The ‘terrifying’ road rule no one in Australia understands unless they’re from Melbourne

An Australian man visiting Melbourne was baffled by a ‘terrifying’ but legal way to turn right at a busy intersection.

Corey, passing by @coreyyy.exe on TikTok described the horror of the dreaded “hook turn” that “nothing prepares you for.”

He stopped at a busy intersection in Melbourne and was shocked to see a car waiting to turn right in the middle of the intersection on his left, prompting him to ask ‘what’s going on here?’ in disbelief.

Hook turns were first introduced to the streets of Melbourne in 1965 and were intended to give trams priority at intersections so that they were not delayed while waiting for cars to turn right.

Confused, Corey asked his followers if these types of turns are common anywhere else in Australia or internationally.

Scroll down for video

“This should be similar to a theory test in other states,” he said.

A former Sydneysider responded that even after living in Melbourne for a decade, she still hates hook turns, while another person is “hyperventilating” just reading about the scenario.

Melbourne’s infamous driving quirk had many detractors.

Corner bends where a turn is made from the left lane to the right

“I’ve driven all over the world – even in the middle of Rome, but I definitely don’t drive in the center of Melbourne because of the hook bends,” said one.

“I’ve ridden all over the world – even in the middle of Rome, but I definitely don’t ride in the center of Melbourne because of the hook bends,” said one.

However, a Melbourne driver disagreed, saying he likes hook movements and goes out of his way to look for them while driving.

Many people in the comments shared their shock at suddenly finding themselves backed into a corner and not knowing what to do.

There are only 49 intersections in Melbourne, but people agreed it felt like there were more.