Driving safely with trucks and buses

Driving around large and heavy vehicles

Drivers and riders must follow the road rules when sharing the road with large and heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses.  

Don’t overtake a turning truck or bus

Don’t pass a large vehicle turning left or right.  

Large vehicles often need more than one lane to turn. They are allowed to use two lanes to get around a corner.  

Large vehicles may also need to swing out to the right to turn left. Their indicator may indicate a left turn, but they may need to turn wide or straddle two lanes (e.g.: move right to turn left).

Keep a safe distance and allow extra room on both sides of the vehicle when it turns.  

Don’t cut in front of trucks or buses

Large and heavy vehicles have greater breaking distances and take a lot longer to slow down.

It’s especially dangerous to cut in front of large and heavy vehicles as they can only brake slowly and take longer to stop - this includes when they are approaching an intersection.

Driving with buses

Give way to buses

You must give way to a bus leaving a bus stop.  

The bus will display a 'Give way to buses' sign and have its indicator on. 

Driving in bus lanes

Bus lanes are special lanes for public buses and coaches. They have bus lane signs at the start of these lanes. 

You can drive in a bus lane if you see a sign showing other vehicles can use the lane.

Otherwise, you can only drive in a bus lane (for a maximum of 100 metres) in order to:

• enter or leave a road
• pass a vehicle that’s turning right or making a U-turn
• avoid an obstruction (e.g. a broken down vehicle).

Bike riders can ride in a bus lane unless otherwise signed. 

Parking or stopping in a bus lane

Public buses and taxis can stop in a bus lane to pick up or drop off passengers.  

Other drivers may be able to park in part-time bus lanes at certain times. You need to check the bus lane sign and parking signs in the area before parking.

Parking or stopping at a bus stop

Buses need space to enter and leave the bus stop.

You must not park or stop within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a bus stop sign, unless permitted by parking signs.

Bus and minibus zones

You must not park or stop in a bus or minibus zone unless you’re driving a public bus or minibus.

Rules for sharing the road with trucks and buses

The following rules are published in the Road Safety Road Rules 2017:

• Rule 77 - Giving way to buses  
• Rule 143 - Passing or overtaking a vehicle displaying a do not overtake turning vehicle sign
• Rule 154 - Bus lanes  
• Rule 157 - Truck lanes  
• Rule 158 - Exceptions to driving in special purpose lanes etc.  
• Rule 183 - Stopping in a bus zone

You may be fined if you ignore the law

Drivers can be penalised if they break these rules.