With many of us hitting the road as the weather gets warmer, it’s important to ensure you’re across the overtaking road rules, particularly on multi-lane roads. 

The red vehicle is driving at the speed limit in the right-hand lane of a multi-lane road that is not congested and a ‘Keep left unless overtaking sign’ is not installed.  Which of the following conditions would make this an offence:

a) The speed limit is 80km/h or above

b) The speed limit is 90km/h or above

c) The driver is not overtaking

d) a and c

e) b and c

f) none of these options

The correct answer to this question is e.

Even if travelling at the speed limit, unless they are overtaking, drivers must keep out of the right-hand lane on multi-lane roads if the speed limit is 90km/h and above, or if a ‘Keep left unless overtaking’ sign applies. 

RACQ Manager Road Safety and Technical Joel Tucker said while there were some situations where motorists could travel in the right lane on multi-lane roads with speed limits of 90km/h or more, they should always ensure they assessed the reasons and safety of each situation before performing any manoeuvres.

“If the posted speed limit is 90km/h or more, of if the road has a ‘Keep left unless overtaking’ sign, you shouldn’t be driving in the right-hand lane unless you are overtaking, turning right, making a U-turn, or driving in congested traffic,” Mr Tucker said.

“Drivers can also legally overtake in a marked lane to the left of other vehicles on multi-lane roads, but only if it is safe to do so.

“Regardless of whether you are driving on a single or multi-lane road, it is important to make sure the road markings allow you to overtake in that area, you can do so safely and that you never exceed the speed limit to overtake another vehicle.”