Turning

Turning can be dangerous because it often means you have to cross the path of other vehicles. Remember – turning traffic usually gives way to traffic that isn't turning.

How to turn

To legally and safely make a left or right turn:

• do a thorough check for other vehicles – in front, behind and to the sides
• remember to check over your shoulder for your blind spots – the areas of road to the sides of your motorcycle that you can’t see in your mirrors
• watch for pedestrians
• signal for at least 3 seconds
• turn when safe.

If you’re turning left, use your left indicator. If you’re turning right, use your right indicator.

Be prepared to stop, even if the other road user should give way to you.

Turning from a driveway

If you're riding out of a driveway:

• slow down to a complete stop at the end of the driveway
• check the road and footpath for pedestrians, vehicles and other hazards
• give way to:
  
  • anyone using the footpath
  • cyclists using a cycle path or cycle lane
  • vehicles on the road, including vehicles turning right into the driveway.

Making a left turn

If you're turning left into another street or driveway:

• stay in the left-turn lane or keep to the left side of the road
• slow down before you turn
• check your mirrors and look over your left shoulder to check your blind spot
• signal for at least 3 seconds
• turn when safe.

Left turn

Making a right turn on a road with no marked lanes

In this situation:

• slow down before your turn
• check your mirrors and look over your right shoulder to check your blind spot
• signal for at least 3 seconds
• move close to the centre of the road
• check your mirrors and blind spot again
• turn when safe to a similar position in the road.

Right turn on an unlaned road

Making a right turn on a road with a centre line

In this situation:

• slow down before you turn
• check your mirrors and look over your right shoulder to check your blind spot
• signal for at least 3 seconds
• move towards the centre line
• check your mirrors and blind spot again
• turn when safe to a similar position in the road.

Making a right turn from the left-hand side of the road

If other vehicles are moving fast or following too closely, or if the road is narrow, it may be best to wait on the left-hand side of the road to make the turn, rather than stopping in the middle of the road and holding up traffic.

In this situation:

• check your mirror
• signal left for at least 3 seconds
• move across to the left-hand side of the road
• signal right for at least 3 seconds before you turn
• check behind you – this can be difficult on a motorcycle
• remember to do a head check before you move.

If a vehicle in front of you has also stopped to turn right, it’s best to wait behind them and then use the same position to turn from.

Take extra care on roads where the traffic is moving quickly.

Making a right turn from a right-turn bay

A right-turn bay is an area where vehicles that are turning right can wait until it's safe to turn, without holding up vehicles going straight through.

You can’t use the right-turn bay to overtake a vehicle travelling straight ahead.

As you approach the right-turn bay, the road will be painted with a white triangle with diagonal lines inside it, followed by one or more right-turn arrows.

You can only ride over the white diagonal lines if you're turning right.

Right-turn bay

Turning on or off a road with a flush median

A flush median is a strip in the centre of the road that's marked with white diagonal lines within parallel lines. It's a place for vehicles to wait safely before turning right off the road, or after turning onto the road.

You can only drive onto the flush median to:

• wait to move into a gap in the traffic flow after you've turned right – motorcycle A in the diagram 
• slow down and wait before turning right – motorcycle B in the diagram.

Making a U-turn

You're normally allowed to make U-turns, as long as the road is clear in both directions and it's safe to do so. Make sure you have enough room to complete the turn and don’t create a hazard for oncoming vehicles.

Place your motorcycle so that you can see. 

Safe riding tips - position

You're not allowed to make U-turns on a motorway or if a No U-turn sign is displayed.

Making a turn over a no-passing line

You can cross over the solid yellow no-passing line, if it's safe to do so, when making a turn to enter a driveway or side road.

However, no-passing lines are often marked where visibility is limited, so extra care is needed. It may be safer to turn further along the road, where visibility is better.

No-passing line