The Eastern Freeway is an urban freeway in eastern Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. It is one of the most important freeways in terms of commuting to the city, connecting Alexandra Parade and Hoddle Street in the inner suburbs, with EastLink tollway farther east.
The freeway consists of between three to six lanes (including the hard shoulder running lane during peak periods) in each direction, also an inbound transit lane reserved for vehicles with two or more occupants during peak hours. It is the continually widest freeway in Melbourne, with 12 lanes altogether near the Hoddle Street and Alexandra Parade end.
This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.
Australians drive on the left hand side of the road with drivers seated on the right hand side of the car. Driving laws are strictly enforced in Australia and personal and public safety is a high priority. The speed limit in residential streets ranges from 40 to 70 kilometres per hour (km/h). School areas have a 40km/h speed limit from Monday to Friday during the school term: Between 8am and 9.30am and between 2.30pm and 4pm. Speeds on major roads range from 60 to 80km/h, and up to 110km/h on country roads and highways, unless signs indicate otherwise.
Seat belts must be worn by all drivers and passengers in a car. There are also specific rules about children and child-restraints (or car seats) in Victoria. Most car seats brought from overseas don't comply with this standard, and are not approved for use in Victoria. All cyclists and motorcyclists must wear a helmet on the road. Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is not tolerated. By law, fully licensed drivers must not drive if their blood alcohol level is 0.05 percent or higher. Probationary licence holders must have a 0.0 reading. Random breath testing is common on Victorian roads.
It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile (cell) phone when driving. You must use a hands-free earpiece or pull over to the side of the road to use your mobile phone. An overview of all Victoria's road rules is available on the VicRoads website.
In Melbourne, one must be extremely cautious when stepping on and off trams. Don't step off without looking both ways. Pedestrians in Bourke St Mall should watch for passing trams too, though you are more likely to be embarrassed by the driver's persistent 'tinging' than be run over. Car drivers should treat Melbourne trams with extreme caution. Cyclists should be careful not to get their wheels caught in tram tracks, and motorcyclists should take special care when tram tracks are wet. Hook turns (making a right turn from the left-hand lane at some city-centre intersections so as not to obstruct tram tracks) are a Melbourne speciality and take a bit of getting used to. The "Rhino on a Skateboard" campaign has been successul in alerting the public to the hazards of living in a city full of trams!
This post is part of Lesley's Signs, Signs meme.
