Hook Turns and Tram Rules: Driving in Melbourne’s CBD

What is a hook turn?

Transport Victoria defines it in one line: a hook turn is a way for vehicles to make a right-hand turn from the left-hand lane. Instead of moving into the right lane or the centre of the road to turn right, you stay on the left, drive forward into the intersection, wait on the far left side, and then turn right when the traffic lights for the street you’re turning into go green.

It sounds backwards the first time you hear it, but the reason is the trams. In much of the city, trams run along the centre of the road. If cars queued in the middle of the intersection waiting to turn right, as they do in the suburbs, they would sit on the tram tracks and block the trams behind them. Transport Victoria says hook turns help keep intersections clear for trams while improving traffic flow.

Melbourne didn’t invent the idea. According to the RACV, turning right from the left-hand lane was normal in cities including Sydney and Adelaide up until the 1930s. Other cities dropped it, while Victoria kept it at tram intersections.

How to spot a hook turn intersection

You don’t have to guess. You only need to do a hook turn where the intersection has a “hook turn” sign. The sign reads “Right turn from left only”, and Transport Victoria says you must use a hook turn at every intersection where one is shown.

These intersections are mostly in the CBD and inner suburbs, along streets that carry trams. The RACV notes they are most commonly found along major tram corridors in the central city. Without a sign, a hook turn isn’t required, which is why many learners from the eastern suburbs reach their test without ever having done one.

A few habits make the sign easier to spot in time:

• Look well ahead. Scan for signs as you approach every intersection on a tram street. If you only notice the sign as you reach the stop line, you may already be in the wrong lane.
• Plan your route before you go. If you know you’ll be turning right off a tram street in the city, expect a hook turn and be in the left lane early.
• If you miss it, don’t force it. Go straight through, then make three left turns or find another safe route back. A missed turn costs a minute. A wrong move across tram tracks costs far more.

How to do a hook turn, step by step

Transport Victoria sets out seven steps for cars, trucks and buses. Here they are in order, with what each one looks like from the driver’s seat.

1. i.
   Move to the left lane and indicate right

   Get into the left lane on your approach. While you’re in the left lane, put your right indicator on. This feels strange at first, but it tells everyone around you what you’re about to do.

2. ii.
   Watch for bikes, scooters and other vehicles

   Bike riders and e-scooter riders use the left side of the road and can do hook turns too. Check your mirrors and your left blind spot as you approach.

3. iii.
   Enter the intersection and keep to the far left

   When your light is green, drive forward into the intersection, staying on the far-left side. Don’t stop across a pedestrian crossing.

4. iv.
   Follow the lines or stop where you’d turn right

   If there are road markings showing where to wait, follow them. Otherwise, stop at the point where you would turn right, facing straight ahead, with your indicator still on.

5. v.
   Wait for the lights on the road you’re entering

   Don’t move until the traffic lights on the road you want to enter have changed to green. Your own light turning yellow or red is not the signal.

6. vi.
   Check the lane on your right

   Make sure there are no vehicles still moving in the lane on your right.

7. vii.
   Turn right and drive on

   Turn right into the new road and continue. You’ll usually be leading the queue of cross traffic that was waiting behind you at the lights.

Notice where the car is waiting in step four. It sits on the left side of the intersection, just ahead of the cross traffic queued at their red light. Straight-through traffic keeps flowing on your right, and the tram tracks stay clear. When the cross street’s light turns green, you turn first and the cross traffic follows you.

When to complete the turn: which light to watch

This is the part that confuses most first-timers. When you’re waiting in a hook turn position, the light that matters is the one on the road you’re turning into, not the one you drove through.

Here’s how the sequence usually plays out:

• Your light turns yellow, then red. Straight-through traffic behind you stops.
• A few cars may still be finishing their run through the intersection on your right. Wait for them.
• The light for the cross street turns green. This is your signal.
• You check that nothing is still moving in the lane on your right, then you turn.

Turning as soon as your own light goes yellow or red is the classic hook turn mistake. Late straight-through vehicles can still be coming past you, and pedestrians may still be crossing. Wait for the cross street’s green and you’ll be moving with the traffic, not against it.

Common hook turn mistakes

We see the same errors from learners, new P platers and drivers who’ve just arrived from overseas or interstate. The RACV’s hook turn guide lists turning too early, positioning incorrectly, ignoring pedestrians and hesitating too long. Here’s what each looks like in practice.

• Turning from the right lane. The driver misses the sign, moves right and waits on the tram tracks as they would in the suburbs. At a hook turn intersection that breaks the rules and blocks the trams.
• Turning too early. Going as soon as your own light changes, instead of waiting for the cross street’s green.
• Stopping in the wrong spot. Too far back blocks straight-through traffic. Too far forward puts you across the pedestrian crossing. Follow any markings, and otherwise stop where you’d turn right, as far left as you can.
• Forgetting the indicator. Keep your right indicator on from the left lane until the turn is done, or drivers behind you will expect you to go straight.
• Missing bikes and pedestrians. Riders use the same left-side spot for their own hook turns, and people cross on both sides of the intersection. Check fully before you move.
• Freezing. Once the cross street is green, the lane on your right is clear and no one is in your path, make the turn with confidence.

Can learners and P platers do hook turns?

Yes, and they must. Transport Victoria’s hook turn rules apply to drivers at every intersection with a hook turn sign, and its hook turn page doesn’t list any exemption for learner or probationary drivers. If you’re on your Ls or your Ps and you want to turn right at a hook turn intersection, a hook turn is the only way to do it.

Practise hook turns with your supervising driver or an instructor before you need to do one alone:

• Pick a quieter time. A weekend morning in the CBD is far calmer than a weekday peak.
• Repeat the same intersection. Doing the same hook turn three or four times in a row, going around the block, builds the pattern quickly.
• Log it. City driving with trams, heavy pedestrian traffic and hook turns is good varied experience for your learner log book.

If you’re still building the basics, sort out lane changes, mirror checks and intersections in quieter areas first. Our beginner driving lessons start in the suburbs and move to busier roads as your skills grow, and our complete L to P plate guide covers the full learner process.

Bike riders, e-scooters and hook turns

Transport Victoria’s bicycle road rules state that bike riders can make a hook turn to turn right at any intersection unless there are signs saying they can’t, and they must use a hook turn where a “right turn from left only” sign is shown. Electric scooter riders follow the same hook turn rules.

In practice that means a rider may be waiting on the left side of any intersection, not just marked hook turn intersections, ready to turn right when the cross street’s lights change.

Tram tracks and bikes

Tram tracks are a hazard for anyone on two wheels. The NSW Government’s advice to bike riders is to cross tracks at a right angle so their wheels don’t get trapped. That means a rider near tram tracks may swing out suddenly to cross at a sharper angle. Give riders plenty of room around tracks, and don’t squeeze past them near a tram stop.

Why trams get special rules

Melbourne has what Transport Victoria describes as the world’s largest operational tram network, with over 250 kilometres of double track. Most of it is shared with cars, bikes and pedestrians.

Trams behave very differently from other vehicles on the road:

• They can’t steer. A tram is fixed to its tracks. It can’t swerve around a car that pulls out in front of it.
• They take a long time to stop. Transport Victoria warns that trams can take much longer to stop than you may think.
• Passengers step straight onto the road. At many stops, people get on and off from the middle of the street, walking across the lane you’re driving in.

Tram stops without a safety zone: when a tram stops, you stop

At a roadside tram stop, passengers walk between the tram and the footpath, straight across the lane you’re driving in. Transport Victoria’s rule is clear: you must stop behind trams at roadside tram stops, and your vehicle must not pass the back end of the tram.

Under rule 163 of the Road Safety Road Rules 2017, this applies when you’re driving behind a tram that stops at a tram stop and there’s no safety zone, dividing strip or traffic island between the tram and the part of the road you’re driving on. The rule then works in three stages:

1. i.
   Stop before the back of the tram

   You must stop before you pass the rear of the tram. Don’t creep up alongside it.

2. ii.
   Stay stopped while doors are open or people are crossing

   You can’t move while the tram doors are open or opening, or while pedestrians are crossing between the tram and the side of the road.

3. iii.
   Pass at no more than 10 km/h

   Once the doors are closed and the road is clear, you may drive past the tram while it’s still stopped, at no more than 10 km/h. Watch for anyone running for the tram at the last second.

The rule also treats a bus travelling along tram tracks as a tram, so the same applies when buses replace trams during works. The only exception is if a uniformed public transport employee or a police officer directs you to go.

Tram stops with a safety zone

A safety zone is an area beside the tram stop that separates waiting and alighting passengers from passing traffic. Transport Victoria says safety zones are marked with a yellow “safety zone” sign.

Because passengers aren’t stepping into your lane, you can keep moving past a tram stopped at a safety zone. Transport Victoria’s rule is that you must drive to the left of the safety zone at a speed that’s safe for pedestrians who may be crossing the road.

Pedestrians still cross to and from safety zones. Slow down, cover your brake, and watch the ends of the zone as you pass.

How to tell which kind of stop it is

• Tram stopping in the middle of the road, nothing between it and your lane: roadside stop. Stop behind the tram.
• Raised platform or island between the tram and your lane, yellow safety zone sign: safety zone. Keep left and pass at a safe speed.
• Not sure? Stop. Stopping behind a tram at a safety zone costs you a few seconds. Driving past a roadside stop while passengers step off could cost someone their life.

Tramways, tram lanes and part-time tram lanes

On some streets, part of the road is set aside for trams. There are three types, and each has different rules.

Tramways (tram only)

Tramways have overhead “tram only” signs and two solid yellow lines or raised dividing strips beside the tram tracks. Transport Victoria says you can’t drive in a tramway unless you need to avoid an obstacle.

Tram lanes

Tram lanes have overhead “tram lane” signs and a single solid yellow line beside the tracks. Under rule 155, a driver (other than a tram, tram recovery vehicle or public bus) must not drive in a tram lane except where the rules allow it. Transport Victoria lists those situations as:

• To avoid an obstacle
• To overtake a bike rider, as long as there’s a clear view ahead and it’s safe
• To turn right, for no more than 50 metres

Rule 158 sets the same 50 metre limit for driving in a tram lane to turn at an intersection or to enter or leave the road. Don’t use the tram lane as a way to get past a queue of traffic.

Part-time tram lanes

Transport Victoria explains that part-time tram lane signs show the days and times when it’s a tram lane. Outside those times, you’re allowed to drive in the lane. Read the whole sign as you approach. The days and times vary from street to street, so never assume a lane is free just because the last one was.

Everywhere else

On many streets there’s no special lane at all, and cars share the lanes with trams. Even there, Transport Victoria’s advice is to give way to trams. You must not move into the path of an oncoming tram, drive over raised dividing strips or cross double yellow lines.

Turning across tram tracks and giving way to trams

Turning across tram tracks is one of the higher-risk moves on a tram route, because you’re crossing the path of a heavy vehicle that can’t steer around you. Transport Victoria’s instruction is simple: when turning across tram tracks, watch for trams approaching from both directions.

A tram coming from behind you on the near track is easy to miss if you’re only watching oncoming traffic. Before any turn across tracks:

• Check your mirrors for a tram coming up behind you on the near track
• Look ahead for trams on the far track
• If a tram has just passed, check again. Another tram, or a car, may be coming behind it from the opposite direction
• Don’t start the turn unless you can clear the tracks completely. Rule 128 also bars you from entering an intersection you can’t drive through

Other tram rules to know

• Roundabouts: you must give way to a tram moving into or through a roundabout. Our roundabout rules guide covers the rest of the roundabout rules.
• U-turns: you must not make a U-turn across a solid line in the centre of the road.
• Tram signals: at some intersections, traffic lights show a white T or B on a black background. These are for trams and buses. They are not your signal to go.

Driving in the CBD: pedestrians, lights and busy intersections

Giving way to pedestrians when you turn

Transport Victoria states that you must give way to any pedestrians crossing the road you are entering when you turn at an intersection. In the city, that means expecting people on the crossing every time you turn left or right, including at the end of a hook turn. At marked pedestrian crossings, you must give way to any pedestrian on or near the crossing, and you must never overtake another vehicle that’s stopped at the crossing.

Shared zones

Some city lanes and streets are shared zones, where vehicles and pedestrians use the same space. You must give way to pedestrians in a shared zone. Drive slowly and expect people to walk in front of you.

Don’t enter a blocked intersection

Rule 128 says a driver must not enter an intersection if they can’t drive through it because it’s blocked, for example by congested traffic. If the traffic on the far side isn’t moving, stay behind the stop line even if your light is green. Getting stranded in the middle blocks trams, cross traffic and pedestrians.

Signs, one-way streets and lane arrows

Watch for one-way signs, turn restrictions, lane arrows and speed limit signs, and pick your lane early. At lights with arrows, follow the arrow for the direction you want to go: you can turn at a green arrow if it’s safe, and you must stop at a red arrow.

Hook turn and tram rules at a glance

Here’s a quick reference to the main situations you’ll meet on a tram route.

Common questions about hook turns and trams

Do I have to do a hook turn at every intersection in the CBD?

No. You only have to do a hook turn where there’s a “Right turn from left only” sign. At other intersections you turn right in the normal way, unless another sign says right turns aren’t allowed.

Can I do a hook turn if there’s no sign?

For drivers, a hook turn is the rule where the sign is shown. Where there’s no sign, turn right from the right-hand lane in the normal way. Bike and e-scooter riders are different: they can hook turn at any intersection unless a sign says they can’t.

What if the lights change while I’m waiting in the intersection?

That’s expected. You’ll usually see your own light turn yellow and red while you wait. Don’t move until the lights on the road you’re turning into turn green, and check that the lane on your right is clear first.

Will I have to do a hook turn in my drive test?

Hook turn intersections are mostly in the CBD and inner suburbs, and drive tests are run from testing centres around Victoria, including the Mitcham Testing and Inspection Centre in Ringwood. We can’t say what any particular test will include. Either way, you should be able to do a hook turn before you drive solo. Our guide to Mitcham driving test routes covers what to expect locally.

Do I have to stop for a tram at a safety zone?

No. At a safety zone you can keep driving, but you must stay to the left of the zone and drive at a speed that’s safe for pedestrians. You only have to stop behind the tram at stops where there’s no safety zone, dividing strip or traffic island between you and the tram.

Practical tips for your first city drives

These are the habits our instructors see make the biggest difference when learners first take on the CBD.

If you learned to drive a while ago and city driving still makes you nervous, a few refresher lessons focused on hook turns, trams and busy intersections can build your confidence quickly. And if you’re preparing for your test, our driving test preparation lessons cover the intersection and observation skills examiners look for.

Sources and further reading

We’ve written this guide from the official sources below. Road rules can change, so treat those pages as the final word and check them if anything here doesn’t match what you see on the road.

• Transport Victoria: Hook turns
• Transport Victoria: Driving with trams
• Transport Victoria: Driving with trams campaign
• Transport Victoria: Bicycle road rules
• Transport Victoria: Drivers sharing the road with pedestrians
• Transport Victoria: Traffic lights
• Transport Victoria: Crossing safely around public transport
• Victorian Legislation: Road Safety Road Rules 2017
• AustLII: Road Safety Road Rules 2017, rule 163 (driving past the rear of a stopped tram)
• AustLII: Road Safety Road Rules 2017, rule 155 (tram lanes)
• AustLII: Road Safety Road Rules 2017, rule 158 (driving in special lanes)
• AustLII: Road Safety Road Rules 2017, rule 128 (entering blocked intersections)
• RACV: Hook turns explained
• NSW Government: Hazard awareness for bicycle riders