🇦🇺 Tugun Bypass Tunnel Confusion (12-Jan-2024)

I thought this was mildly interesting - despite everything I could see, the tunnel signs were requiring us to stop on the motorway, even though traffic was obviously flowing through it with no issue. We were using Google Maps which also indicated traffic flowing at expected speed, no orange slowdowns or red stops.
Traffic had slowed from 100km/hr as required, no doubt as people tried to interpret the conflicting information ... signage vs actual traffic behaviour they could observe.
Maybe this is happens all the time, so people who travel the bypass frequently know to generally ignore it and watch what the traffic is doing?
If I had followed the signage and stopped, causing an accident, would I be liable still because I had failed to use common sense and taken into account what the rest of the traffic was doing (i.e. definitely not stopping)?

[@petermiddo]

At worst, you could have pull over to the shoulder (having had plenty of warning) and called 131940, SE Queensland's traffic monitoring centre, to inform them of the conflicting information regarding the tunnel.
If there there was an incident (*and you cannot see the exit of this tunnel from the entrance or the sign) and you came across it - like a vehicle on fire, or even emergency workers on the road rescuing someone from a vehicle entrapment and you hit one of them, you would have equally been liable.
If everyone was going through a red traffic light because they are too stupid and impatient to do so, would you as well? I certainly wouldn't.

[@Jonesy1701]

Except you wouldn't be liable. That yellow led sign isn't a Uniform Traffic Control Device. If those red lights were on, then he would be liable. But they weren't. This tunnel had no actual legal signage directing drivers to stop.

[@frefnurk1538]

Didnt you see the plane in the tunnel, the roads people did.

[@Jonesy1701]

The tunnel was not requiring you to stop, you only have to stop if the red light is on, which it was not. And to answer your question, yes, you would be liable as no actual directive to stop had been issued.

[@tedsmith6137]

A ten foot high "STOP" sign would make me want to stop! What a stuff up.

[@alexd.1091]

Ah so is this how stop signage works?

[@Jonesy1701]

@@tedsmith6137 While, yes, the sign should not have said stop, that sign is not a statutory stop sign. For it to be one of those it'd need to be a red octagon. Or those traffic lights would have to be red.

[@Jonesy1701]

@@alexd.1091 Yes. That sign was not a statutory stop sign. Here, you'd only stop at red octagonal stop signs, and red traffic lights.

[@Jonesy1701]

​@@user-no9js5sk5c I am not wrong. On the road, only Uniform Traffic Control Devices carry a legislative power to direct road users to do something. I.e., simply seeing the word "stop" written does not mean you must stop by law. If you saw a red octagonal sign with a white outline and white capital letters reading "STOP" then you must stop. The point I'm making is there are certain signs and lights used to direct drivers. Some are statutory, meaning it is an offence to disregard them. And some are only advisory. Where it it's merely a suggestion and it's up to the driver to decide. The orange led light board is advisory only. This tunnel is fitted with red traffic lights and a statutory sign that says "stop here on red signal." If the tunnel wanted you to stop, those lights would be red.

[@Torontotootwo]

Sad to see that signage in Australia can be as stupid as the US.

[@alexd.1091]

It's Australia, nothing makes sense in this country.

[@ylilycam]

Like people wearing masks to buy ciggys

[@krazy2094]

Typical Aussie driver 😂

[@BrfffTravels]

I wish 😕

[@Jonesy1701]

Wdym? He followed the traffic laws completely?