Why Aussie drivers are mystified by these lines on the road

Is it ever legal to cross double, unbroken lines while driving? Well, it depends on where you live. Here’s everything you need to know, state-by-state.

Most drivers know that it’s illegal to cross solid, double lines to overtake the car in front just because they’re plodding along a bit too slowly.

However, many are not across the other rules pertaining to this particular road marking – or that they differ from state to state. 

Case in point, a recent post on the Driving Australia Reddit feed, where a NSW driver expressed their confusion after a recent interaction on the road.

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“Recently had a vehicle travelling behind me beep at me while I was turning into a petrol station from the opposite side of the road across double white lines,” the user posted.

“When I got out to fill petrol, some other random person said ‘you can’t cross the double white lines’. I then went into the shop to pay and the attendant tells me ‘it’s legal’ and that the ‘beeping/swearing and worse’ is a common occurrence.”

Many commenters on the thread agreed with the petrol station attendant – though many were quick to point out that it was legal in NSW.

“Legal in NSW, not legal in QLD. Idk [I don’t know] about other states,” one shrewd commenter wrote. 

So, what about in other states?

As was the consensus on the Reddit thread, it is indeed legal to turn across two solid lines in NSW. 

“You can cross double unbroken lines to enter or leave the road by the shortest route,” the NSW Government website states.

It states it is also allowed in order to pass a cyclist and to avoid an obstruction, provided: 

• you have a clear view of approaching traffic
• it’s necessary and reasonable
• you can do so safely.

In Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, crossing a double solid line is only allowed to safely pass a cyclist.

Similar rules exist in Victoria, though like in NSW, Victorian drivers can cross to avoid an obstruction.

The Transport Victoria website states:

You can only cross these lines if you:

• have to avoid something blocking the road (this doesn’t include other vehicles travelling slowly, or stopped in traffic)
• are overtaking a bicycle rider when:
• there is a clear view ahead
• it is safe to do so.

You can’t:

• overtake (except for bicycle riders)
• turn
• enter or leave the road.

Same goes in South Australia – you can only cross to overtake a bicycle or avoid an obstruction, with the My Licence SA website stating an obstruction “does not include a slower moving vehicle or a vehicle stopped in a line of traffic, but may include a fallen tree, a crashed vehicle, or a car that has broken down or is illegally parked”. 

“Before crossing the line, you must have a clear view of the road ahead and it must be safe. You must also be very sure you cross safely because the onus is on you to assess the danger when doing so,” the site states. 

In Western Australia the rules are a little more laissez faire, with drivers allowed to cross a solid double line (or a ‘continuous centre dividing line’ as it’s called in the west) to turn right, avoid obstructions and even to make a U-turn. 

In all states it is illegal to cross any solid line – whether single or double – just to overtake a slower car in front. 

But if you’re travelling interstate and plan to drive, maybe brush up on the local rules, lest you get caught illegally crossing the line. 

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