Subscribe to RSSGive Way Rules Change
The give way rules at intersection will change early 2012.
Currently if you are turning left you have to give way to right turning traffic coming towards you which seems to confuse or get ignored by every second car.
This change would reverse this so the left turning vehicle would have right of way in this situation.
Changes are also planned to the rule for T-intersections. This rule applies when there are conflicting right-turns at a T-intersection. Currently, the right-turning vehicle on the terminating road (the base of the ‘T’) has priority over the right-turning vehicle on the through road (the top of the ‘T’).
The change will require traffic from an uncontrolled terminating road to give way to traffic on a through road.
The transport minister confirmed this afternoon that the proposal to change the give way rules will be included in a draft Road User Amendment Rule and is planned to come into force in early 2012.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce says changing the give way rules for turning vehicles is part of the Government’s 10-year Safer Journeys road safety strategy.
“Our current give way rules for turning vehicles are confusing and out of step with the rest of the world,” says Mr Joyce.
“Research shows changing the rules could reduce relevant intersection crashes by seven per cent.”
11 Comments
If it was to happen, wasn’t this supposed to happen before the RWC 2011??? Wouldn’t that make sense?
@SOTNS thats what i thought. i find it bizzare how this rule wasn’t changed years ago.
The government thought there would be too much ‘distraction’ next year with the RWC for motorists to get the message in time!
But surely with all those tourist bringing their cars over we should do it before hand?
I agree though, it will take time for people in the right of the law to get used to it, maybe not so for the people already breaking it. So 2012 seems like a better year to implement it practically. Personally I think the rule as it is makes more sense, however looks like most people don’t know their right from the left when behind a wheel.
They feel they need a long education campaign - endless tiresome TV ads - to get the message across first.
What on earth would the road rules have to do with the world cup (rugby)? Personally I am fed up with the RWC already which is hardly a blip on the true world sports scene.
The only good thing about the new rules in 1977 was that people discovered their cars had a left hand indicator and started to use them. We copied Victoria in Aus. who introduced the rule because of a unique situation in Melbourne with the trams. Months later they realised the mistake following an increase in accidents and changed the rules back.
We seem to follow Victoria like lemmings and introduced the rule despite the fact we had no trams, another mistake, but our drongos didn’t like admitting a mistake and we are still stuck with the confusion.
With a bit of publicity the rule could be implemented in weeks by order in council surely.
“With a bit of publicity the rule could be implemented in weeks by order in council surely.”
Couldn’t agree with Richard more (and also his comment on the RWC apparently ruling every aspect of our lives). The “new” rule is simple and intuitive and everyone visiting from overseas understands the concept. To spend 18 months or so on an “education” campaign is ridiculous. Let’s get on with it.
I have seen an advanced, non-existent copy of the next release to come from the Transport Minister Steven Joyce:
‘Transport Minister Steven Joyce today announced, following on from yesterdays well received changes, that Indicators are to become voluntary in law as well as in practice.
He confirm that this wasn’t just in response to lobbying from certain communities of National Party supports. ‘It will benefit the whole community if we don’t indicate where we are going, whether that be when driving or what the National Party plans to do in office”
Ironic the Nats are making it happen as Joyce spends most of his time trying to get us all to “Give way to the right”
Newsflash. This is not mid 50′s NZ living in a closed society were the only winter sport is or was Rugby. If Auckland is anything to go by Rugby is not the first or last thing our minds, well not like National ministers seem to fantasise it is.
Quite how this government links the RWC to give way rules is beyond me. Believe it or not a lot of us couldn’t care less about Rugby.
This weird out of date mindset that reads something like a Famous Five novel goes nicely with their obsession about motorways though.
Did any of you, or the media, notice this “great piece of news” was issued close up to the GST increase? I guess not. However, it has worked well for Joyce and the Nats as all the media have run off on this story - forgeting we will all be stung by GST and petrol taxes jumping up from 1st Oct.
Why did Joyce have to announce this 2 days out from GST significantly increasing?
10 points to Joyce on timing. Media = FAIL for not realising this.