Queensland · Your Keys to Driving in Queensland · chapter 8 · 20 min read

Alcohol, Drugs & Heavy Vehicle Rules

• The SIGNALS AHEAD sign warns that you are approaching traffic lights. You should be prepared to obey the traffic signals ahead.
• The STOP HERE ON RED SIGNAL sign is used to indicate where traffic must stop when faced with a red light. There may or may not be a STOP line marked on the road.

The TRAFFIC HAZARD AHEAD sign is only used for emergency purposes to warn motorists of an unexpected hazard ahead. Take care and drive to the prevailing conditions. The SLIPPERY ROAD sign warns motorists of hazardous road surface conditions ahead. Take care and drive to the prevailing conditions. The LOOSE STONES sign warns motorists of hazardous road surface conditions ahead. Take care and drive to the prevailing conditions. The LANE STATUS signs give motorists advance warning that one or more lanes of a multi-lane roadway are closed ahead. The bars indicate the closed lanes, while the arrows indicate lanes available to traffic. The LINE MARKERS ON ROAD and SURVEYORS AHEAD signs warn motorists that there are line markers or surveyors working ahead on or adjacent to the road. This sign is only used while workers are in the area. Drive with due care and attention for your own and roadworkers’ safety. The ROAD PLANT AHEAD sign is used at work sites where machinery is working on the roadway. Take care and be prepared for plant being operated on the road without any form of delineation or traffic control. The ROAD WORK supplementary plate may be used with a SPEED RESTRICTION sign at roadworks.

• The END ROADWORK sign may be used to define the end of a work site. This sign does not cancel out any previous speed restriction. You should be aware that roadwork speed limits continue to apply until the next speed restriction sign. This multi-message sign defines the end of a work site and reinstates the speed limit. You may now travel in a safe manner up to the speed limit indicated. Reduced speed limits through roadworks Reduced speed limits in and around roadworks are in place to protect the road user and roadworker because:
• Speeding vehicles are a very real threat to the safety of other drivers and roadworkers.
• The road condition may have changed but you may not be aware of this. While under construction or repair, the road surface may not be safe to drive on at the normal speed.
• Loose gravel on the road surface may cause damage to vehicles.
• The road surface may be uneven.
• The road lanes may have narrowed.
• Often hidden from view are kilometres of utilities such as drainage pipes, electrical and telecommunication lines. When roads are widened, many of these have to be relocated. Relocation takes time.
• Some roadwork activities are mobile, such as line markings, road patching and mowing. The roadworker may be moving through the zone and needs a reduced speed limit for safety reasons.
• Roadworkers may not always be visible when working in the road area.

Railway level crossings Disobeying the road rules near railway level crossings can be fatal. Crashes at railway level crossings are generally more severe than other types of crashes because trains are heavy and fast. Any yellow painted cross hatching at a level crossing is legally classed as being part of the crossing.

• Stopping and giving way at a level crossing You must stop at a STOP sign or STOP line and give way to any trains approaching or entering the crossing. You must give way at a GIVE WAY sign or GIVE WAY line to any train approaching or entering the crossing.
• Entering or leaving a level crossing You must not enter a level crossing if:
• warning lights, warning bells or boom gates are operating
• you can see or hear a train approaching the crossing
• the road beyond the crossing is blocked or your whole vehicle cannot immediately clear the crossing. You must get off the crossing as soon as you can do so safely.

At a level crossing where boom gates or flashing lights are not installed, extra care should be taken.