The weird and wonderful road signs of Australia and what they mean
New to driving in Australia or have just never paid attention to what a sign on the side of the road actually means? We've got you covered.From how fast we should drive, what dangers we may come across, or directions on where to go, all drivers know that road signs provide a wealth of information and are integral in keeping us safe on the roads.
Sometimes though, signs we may see on our travels leave us a bit confused. Take, for example, ‘beware of invisible cows’ signs that exist in the US, or one for a secret nuclear bunker in the UK (not really a secret now is it?), which are both ‘interesting’ to say the least.
But here in Oz, things are just as…. intriguing. While many are so commonplace, we barely notice them anymore, there can be some that take us by surprise, or just have us wondering WTF?!
The hook turn sign
Now, native Melbournians may be quite familiar with this one, but anyone who is new to driving on the streets of the Garden City’s CBD may be a tad confused when they come across the ‘right turn from left only’ sign that is commonplace to many intersections across the city.
The sign directs drivers to turn right from the left lane, AKA a hook turn. To be honest though, if you were unfamiliar with how to do this beforehand, the sign alone probably isn’t all that helpful because there is also a list of other instructions you need to follow to pull this move off. Now, Vic Roads does have a video dedicated to the hook turn for drivers to watch (and prepare for) online, let’s just hope any visitors have viewed it before heading into the city.
Wildlife warning signs
We all know how much Australia loves their wildlife and in order to try and protect them from vehicles and passengers from any accidents, there are a wide variety of these yellow diamond signs, which are placed where these animals frequent.
These signs are officially known as ‘warning signs’ and tell you that there could be danger ahead. Unlike regulatory signs, they are not giving you instructions you must follow but are there as a helpful friend, alerting you to possible danger.
Some of our natives like kangaroos, wombats, echidnas and koalas appear on signs in most regions of the country but there are others that are specific to smaller areas and these may raise an eyebrow to even the most frequent of road trippers.
In Western Australia signs for bobtails crossing, camels and snakes are common; in Tassie, there are of course signs for the Tasmanian Devil; in the Sunshine State, you need to watch out for the flightless Cassowaries, in NSW there are warning signs for the Mallee Fowl and on Phillip Island in Victoria there are signs for penguins, along with additional carpark signs reminding you to check under your car for the waddling explorers before you drive away.
There are also signs for the lyrebird, cattle, bandicoots, ducks, horses, dingoes, lizards and tree kangaroos.
Non-animal based warning signs
These warning signs can also advise of other potential non-animal dangers across Australia.
In more regional areas you might find a tractor alerting to farm machinery being used, a wind soc alerting to possible wind gusts, a person riding a horse alerting to equestrians, a truck indicating that trucks cross or enter the road in that area, a train with cane railway in another rectangle sign underneath for the sugar cane railways in northern Queensland, or my favourite, rocks falling from a cliff (this may be self-explanatory, but it freaks me out whenever I see it).
NSW traffic light sign
One other sign you may come across and wonder what on earth does this mean is a stop sign with three black circles on it. This sign is called none other than a ‘special stop sign’ and is mainly used in NSW, telling road users to stop when traffic lights are off or flashing.
Given Australia has thousands of different road signs, it is understandable if you come across some that you don’t know. If this is ever the case and you are wondering WTF, the best place to find out what they mean is the state’s transport departments which will have a dedicated list on their website.
Related: The strangest Aussie road rules revealed
Related: The Marshalite was the Melbourne made traffic signal that never took off
Related: The history of Australia’s first traffic light
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