GH wrote:Well maybe not the end of it, because, those signs, "all bicycles" and "cyclists dismount" are in G9 which is the "Traffic Instruction Series" along with weight limit, width limit, fasten seat belts, lane under X closed etc etc so if you think any of those are merely advisory or guidance only then you can expect to feel the wrath of the law.
One must be very careful to not mis-interpret the wording of legal documents, and descriptors should not be taken out of context.
You seem to be misinterpreting it to be honest, based soley on the
title of the series rather than what the MUTCD defines all "G" signs as (ie. Guide instead of "R" (Regulatory)). In Section 4 - Guide Signs, correct there are 13 different series, G1-G12 and GE. Yes Section G9 is called "Traffic Instruction Series".
G9 which is the "Traffic Instruction Series" along with weight limit, width limit,
See rule 103
fasten seat belts
See rule 264
lane under X closed
See rule 152
etc etc so if you think any of those are merely advisory or guidance only then you can expect to feel the wrath of the law.
The signs are guides/reminders. The specific rules above are what you break and can get an infringement for.
G9 includes the bicycle signs discussed plus these examples:
- Signs giving you a turn direction to get to a location (eg. "A30 Liverpool" with a left arrow (sign G9-7)). If you see this sign you do not have to go to Liverpool. You could choose not to turn and go somewhere else instead.
- Driver Instruction, Destinations sign G9-43-3. Tells you which lanes go to which suburbs. You could get to Mt Gravatta via Townsville if you want to, you don't *have* to go the way the sign guides you to.
-REDUCE SPEED (G9-9). You don't have to reduce speed right there and then, but you know there is going to be a speed limit sign coming up that is much slower than your current speed. You just have to obey the correct speed limit in each zone. You don't have to brake exactly at the reduce speed sign, it is guiding you that you should be slowing because a lower speed limit is coming up.
-SLOW VEHICLE TURNOUT (G9-50) - Well slow vehicles don't *have* to use it. It is polite to do so and people might get angry if you don't.
- WATCH FOR BICYCLES (G9-57) - Yeh, the police are going to book you because they didn't see you didn't look everywhere for bicycles when you went past the sign
- "VERY STEEP CLIMB AHEAD NOT SUITABLE FOR TRUCKS BUSES CARAVANS TRAILERS" G9-46. How many buses, trailers, and caravans did I see at the Bunya Mountains the other week again? The sign told me the road was going to be steep and probably twisty, so, with a trailer, I drove accordingly cautiously but I did not break the law.
- MERGE RIGHT -> (G9-73). No you don't have to merge *right now*. But bet your bottom dollar your lane is ending 50-100m up the road so it might be a good idea to do it real soon...
This is not to say that in some circumstances disobeying the sign breaks a road rule and is an offence. For example, G9-67 "KEEP TRACKS CLEAR" might be a guide sign, but there is a specific road rule (123) about not stopping on train tracks.