When you drive in Australia, KEEP LEFT signs are not just suggestions—they’re part of the law. You’ll often see them placed at medians, traffic islands, or road obstructions. These signs help prevent collisions and keep traffic flowing smoothly. Als Fahrer, you’re required to stay left unless overtaking.

KEEP RIGHT signs, auf der anderen Seite, are rare and only used in special cases—typically at specific road blocks or where traffic patterns demand it. Ignoring either sign can lead to fines and endanger others on the road.

Bei OPTRAFFIC, we supply fully compliant KEEP LEFT and KEEP RIGHT Verkehrszeichen that meet Australian standards, helping contractors, councils, and exporters keep roads safe and legal across all environments.

Key Takeaways

• Keep left signs tell drivers to go left of medians, islands, or things in the road. These signs must be followed by law in Australia.
• Put keep left signs only where drivers need to pick a side. This is at medians or splitter islands. Make sure signs are easy to see and shine at night for safety.
• Drivers must keep left unless they are overtaking, turning right, or avoiding things. They must also keep left in heavy traffic. Some states have extra rules for multi-lane roads.
• If you ignore keep left or keep right signs, you can get a fine. You may also get demerit points and have a higher chance of a crash. Always follow the signs and go back to the left lane when it is safe.
• Road designers must not put signs in the wrong place. They should not mix up keep left signs with chevrons. This helps drivers know what to do and keeps roads safe.

Purpose and Legal Status

Regulatory Role

You see KEEP LEFT signs and KEEP RIGHT signs as part of the official road rules in Australia. These signs are not just suggestions. They are regulatory signs, which means you must obey them by law. Der Australian Standard AS 1742.2 Section 6.4 defines the KEEP LEFT sign (R2-3(L)) as a vertical rectangle with a black arrow and the words “KEEP LEFT”. This sign tells you to pass on the left side of an obstruction or device. You find these signs at medians, painted islands, and physical barriers. The law requires you to follow these signs to keep traffic moving safely and smoothly.

Notiz: The reflectivity of these traffic signs must meet AS/NZS 1906.1 Klasse 1 or 1W standards. This helps you see them clearly, even at night or in poor weather.

Lane Discipline and Safety

When you follow KEEP LEFT signs, you help maintain lane discipline. This is important for left-hand traffic systems like those in Australia. You must keep to the left unless overtaking. This practice supports driving on the left and helps everyone follow the road rules. Here is how these signs improve safety and order:

1. You stay in the left lane unless overtaking, which keeps merges smooth and reduces sudden lane changes.
2. This habit leads to safer and more efficient traffic flow.
3. If you signal early before changing lanes, you give other drivers time to react.
4. Checking your mirrors before moving lanes lowers the risk of confusion and crashes.

You play a key role in keeping the roads safe by following these simple rules. The signs guide you and remind you of your responsibilities under Australian road rules.

Where to Use Keep Left Signs

Mandatory Locations

Keep left signs must go in certain places on the road. These places are chosen for safety and to follow the law in Australia. The signs help you move around medians, painted islands, and things blocking the road. You will see them where roads split, at the start of pedestrian islands, and on central islands at intersections. The law says you must use keep left signs to show which side to pass an obstruction.

You also find these signs at the front of splitter islands and behind kerb extensions at traffic lights. Do not put a keep left sign on the left shoulder or at the edge of a central island with no clear way in or out. The sign should only be used when you need to choose a direction, not just to mark the edge of a road. Putting a keep left sign in the wrong spot can confuse drivers and break the rules.

Tipp: Always check if there is something real, like a painted or built feature, that splits the traffic. Only use a keep left sign if this is true.

Placement and Visibility

Putting keep left signs in the right place helps you see and follow them. In Städten, the sign should be 1 Zu 3 metres from the start of the island. Put the traffic sign in the middle on a bollard or thin post. On country roads, especially fast ones, the sign should be set back up to 5 metres. Make sure the sign faces the way cars are coming so you can spot it early.

An Kreuzungen, keep left signs often point towards cars coming in. Place the sign at the front of the splitter island or just behind the kerb extension. Make sure the sign does not block your view of other cars or traffic lights. The road sign should be high enough—between 1.5 Und 2.2 metres above the ground in cities, and up to 2.2 metres in the country. This helps you see the sign over parked cars or bushes.

Keep left signs must use good reflective materials. In Australien, the rules say you need Class 1W, Klasse 400, or Diamond Grade sheeting. These materials bounce back headlights so you can see the sign at night or in bad weather. On fast roads or in dark places, you might see extra things like LED -Leuchten or solar flashing lights. These help you notice the sign in rain, Nebel, oder nachts.

You must also keep the signs clean and in good shape. Councils check signs at least twice a year. They replace or clean any sign that is faded, broken, or hidden by plants. Some signs use special coatings to stop sun and fog damage, so they stay clear for longer.

Legal Requirements and Exceptions

State and Territory Differences

You must follow keep left signs across Australia, but each state and territory has its own details in the road rules. The national standard, ALS 1742.2, sets the main rules for these signs. Every state uses this standard, but some add extra rules or change how you must act in certain places.

Here is a table to help you see the main differences:

You must keep left unless overtaking when you drive on roads with speed limits above these thresholds. On multi-lane roads, you must stay in the left lane unless you need to pass another vehicle. Some states, wie Victoria Und New South Wales, check this rule with cameras and police patrols. If you break this rule, you may get a fine or lose demerit points.

Notiz: Always check your local road rules before driving in a new state. Some areas have extra signs or local rules that you must follow.

Exceptions to the Rule

You do not always have to keep left unless overtaking. The law gives you some clear exceptions. You can use the right lane or pass on the right in these cases:

1. Overtaking: You may move right to pass a slower vehicle. After overtaking, you must return to the left lane as soon as it is safe.
2. Turning Right or Making a U-Turn: If you plan to turn right or make a U-turn, you may use the right lane or move right before the turn.
3. Congestion: In heavy traffic, you may use any lane. The rule does not apply if all lanes are moving slowly.
4. Avoiding an Obstruction: If there is a hazard, such as a broken-down car or roadworks, you may move right to avoid it.
5. Special Vehicles: Emergency vehicles, Busse, and some service vehicles may have extra rights to use the right lane.

Here is a quick checklist for you:

• ✅ Overtaking a slower car? You may use the right lane.
• ✅ Turning right or making a U-turn? You may use the right lane.
• ✅ Stuck in traffic? You may use any lane.
• ✅ Obstruction ahead? You may move right to avoid it.
• ❌ No reason? You must keep left unless overtaking.

Tipp: Always return to the left lane after you finish overtaking or passing an obstruction. This keeps traffic flowing and helps everyone stay safe.

You must remember that keep left signs are there to guide you. They help you follow the road rules and keep order on busy roads. If you ignore these signs without a valid reason, you risk a fine and put others in danger.

Incorrect Use and Misuse Risks

Common Mistakes

You might think placing a KEEP LEFT sign is simple, but many road designers make mistakes that can cause confusion or even accidents. You should never install a KEEP LEFT sign on the left shoulder of a road, at the edge of a central island without a clear entry or exit, or on wide painted areas that do not have a real obstruction. The sign must always relate to a clear directional choice, not just mark the edge of the road.

A frequent error is using a KEEP LEFT sign instead of a chevron sign. Erinnern, KEEP LEFT is a rule you must follow, while chevrons only give advice for bends or merges. If you swap these signs, you risk failing a road safety audit or having your project rejected by authorities.

You can avoid these problems by checking the following:

• Only use KEEP LEFT at the start of medians, painted islands, or physical obstructions.
• Never use KEEP LEFT where there is no need for a directional decision.
• Do not use KEEP LEFT in place of chevrons on curves or merges.

Tipp: Always check the Australian Standard AS 1742.2 before installing any regulatory sign.

Some other common mistakes include:

• Placing traffic signs on the wrong side of the road, which makes it hard for drivers to understand.
• Using unclear or inconsistent signs that do not match the road layout.
• Failing to teach drivers about the meaning of each sign.

Visual Confusion

You may see KEEP RIGHT signs in rare cases, such as at bus-only median carriageways. These signs tell you to pass on the right of a specific obstruction. If you do not see clear supporting signs, you might misread a KEEP RIGHT sign as KEEP LEFT, especially in poor lighting or at an odd angle.

To help you avoid confusion, designers use:

If you see a KEEP RIGHT sign, check for extra information nearby. Always follow the arrows and any extra instructions. This helps you stay safe and avoid mistakes on the road.

Notiz: Good sign placement and clear design protect you and everyone else on the road. Always look for clear, well-lit signs and follow their instructions.

Penalties and Compliance

Fines and Legal Consequences

You face strict penalties if you ignore KEEP LEFT or KEEP RIGHT signs in Australia. These signs are not optional. They are regulatory, which means you must follow them by law. Police and road authorities check for compliance, especially at medians, islands, and intersections.

If you fail to obey these signs, you may receive:

• On-the-spot fines: Most states issue fines between $100 Und $300 for not keeping left when required.
• Demerit points: You can lose 2 oder 3 points from your licence for each offence.
• Court action: Repeated offences or dangerous driving may lead to court, higher fines, or even licence suspension.

Here is a quick table to show possible penalties:

Notiz: Penalties can increase if you cause a crash or ignore signs in school zones or roadworks.

Practical Compliance Tips

You can avoid fines and keep everyone safe by following a few simple steps:

1. Look for signs: Always check for KEEP LEFT or KEEP RIGHT signs at medians, painted islands, and intersections.
2. Follow arrows: The arrow on the sign shows you which side to pass. Do not guess.
3. Return to the left lane: After overtaking or avoiding an obstruction, move back to the left as soon as it is safe.
4. Do not swap signs: Never use a KEEP LEFT sign where a chevron is needed. Chevrons only give advice for curves or merges.
5. Check local rules: Each state may have extra rules or higher penalties. Read signs and stay alert.

🚦 Tipp: If you design roads, always follow AS 1742.2 for sign placement and use reflective materials. This helps drivers see and obey the signs, Tag oder Nacht.

You play a key role in road safety. Durch Folgen dieser Tipps, you help prevent crashes and avoid costly penalties.

You need to use keep left and keep right signs at medians, islands, and things blocking the road. These signs must be put in the right place and be easy to see, as the Australian Standards say. Putting the signs in the right spot stops drivers from getting mixed up and helps stop crashes, as experts have found. Always follow these signs and look for arrows that show you where to go.

• Watch out for work zone signs
• Merge early and follow the arrows in your lane
• Designers must make sure signs are easy to seeIf the road is tricky, check local rules or ask an expert. This helps you stay safe and not get a fine.

FAQ

What does a KEEP LEFT sign mean for you as a driver?

A KEEP LEFT sign tells you to pass on the left side of an island, median, or obstruction. You must follow this rule. The sign helps keep traffic safe and orderly.

Where must you never install a KEEP LEFT sign?

You must not place a KEEP LEFT sign on the left shoulder, at the edge of a central island without entry or exit, or on wide painted areas with no real obstruction. The sign must always relate to a clear directional choice.

How can you tell the difference between a KEEP LEFT sign and a chevron sign?

KEEP LEFT signs are rules you must obey. Chevrons only give advice for curves or merges. Never use a KEEP LEFT sign where a chevron is needed.

When do you use a KEEP RIGHT sign in Australia?

You use a KEEP RIGHT sign only when you must pass on the right of a specific obstruction. This is rare. You often see it at bus-only median carriageways, with extra signs to explain who must follow it.

What should you do if you see a KEEP LEFT or KEEP RIGHT sign at night or in bad weather?

Look for reflective materials or extra lighting on the sign. These features help you see the sign clearly in poor conditions. Always follow the arrow and any extra instructions to stay safe.