#hook turn

Predominantly a Melbourne thing with 19 of them in our CBD (Central Business District) area alone these turns confuse the crap out of most visitors whether they are Aussie or not.

Like the British the Aussies drive on the left hand side of the road. Normally a right hand turn would be made in the middle right lane (sometimes a separate lane, sometimes not). Hook turns have you make the right hand turn from the far left lane. If you are one of the first three cars you simply pull into the intersection and block the cross traffic. Once the light goes red facing you and green for the traffic you are blocking you simply turn right and the traffic you blocked flows in behind you. Still confused? Maybe this video will help you, I think the only reason they work in Melbourne so well is that it's also not possible to do a curb or left hand turn on the red. In Canada (except for Quebec) if you stop first on the red and there are no crossing pedestrians or oncoming cars you may make the right or curb turn.

Overall I think it's a brilliant idea and I'm sure prevents a lot of people driving into trams that run in the middle of the street but I'm sure when they were first introduced there was a month or two of utter chaos.

I posted a picture of a hookturn sign on a forum once, and people started flipping their shit.

‘Just arrived’ is about me and my family. We moved to Australia in September 2012. We try to adapt to Australia and the Australian lifestyle, but it’s not always easy. In every episode I adress something that is different. I also explain what we ‘Dutchies’ are like.

This third episode is about driving in Australia. I think Australians are terrible on the road and can't understand some rules. Taking the hook turn was an experience on it's own.