South Australia’s Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) requires candidates to follow all standard road rules – including signaling rules – with 100% compliance. During the ~45 minute VORT, you must demonstrate proper use of indicators for every turn, lane change, or maneuver. Any breach of road law (such as a signaling violation) is an immediate fail and the test will be terminated. In other words, if you fail to signal when required (or signal incorrectly), the examiner must fail you even if your driving is otherwise perfect. Below are the key signaling requirements and the consequences of signaling mistakes, backed by official regulations and testing standards.
When and Where You Must Signal in VORT
Under the Australian Road Rules (as adopted in SA), a driver must signal any change of direction. The rules specifically outline when signals are required and how long to signal in certain situations. VORT examiners expect you to adhere to these rules at all times during the test:
- Moving Off from the Kerb (Stationary Position) – Before pulling out from the side of the road (or a median strip parking area), you must activate your indicator for at least 5 seconds and give way to all traffic before moving. This “5 second rule” is explicitly stated in the Australian Road Rules (ARR) – “If the driver is about to change direction by moving from a stationary position at the side of the road or in a median strip parking area, the driver must give the change of direction signal for at least 5 seconds before the driver changes direction.”. Failing to signal a full 5 seconds when moving off will break the law and incur an immediate fail on the VORT.
- Turning at Intersections (Left or Right Turns) – You are required to signal before every turn. The law requires indicating “for long enough to give sufficient warning to other drivers and pedestrians” of your intent. In practice, that means turning on your blinker well before the turn (generally at least a few seconds or vehicle lengths in advance). Not signaling a turn (or flicking the indicator too late) in the VORT is a breach of ARR 46/48 and would be marked as a critical error.
- Changing Lanes or Merging – When changing lanes or merging, you must use your indicator to warn others before you start moving over. Rule 46 of the Australian Road Rules says a driver must give a change of direction signal “for long enough to give sufficient warning” when moving left or right. In the VORT, moving across any lane line without signaling (or without signaling long enough) is a serious fault. For example, an official list of immediate fail items includes “moving across a lane line… without signaling long enough and giving way” to other traffic.
- Overtaking Parked Vehicles on a Multilane Road – When driving on a multilane road, if there are parked vehicles on your left and you need to change lanes to overtake, you must signal right before moving into the adjacent lane. After safely passing the parked vehicles, signal left to return to your original lane. Failing to signal properly in this scenario may result in a critical error during your VORT.
- Other Required Signal Situations – All other directional changes during the test also require proper signals. This includes entering or leaving parking spots, performing U-turns or three-point turns, and exiting roundabouts. South Australian guidelines emphasize that you “must signal your intention” whenever you move left or right, turn, change lanes, merge, leave the kerb, make a U-turn, or “leave a roundabout (if practicable)”. Essentially, anytime you alter your path or position on the road, use your indicators appropriately.
- Proper Use and Duration of Signals – It’s not just about turning the blinker on – you must use it correctly. The signal should be maintained for the entire duration of the maneuver and canceled once the maneuver is complete. Turning the indicator off too early (before you’ve finished a turn or lane change) can be just as problematic as not signaling at all. In fact, canceling a signal prior to the turn being substantially completed is listed as an immediate fail item in VORT because it can mislead other road users. Likewise, failing to cancel your indicator after completing a maneuver is illegal (ARR 46(4) & 48(4)) and can confuse others – so be sure to turn it off promptly once you’ve finished the turn or lane change.
Consequences of Failing to Signal Correctly
In the VORT test, any signaling mistake that violates road rules will cause an immediate failure. The South Australia government’s testing standards state that you must not breach any road law during the drive. Here are specific consequences and penalties related to signaling errors:
• Immediate Fail in VORT: If you forget to signal, or do not signal for the required time/distance, the examiner will record a road law breach and end the test immediately. Common examples include not indicating at all when pulling out or turning, not indicating for a full 5 seconds before moving off from the kerb, or changing lanes without an adequate signal. Any one of these will terminate your test. For instance, failing to signal at least five seconds before moving away from the kerb is specifically cited as an immediate fail item. Even if everything else in your drive was perfect, the examiner cannot pass you if you break a signaling law.
• Real-World Legal Penalties: Signaling violations are not only test failures – they are traffic offenses enforceable by fines and demerit points. In South Australia, failure to indicate carries a typical penalty of about a $400 fine (expiation) plus a Victims of Crime Levy and 2 demerit points on your licence. For example, if you’re caught not signaling at least 5 seconds before driving away from the kerb, the expiation fee is around $468 total (including levies) and 2 demerit points. Similarly, failing to signal when turning or changing lanes is an offense (ARR 46(1) or 48(1)) with roughly a ~$480 fine and 2 points. South Australia’s road rules also penalize not canceling your indicator after completing a maneuver (around a $350 fine, 2 points) because an uncleared signal may confuse other drivers. These penalties underscore how seriously proper signaling is taken for road safety.
In summary, VORT candidates must use correct signals at all times – when moving off, turning, changing lanes, and maneuvering – exactly as required by the Australian Road Rules. You should signal early enough (5 seconds before moving from a parked position, and sufficiently in advance for turns/lane changes) and keep the indicator on until the action is finished. Any lapse in signaling protocol is treated as a serious violation: you will instantly fail the driving test for breaking the law, and in real driving you could face fines and demerit points for improper signaling. Always remember that indicators are mandatory communication tools on the road – failure to signal properly is both illegal and grounds for failing the VORT.
Sources:
- South Australia Government – Practical Driving Test (VORT) Overview and MyLicence Driving Companion guidelines.
- Australian Road Rules – Rule 46 & 48 (SA regulations require 5-second signal when moving from kerb).
- South Australia VORT Immediate Fail Criteria – e.g. not signaling 5 seconds from kerb, improper lane change signaling.
- RAA (Royal Automobile Association of SA) – SA Move Magazine on indicator rules & penalties.
- SAPOL (SA Police) – Traffic expiation fee schedule (2024) for signaling offenses.
