Special rules regarding the military convoy

The lead vehicle of a military convoy must comply with all applicable regulations. However, road users are not permitted to cut through a military convoy. This only applies at priority uncontrolled junctions. Finally, keep the following essential exceptions in mind when driving a military convoy:

• A military convoy is not required to yield to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings.
• A military convoy is not required to allow a departing bus to do so.
• A military convoy is not required to stop at a yellow or red traffic light if the lead vehicle has already passed the green light.

All examples are shown below.

In this image, the military convoy hasn’t yet begun to cross the junction. The convoy is approaching from the left, and you have the right of way, so you can proceed.

In this situation, the military convoy has already begun to cross the junction. You are not allowed to cut through the military convoy at this point. You must wait until the last motor vehicle in the convoy, recognisable by the green flag on the left side of the vehicle, has passed before you can proceed.

The prohibition against cutting through a military convoy of motor vehicles only applies at a priority uncontrolled junction. In this situation, you are driving on a priority road. In that case, you are permitted to cut through a military convoy.
Years ago, the CBR promised not to include questions about military convoys approaching a priority road in the theory exam. But… the CBR and promises don’t go together.

If a military convoy started at a green traffic light, it may continue until the traffic light turns yellow or red. In this situation, you must wait patiently at the green light until the military convoy has passed.

If you’ve ended up in a military convoy, you don’t suddenly become a soldier. You’re also not allowed to adopt the rules of a military convoy. So, if the traffic light is red, you have to stop.
In this situation, the white driving school car must stop at the red light. The traffic light is green for the red car, so it can continue driving.

Within built-up areas, drivers must allow bus drivers to leave a bus stop if the bus driver signals their intention to go by using their indicator.

This rule does not apply to a military convoy. In the image, a bus is about to leave a bus stop. The military convoy is not required to give way to the bus and may proceed without interruption.

A military convoy is not required to yield to pedestrians and drivers of vehicles for disabled persons crossing or apparently about to cross at a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian in the image must wait patiently until the military convoy has passed.

A military convoy is not required to yield to pedestrians and drivers of vehicles for disabled persons attempting to cross at a pedestrian crossing.

In the image, the white lesson car is driving between the military convoy. The driver of the training vehicle must stop to allow the pedestrian to cross the road.