Slip lanes are deceptively simple: a vehicle turns left, often with a generous curve, and the learner can feel that the movement is separated from the main intersection. That feeling must not replace the legal give-way check. South Australian guidance identifies a slip lane as a left-turn area separated from other road space by a traffic or painted island.
What the road rule asks of the driver
When turning left from a slip lane, the driver must give way to pedestrians or bicycle riders on or entering the slip lane, and to vehicles approaching from the right, including oncoming vehicles that have turned right at the intersection. A driver cannot assume that a right-turning vehicle must yield simply because the car in the slip lane is turning left.
The exact geometry can change what the driver can see. Separate the places where pedestrians and cyclists can enter from the point where the slip lane joins traffic. These may be different hazard locations requiring separate observations.
Teach a two-stage scan
Stage one: the pedestrian and cyclist zone. Reduce speed, check the separated island and the footpath approaches, and watch for anyone entering the slip lane. The learner should consider a person arriving from either side, not just one direction.
Stage two: traffic joining or crossing the path. Identify vehicles from the right, including those that have turned from the opposing approach. Select a gap that does not force another road user to brake or change course. The learner must obey any installed signs and markings as well.
The stages overlap in reality. A driver waiting for traffic still needs to recheck pedestrians and cyclists before moving. A clear road to the right does not make the whole manoeuvre safe.
Coaching without oversimplification
Use a quiet slip lane first. Have the learner explain the route followed by a pedestrian moving across the lane. Then introduce an intersection with heavier traffic and ask the learner to anticipate the path of a right-turning vehicle. Do not use “look right and go” as the instructional summary.
When debriefing, distinguish a failure to see a person on the crossing from a failure to judge the traffic gap. Each problem needs a different response. Teach the legal obligation first; smooth steering and acceleration follow after the gap is established.
Official references and further learning
- South Australian Driver’s Handbook: Giving way
- South Australian road-rule amendments
- Australian Road Rules (SA authorised legislation)
Explore DAA car driving instructor training.
Road-law information checked against the linked South Australian Government sources on 16 October 2026. Educational commentary only; always check the currently authorised rules and the requirements applicable to a specific training or assessment program.