US expat reveals the road rules she found most confusing after moving to Australia
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An American expat is totally stumped by an Aussie road rule - and we don't blame her!
Jaylee Promise, from California, took to TikTok to share her confusion about the 'big difference' between driving Down Under and driving in America.
Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise
In Australia, of course, we drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. But in the States, it's the opposite!
“Was it easy to get the hang of? No. Did I eventually get it? Yes I did. Should you be scared to drive with me? Maybe,” Jaylee jokingly says in the clip.
Another common road rule that surprised her was the fact that we Aussies "cannot make a U-turn anywhere".
Jaylee shares: “It’s illegal to make a U-turn unless there is this sign that says, ‘U-turn permitted’. However, in America it’s the opposite. Motorists can make a U-turn at any time, at any light.”
“Unless there is a sign saying you cannot make a U-turn."
“Good thing a cop didn’t see me the first time I made a U-turn here,” she jokes.
However, several Aussies were quick to jump in to point out that the "U-turn rule" actually varies per state.
One person wrote: “In South Australia you can turn anywhere unless it says you can’t. So the same as the US basically.”
“In SA you can’t at an intersection with traffic lights unless there is a sign permitting. Whereas in Victoria you can unless there’s a no U-turn sign,” another claimed.
A third joked: “Also in Australia NONE if these rules apply if you're [sic] in a hurry!”
An American expat is totally stumped by Aussie road rules that are complete opposites with the rules in the US. Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise.
Motorists in New South Wales need to be well-versed with traffic laws and U-turn skills. That's because, according to the state's road rules, drivers are not permitted to make a U-turn at traffic lights unless there is a 'U-turn Permitted' sign displayed.
So, if you're ever driving in NSW and you see a 'U-turn Permitted' sign, you're in the clear to make a U-turn. But if you don't see a sign, or if the sign says 'No U-turns', then you'll need to find another way to turn around.
The same rules apply in Western Australia, although on roads with only one lane in each direction, you can make a U-turn unless it's indicated that it's not permitted. And on a road with two or more lanes in one direction, you are allowed to make a U-turn unless it's indicated that it's not permitted, but you must turn from the lane closest to the centre of the road.
Another traffic rule that baffled Jaylee includes the fact that most traffic lights don’t allow you to turn on a red light.
She says: "In Australia you cannot make a left turn [even] staying close to the kerb, if the (opposing) light is red. You just have to wait for the light to turn green.”
“That was a major difference for me, because my friend screamed at me the first time I made a little turn on a red light.”
It should be noted, however, that there are special cases that allow motorists to turn on a red light — provided that it’s safe and there is a sign.
Jalee mistakenly claimed that there were no “carpool lanes” in Australia as we have similar lanes in our roads. Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise.
The expat then shows side-by-side photos of Bruce Highway in Queensland and a highway in California, comparing them.
“There’s two lanes either side,” she says about the Aussie highway.
“This is the 405 freeway where I live in California – it has six to seven lanes either side.”
Lastly, Jaylee claimed that Australian roads have no carpool lanes compared to that of US roads.
She shares: “In America we have these little numbers called carpoolings, which is this little lane way off to the side. It’s kinda on its own."
“You can only be in this lane if you have two or more people in your car – so for people who carpool together. So if you have a kid in the car, a friend or whatever, you can go in the fast lane. It’s really helpful.”
“Maybe I should have looked up the rules before I started driving here.”
Well, we actually have similar lanes here in Australia and they are commonly referred to as T2 and T3 and it is a transit lane which can only be used by passenger service vehicles, cyclists, motorcycles and vehicles carrying at least two (T2) or three (T3) people.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think expats should be given road safety lessons before being allowed to drive? It sounds like it would have been helpful if this woman did!
Jaylee Promise, from California, took to TikTok to share her confusion about the 'big difference' between driving Down Under and driving in America.
Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise
In Australia, of course, we drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. But in the States, it's the opposite!
“Was it easy to get the hang of? No. Did I eventually get it? Yes I did. Should you be scared to drive with me? Maybe,” Jaylee jokingly says in the clip.
Another common road rule that surprised her was the fact that we Aussies "cannot make a U-turn anywhere".
Jaylee shares: “It’s illegal to make a U-turn unless there is this sign that says, ‘U-turn permitted’. However, in America it’s the opposite. Motorists can make a U-turn at any time, at any light.”
“Unless there is a sign saying you cannot make a U-turn."
“Good thing a cop didn’t see me the first time I made a U-turn here,” she jokes.
However, several Aussies were quick to jump in to point out that the "U-turn rule" actually varies per state.
One person wrote: “In South Australia you can turn anywhere unless it says you can’t. So the same as the US basically.”
“In SA you can’t at an intersection with traffic lights unless there is a sign permitting. Whereas in Victoria you can unless there’s a no U-turn sign,” another claimed.
A third joked: “Also in Australia NONE if these rules apply if you're [sic] in a hurry!”
An American expat is totally stumped by Aussie road rules that are complete opposites with the rules in the US. Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise.
Motorists in New South Wales need to be well-versed with traffic laws and U-turn skills. That's because, according to the state's road rules, drivers are not permitted to make a U-turn at traffic lights unless there is a 'U-turn Permitted' sign displayed.
So, if you're ever driving in NSW and you see a 'U-turn Permitted' sign, you're in the clear to make a U-turn. But if you don't see a sign, or if the sign says 'No U-turns', then you'll need to find another way to turn around.
The same rules apply in Western Australia, although on roads with only one lane in each direction, you can make a U-turn unless it's indicated that it's not permitted. And on a road with two or more lanes in one direction, you are allowed to make a U-turn unless it's indicated that it's not permitted, but you must turn from the lane closest to the centre of the road.
Another traffic rule that baffled Jaylee includes the fact that most traffic lights don’t allow you to turn on a red light.
She says: "In Australia you cannot make a left turn [even] staying close to the kerb, if the (opposing) light is red. You just have to wait for the light to turn green.”
“That was a major difference for me, because my friend screamed at me the first time I made a little turn on a red light.”
It should be noted, however, that there are special cases that allow motorists to turn on a red light — provided that it’s safe and there is a sign.
Jalee mistakenly claimed that there were no “carpool lanes” in Australia as we have similar lanes in our roads. Credit: TikTok/@jaylee.promise.
The expat then shows side-by-side photos of Bruce Highway in Queensland and a highway in California, comparing them.
“There’s two lanes either side,” she says about the Aussie highway.
“This is the 405 freeway where I live in California – it has six to seven lanes either side.”
Lastly, Jaylee claimed that Australian roads have no carpool lanes compared to that of US roads.
She shares: “In America we have these little numbers called carpoolings, which is this little lane way off to the side. It’s kinda on its own."
“You can only be in this lane if you have two or more people in your car – so for people who carpool together. So if you have a kid in the car, a friend or whatever, you can go in the fast lane. It’s really helpful.”
“Maybe I should have looked up the rules before I started driving here.”
Well, we actually have similar lanes here in Australia and they are commonly referred to as T2 and T3 and it is a transit lane which can only be used by passenger service vehicles, cyclists, motorcycles and vehicles carrying at least two (T2) or three (T3) people.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think expats should be given road safety lessons before being allowed to drive? It sounds like it would have been helpful if this woman did!
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