Hon Steve Martin inquired about the Department of Transport's efforts to educate and assess new drivers on the 'keep left unless overtaking' rule, and their assessment of compliance among Perth drivers. The answer indicated the rule is in educational materials and assessed in practical tests, but did not provide a specific compliance assessment.

AnsweredQoN 1636Legislative Council
Asked
6 May 2026
Portfolio
Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Road Traffic Code 2000, Division 2 - Keeping to the left, and the requirement on multi-lane roads where the speed limit is 90km/h or more to keep left, including on freeways, if not overtaking (or if other specified conditions are not met), and I ask:(a) in what places does this rule appear in educational teaching materials in the licencing process for new drivers;(b) in what places does checks for understanding or awareness of this rule appear in theoretical driving assessments; and(c) what is the Department of Transport's assessment of the compliance and awareness of Perth drivers with this rule?
I refer to the Road Traffic Code 2000, Division 2 - Keeping to the left, and the requirement on multi-lane roads where the speed limit is 90km/h or more to keep left, including on freeways, if not overtaking (or if other specified conditions are not met), and I ask:
(a) in what places does this rule appear in educational teaching materials in the licencing process for new drivers;
(b) in what places does checks for understanding or awareness of this rule appear in theoretical driving assessments; and
(c) what is the Department of Transport's assessment of the compliance and awareness of Perth drivers with this rule?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport
Response time
5 days
(a) This information can be found in the Drive Safe and Ride Safe handbooks and the Get Street-Wise website.
(b - c) Compliance with all road rules form part of the practical driving/riding assessment.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more