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Rules of the road · about 2 min read

Entering roads and compulsory stops

Understand the rule, its conditions and how to apply it

What you will learn

  • Explain the purpose of this rule.
  • Apply the procedure and recognise its limitations.

Purpose and essential terms

Entering a public road from a driveway or side road places you in the path of traffic already using it. Crossing it requires enough clear distance to complete the whole movement without obstructing or endangering others. Your indicator does not transfer their priority to you.

Check the road layout, sight distance, pedestrians and cyclists before moving. A large parked vehicle or wall may restrict your view. If you cannot establish safety, remain stopped and reassess.

Key idea: Entering a public road from a driveway or side road places you in the path of traffic already using it.

How to apply the rule

Obey a stop sign or an officer’s stopping direction. After the required stop, check in every relevant direction and choose a gap sufficient for the entire vehicle to enter or cross. Account for the slower acceleration and length of a heavy vehicle or combination.

The manual also requires stopping at the request or signal of a person leading specified livestock or animals on the road, and when animals are crossing. Wait until all animals have crossed and the road is safe; a gap in the middle of the herd is not the end of the crossing.

Key idea: Keep the vehicle stopped and give the animals time to clear.

Conditions and easily confused points

A driver on a through-road should still observe an emerging vehicle and act to avoid a collision. Priority does not remove the duty of safe control.

A horn is not a replacement for a clear gap, and it can frighten animals into unpredictable movement. Stop and allow the crossing to clear rather than trying to scatter them.

Key idea: Apply the full rule to the actual vehicle, road and conditions.

Worked road situation

You are entering from a driveway while a herd crosses the road beyond it.

  1. Keep the vehicle stopped and give the animals time to clear.
  2. Watch for more animals and the person controlling them.
  3. Recheck traffic, then enter only when the full route is safe.

Quick recap

  • Keep the vehicle stopped and give the animals time to clear.
  • Watch for more animals and the person controlling them.
  • Recheck traffic, then enter only when the full route is safe.

Practice questions on entering roads and compulsory stops

1 When may you enter a public road from a driveway?

  1. Whenever you have signalled
  2. Whenever you sound the horn
  3. When it is safe and you will not endanger traffic
Show the answer

Answer C: When it is safe and you will not endanger traffic

Cross or enter a public road only when you can do so without obstructing or endangering traffic. Stop when required by a traffic sign or officer, and when a person leading or driving specified animals signals you to stop. Wait for animals crossing the road to clear safely.

Memory tip: Read the full rule, including its conditions and exceptions.

All vehicle codes

2 Must you stop when a traffic officer directs you to?

  1. Yes
  2. Only if the light is red
  3. Only if traffic is busy
Show the answer

Answer A: Yes

Cross or enter a public road only when you can do so without obstructing or endangering traffic. Stop when required by a traffic sign or officer, and when a person leading or driving specified animals signals you to stop. Wait for animals crossing the road to clear safely.

Memory tip: Read the full rule, including its conditions and exceptions.

All vehicle codes

3 Animals are crossing the road. What should you do?

  1. Rev the engine to scatter them
  2. Stop and wait until they have crossed and it is safe
  3. Drive through the herd
Show the answer

Answer B: Stop and wait until they have crossed and it is safe

Cross or enter a public road only when you can do so without obstructing or endangering traffic. Stop when required by a traffic sign or officer, and when a person leading or driving specified animals signals you to stop. Wait for animals crossing the road to clear safely.

Memory tip: Read the full rule, including its conditions and exceptions.

All vehicle codes

4 A person leading livestock signals you to stop. What should you do?

  1. Ignore them because they are not in a vehicle
  2. Stop as required and proceed only when safe
  3. Accelerate past them
Show the answer

Answer B: Stop as required and proceed only when safe

Cross or enter a public road only when you can do so without obstructing or endangering traffic. Stop when required by a traffic sign or officer, and when a person leading or driving specified animals signals you to stop. Wait for animals crossing the road to clear safely.

Memory tip: Read the full rule, including its conditions and exceptions.

All vehicle codes

Part of the guide: Four-way stops and right of way

More rules of the road chapters

Sources: NaTIS Rules of the Road, PDF p. 40, sections 6.59–6.60; iDriving K53 manual, PDF pp. 91–102 (comparison; incomplete text extraction checked against official reference).

AceK53 is an independent study aid based on public road traffic manuals and is not an official test. Always confirm requirements with your driving licence testing centre.