New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

ROAD RULES 2014 - REG 154A

154A Bus only lanes

(1) A driver, except the driver of a public bus, must not drive in a bus only lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive in the bus only lane under subrule (2).

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

Note--:
"Bus" and
"public bus" are defined in the Dictionary and
"bus only lane" is defined in subrule (6).

(2) A driver may drive in a bus only lane if--

(a) it is necessary for the driver to drive in the bus only lane to avoid an obstruction, and

(b) the driver does not obstruct the path of a public bus travelling in the bus only lane, and

(c) where the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane--the driver approaches the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane, and

(d) the driver gives way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

(3) A driver must not drive across a bus only lane, unless the driver is permitted to drive across the bus only lane under subrule (4).

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

(4) A driver may drive across a bus only lane only if--

(a) the driver is driving across the bus only lane to--

(i) enter or leave a road, or

(ii) enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind, for example, moving to or from a service road, the shoulder of the road or an emergency stopping lane, and

(b) where the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane--the driver approaches the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane, and

(c) the driver gives way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

(5) A driver turning at an intersection immediately after a bus only lane must--

(a) if the driver is approaching the bus only lane from the same direction as a vehicle in a bus only lane--approach the bus only lane from the lane nearest to the bus only lane, and

(b) give way to any vehicles driving in the bus only lane.

: Maximum penalty--20 penalty units.

(6) A
"bus only lane" is a marked lane or the part of a marked lane--

(a) beginning at a bus only lane sign, whether or not there is also a bus only lane road marking, and ending at the nearest of the following--

(i) an end bus only lane sign,

(ii) a traffic sign that indicates the beginning of a special purpose lane,

(iii) a traffic sign that indicates drivers of vehicles may drive in the lane beyond the sign,

(iv) an intersection with traffic lights or traffic arrows, or

(b) beginning at a bus only lane road marking, if there is no bus only lane sign, and ending at the next intersection, or

(c) that is marked with a continuous line starting at the beginning of a bus only lane road marking and ending at an end bus only lane road marking.

Note--:
"Bus only lane road marking" ,
"marked lane" ,
"special purpose lane" and
"traffic sign" are defined in the Dictionary.

Note for diagrams--: There are other permitted versions of the bus only lane sign and the end bus only lane sign --see the diagrams in Schedules 2 and 3. There is no note that corresponds to this note in rule 154A of the Australian Road Rules .