A simple road rule question has left hundreds of Aussie drivers stumped and confused, with many admitting that they have been doing things incorrectly the whole time.

Posting on their official Facebook account, Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads shared an image of an orange car attempting to merge lanes with a blue car because their lane was coming to an end.

"You know your road rules, and now's your chance to prove it," the transport office wrote in their Facebook post, asking the question: "The driver of the orange car needs to merge into the same lane as the blue car – but who has to give way?"

Hundreds of Australian drivers were stumped by a simple road rule question. Credit: Facebook/Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland.​

The comments section was clearly divided over which driver had the right of way, and hundreds of users were seen to be explaining and defending their positions.

Some users argued that the driver in the orange car had the right of way in this situation.

"Obviously, the blue car has to give way with enough notice!" one user wrote. "Unlike when you're the blue car and you see the orange car speed by to get in front of you and just pulls out in front of you!"

Another agreed that the driver in the orange car was supposed to go first. "The orange car but that never happens especially in Brisbane as they think they have the right to just push in – mostly without even looking," wrote another user.

Eventually, a representative from the transportation department intervened and encouraged fellow drivers to "double-check" the rules of the road.

Apparently in this situation, the driver whose lane is coming to an end must give way to the driver who's already in the lane they're moving into. Meaning, the driver in the blue car has the right of way and the one in the orange car has to slow down and allow them to pass, even though they were ahead.

Several Aussie drivers in the comments section admitted that they were surprised at the correct answer, with one person admitting that they have been driving in Australia for 20 years and they never knew this.

Meanwhile, those who answered correctly expressed that they found it "disturbing" that not many fellow drivers know and are aware of the necessary road rules.

"If you answered blue, please make your way to your nearest transport department and hand your licence in. Thank you," one user half-joked.

"It is staggering the number of people who do not know the road rules," added another.

When merging onto a freeway, it's important for drivers to remember their merging manners. For a more detailed guide on how to properly merge lanes, check out this video below:

Credit: VicRoads.​

 

[springburn]

Isn't there a simple rule for the boneheads to give way when changing lanes? If your lane narrows or disappears, GIVE WAY! duh . . .

..

Not completely correct. If lane has dotted lines to the end then you have to give way. If the dotted lines cease some distance before the lane ends then the leading car has right of way - that's in NSW. Other states may have different rules

 

[Lex]

The rule here is - when you have the dotted line at the end, then the orange car MUST give way. However, when the line ceases (that is there is no dotted line) then the car in front (in this case the orange car) has right of way.
The easy way to remember this is the dotted line is a ‘Give Way’ marker so if you are crossing it you MUST give way. If you look at the road at a Given Way sign you will see a broken line and at a Stop sign it is a solid (unbroken) line.
Don’t speed up to get in front when the lane is ending as this is also an offence. Have a close look at Driving Without Due Care. It covers a lot of poor/bad behaviour and includes ‘courtesy to other road users’. So if you are not courteous to other road users you can get fined.
Due Care offences are not a ticketable offence and must go through the court so it’s going to cost you quite a bit more than you bargain for.
Rule for safe driving? Aside from driving to conditions, ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and other road users and ALWAYS be courteous.

This information is based on QLD Legislation.

However, legislation in relation to roads etc is sort of standardised throughout Australia. Road Rules are prety much the same. As an example, if you look at QLD rules you will see 'J' turns mentioned. Which Victorian, especially Melbournites, are very familiar with but you wont see them in QLD. This is because after years of work the states agreed to keep the rules as standard as possible. Smart move to have the same driving rules for the whole country. Only problem is States being States, they still can't quite work hand in hand. Each has to have their own little differences. As Ned Kelly said, Such is life.