A simple road rule quiz about merging sparked a passionate debate between Queensland motorists

Australian drivers are left baffled by a simple road rule quiz about merging – so which car needs to give way?

  • A simple road rule question about merging posted by RACQ left drivers baffled
  • The question asked which vehicle had to give way in scenario A and scenario B
  • Scenario A showed a blue vehicle in left lane indicating to exit an ending lane
  • Scenario B showed a blue vehicle in same situation but road markings continued 


A simple road rule question about merging sparked a passionate debate online and has left many Australian drivers baffled as a result.

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) posted the quiz to Facebook on Wednesday with two different scenarios to test drivers’ knowledge.

The company asked motorists to correctly determine which vehicle needed to give way in both scenarios.

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) posted the quiz with two scenarios to its Facebook page on Wednesday to test drivers’ knowledge on merging

In the graphic of scenario A, it showed a blue vehicle indicating to exit the left lane and merge into the right lane where a yellow vehicle that was slightly behind occupied the lane.

The image of scenario B showed the blue vehicle once again indicating to leave the ending lane on the left, but in this case, the road markings of dotted lines continued along the road. 

RACQ offered four different answers to choose from.

‘A) Yellow in scenario A, blue in scenario B.’

‘B) Blue in scenario A, yellow in scenario B.’

‘C) Blue in both scenarios.’

‘D) Yellow in both scenarios.’

The question divided social media users, prompting a flurry of responses from passionate drivers in a short amount of time

The question divided social media users, prompting a flurry of responses from passionate drivers in a short amount of time

The question divided social media users, prompting a flurry of responses from passionate drivers in a short amount of time.

The majority of motorists believed that the yellow car needed to give way in scenario A, while the blue car had to give way in scenario B.

One user wrote: 6’A. Blue car has right of way in A, as no lines, and is in front. Yellow car has right of way in B, as there are lines.’

‘Correct answer is A. Too many people think yellow should give way in scenario B. Out of courtesy, yes, many do but in scenario B the blue car must always be prepared to give way,’ said another.

While a third user wrote: ‘If there is a broken line then the car crossing it gives way. If there is no line then the trailing car gives way.’

However, some individuals disagreed with the majority of Facebook and had different opinions on the road rules.

One user wrote: ‘D, both are a merging lane and blue is ahead with indicator on.’

‘I know there are rules, but I let the one go who’s in front. It’s the easiest way I reckon,’ said another.

While a third claimed: ‘In reality neither will. Both will speed up trying to get ahead of the other.’

Some motorists were shocked at the number of drivers who didn’t know the road rules.

A person wrote: ‘I just get blown away by seeing how many people actually have no clue about the road rules. No wonder there are so many accidents and fatalities on our roads.’

After puzzling drivers, RACQ later interjected and revealed that option A was the right answer as the yellow car needed to give way in scenario A and the blue car had to give way in scenario B.

The organisation added: ‘When merging at a location without markings whichever car is behind must give way, but where your lane comes to an end as shown by markings, you must give way to a vehicle in the lane you are entering.’

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