Drivers left scratching their head by obscure road rule question
A road rules question about horses has left people scratching their heads with some questioning why it’s not more widely known.
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads took to Facebook to ask a question on Monday.
The department shared a photo of a red car travelling behind a person on horseback. The red car is planning to pass them.
“This rider is signalling that their horse has become agitated—by raising a hand and pointing to the horse,” the department wrote.
“What must the driver of the red car do?”
One person thought offering a carrot to the horse would help calm it down.
“Take a wide berth and pass very slowly when safe,” one woman wrote.
But it was revealed the correct answer is if a rider “signals that their horse is jumpy or agitated” the driver must stop at the side of the road and turn off their engine.
The driver is not allowed to move the vehicle until the noise of the motor, or the movement of the vehicle, won’t aggravate the horse.
Some people answered correctly, but one man complained the rule is “out of date”.
“What year was that law introduced?” he wrote.
“Probably time to update with changes in society, technology changes and road user increases.”
Others suggested it needed to be more well-known by road users.
“How would I know?” one man wrote.
“I don’t own a horse and it definitely wasn’t in the driving tests when I did my licence.”
A number of horse riders added people don’t adhere to the rule either.
“I stopped riding horses on the roads many years ago. It’s too dangerous,” one woman wrote.
Another woman added the rule needs to be “publicised more”.