
	".