Motorists who don't frequently visit the city have been caught off guard by this small sign for years, resulting in a three-figure fine. Soon, electric vehicle drivers will need to worry about this road rule.
Since 2022, electric vehicles have been permitted to drive in NSW transit lanes with no requirement to have a passenger; however, the end date for this exception is rapidly approaching.
With the cut-off date being 30 June 2025, EVs will be treated the same as their internal combustion counterparts into the new financial year.
The decision to allow EVs in the transit lane was on the basis of making the purchase of an electric vehicle more attractive for the average buyer, with the promise that they would be in a faster-flowing lane.
It was initially supposed to end before the end of 2022, but was extended first to 31 October 2023 and then again to 30 June 2025.
Regardless of the car, T2 and T3 transit signs are often hidden in quite a small corner of highways, ready to catch out unsuspecting motorists with a big slap on the wrist.
For motorists on unfamiliar roads in Australia or interstate travellers, these signs may be confusing enough to entrap an unsuspecting driver. And now with EV drivers needing to pay more attention to the signs now, what do they actually mean, and how can you decipher them?
What are T2 and T3 lanes?
The T2 and T3 lanes refer to how many people are in the car. T2 lanes require two or more people in the car to use them, and T3 lanes require three or more people.
Australian Road Rule Regulation 156 specifically states the following, which is a national standard: "A driver must not drive in a transit lane unless the driver is driving: a public bus, public minibus, motorbike, taxi or tram; or if the transit lane sign applying to the transit lane is a transit lane (T2) sign—a vehicle carrying at least one other person; or if the transit lane sign applying to the transit lane is a transit lane (T3) sign—a vehicle carrying at least two other people; or the driver is permitted to drive in the transit lane under rule 158".
However, there is an additional rule that protects drivers from a fine if they must use the transit lane to enter or exit the road they are travelling on or need to pull over to the shoulder. The permitted distance for this kind of travel in a transit lane is 100 metres.
Electric vehicles will soon be susceptible to the following fines:
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
