靠左駛Keep Left

昨天講霧燈(昨天講錯了，違例並不扣分，現已更正)，今天講靠左駛。

很多人駕駛經驗充足，但很普通的交通條例也不認識，在快速公路怎樣使用行車綫是其中一個例子。現在所講的是超過一條行車綫(multi-lane)的道路，不少人習慣不用左綫，或者超越了在左綫行得較慢的車輛後，不駛回左綫行車，這樣做可能干犯兩條法例。新州交通條例第130(1)(a)條說明，在車速限制超過80公里的道路上，須靠左綫行駛，違例者最高可被罰20個罰款單位(penalty units)(each unit=$110)，若以定額罰款(fixed penalty)方式處理則為罰款$258並扣兩分。新州交通條例第130(1)(b)條說明，不依「除越過前車外 靠左駛」(Keep Left Unless Overtaking)的標誌，同樣是罰款$258並扣兩分。

當然法例上也列出容許不遵守靠左駛規則的情況*，譬如塞車、越過前車、有障礙物等。

香港相關的法例比較簡單，同樣使用「除越過前車外 靠左駛」(Keep Left Unless Overtaking)的標誌，違反這標誌最高可處罰款HK$5,000及監禁3個月(Sections 59, 60 Cap 374G)，以定額罰款處理則為HK$450，並不扣分。

下次在快速公路駕駛，請記住這法例。


*(2) The driver must not drive in the right lane unless:
(a) the driver is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal, or
(b) the driver is overtaking, or
(c) a left lane must turn left sign or left traffic lane arrows apply to any other lane and the driver is not turning left, or
(d) the driver is required to drive in the right lane under rule 159, or
(e) the driver is avoiding an obstruction, or
(f) the traffic in each other lane is congested, or
(g) the traffic in every lane is congested, or
(h) the right lane is a special purpose lane in which the driver, under another provision of these Rules, is permitted to drive, or
(i) there are only 2 marked lanes and the left lane is a slow vehicle turn out lane.
(Road Rules 2008 Part 11 Divsion 2 Rule 130(2) New South Wales Legislation)