Driving safely with trams

Driving with trams

Trams are iconic to Melbourne.

In fact, we have the world's largest operational tram network with 250km of double track that provides over 5000 individual trips every day. Melbourne's tram network is unique, with 75% of pathways shared with other vehicles and road users.

This makes for a more complex road environment, especially if you are unfamiliar with sharing the road with trams.

Top tips for driving with trams

Trams share many of our roads, and incidents can result not only in an injury to yourself, but also to trams, passengers, drivers and other road users as causing disruptions for all road users.

Be aware that trams are larger, heavier, and have different braking performance to other road vehicles.

Victorian road rules ensure the safe operation of the road network, including roads shared with trams. Here are some important rules to keep you safe when driving around trams.

  • You must not move into the path of an oncoming tram. This includes trams approaching you from behind so remember to check your blind-spots on both sides.
  • You must not drive over raised dividing strips or double yellow lines
  • You must not make a U-turn across a solid line in the centre of the road
  • You must give way to trams from both directions at roundabouts

Remember to also:

  • When turning right across tram tracks, watch for trams approaching from both directions. They may be approaching behind you as well as from in front of you. Remember to check your blind spots.
  • Watch for tram passengers alighting and waiting to board trams at tram stops. When passengers are boarding or alighting a tram, you must be behind the end of the tram. Only once the tram doors are closed and the road is clear of pedestrians, may you drive past a stationary tram at 10km/h.

Listen to our Trams can't swerve radio ad (MP3) 359 KB

Download the Trams can't swerve radio script (DOC) 30 KB

Top tips for driving with trams HERO + TEXT

Top tips for driving with trams

Trams share many of our roads, and incidents can result not only in an injury to yourself, but also to trams, passengers, drivers and other road users as causing disruptions for all road users.

Be aware that trams are larger, heavier, and have different braking performance to other road vehicles.

Victorian road rules ensure the safe operation of the road network, including roads shared with trams. Here are some important rules to keep you safe when driving around trams.

  • You must not move into the path of an oncoming tram. This includes trams approaching you from behind so remember to check your blind-spots on both sides.
  • You must not drive over raised dividing strips or double yellow lines
  • You must not make a U-turn across a solid line in the centre of the road
  • You must give way to trams from both directions at roundabouts

Remember to also:

  • When turning right across tram tracks, watch for trams approaching from both directions. They may be approaching behind you as well as from in front of you. Remember to check your blind spots.
  • Watch for tram passengers alighting and waiting to board trams at tram stops. When passengers are boarding or alighting a tram, you must be behind the end of the tram. Only once the tram doors are closed and the road is clear of pedestrians, may you drive past a stationary tram at 10km/h.

Listen to our Trams can't swerve radio ad (MP3) 359 KB

Download the Trams can't swerve radio script (DOC) 30 KB

Tram image

Top tips for driving with trams

Trams share many of our roads, and incidents can result not only in an injury to yourself, but also to tram passengers, drivers and other road users. Be aware that trams are larger, heavier, and take longer to stop.

Here are some important road rules to keep you safe when driving around trams.

  • At roadside stops, you must stop behind the tram until the doors close and pedestrians finish crossing.
  • You must not move into the path of a moving tram.
  • You must not drive over raised dividing strips or double yellow lines.
  • You must not make a U-turn across a solid line.
  • You must give way to trams at roundabouts.

Remember:

  • When turning across tram tracks, watch for trams approaching from both directions. Remember to check your blind spots.
  • When passengers are boarding or alighting at roadside stops, you must stop behind the end of the tram. Only once the tram doors are closed and the road is clear of pedestrians, may you drive past at 10km/h.
  • Give way to trams and only drive on tramways and lanes if you need to avoid an obstacle and on tram lanes up to 50 metres when making a right-turn.

We can all share the road safely with trams

Tram Metro Fleet Port Junction 2017 305 TCS

Driving with trams

Victorian road rules ensure the safe operation of the road network, including roads shared with trams.

Familiarise yourself with some important rules for driving safely around trams.

Learn the road rules
Summer Blitz roads image

Share the road

There are things we can all do to get everyone safely from A to B. There's plenty of room on our roads for everyone, and we can all do our bit to make sure every road user's trip is enjoyable.

Check out some tips to help you share the road and look out for your fellow travellers.

Tips to help you share the road

Being safe as a pedestrian

Trams can take much longer and farther to stop than you may think.

It’s important to be extra careful when crossing tram lines whether you’re a pedestrian, motorist, or cyclist. Here are some tips for crossing safely.

Discover tips for crossing safely

Public awareness

Our public awareness campaigns aim to educate drivers and other road users on how to share the road safely with trams, to help prevent deaths, injuries and near-misses around our public transport network.

When a tram stops, you stop

Our campaign aims to educate drivers about the need to stop when trams stop, and reminds them that people stepping off the tram could be someone close to them including their mum, sister, child or gran.

Start your journey