NZ road rules changing 25/3/12 - left turn giving way to right turn no longer!

[AdMEL]

For those that will rent rent cars and drive in NZ ...

When I was in NZ a few weeks ago, the Avis staff advised that the road rules were changing at the end of March.

Just came across this Aus BT article that details the changes:

New Zealand's oddball "give way" road rules changing this month - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Just like us Victorians did a few years ago, the kiwis are falling into line with the rest of the world! Not sure that's a good thing though!

 

[Shelf]

I found that rule rather puzzling

 

[markis10]

Its mainly for trams so the center is kept clear where possible.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Its mainly for trams so the center is kept clear where possible.

This is referring to Victorian "hook turns".

Good thing NZ is changing the rules, it just didn't make sense really, although in theory its safer, I'm the actual outcome wasn't.

 

[markis10]

This is referring to Victorian "hook turns".

Good thing NZ is changing the rules, it just didn't make sense really, although in theory its safer, I'm the actual outcome wasn't.

Yep, the concept is the same in NZ where roads don't have turn lanes and they had a very extensive tram/ trolly system in most towns historically, the rule helping to move blockages off the center by creating one at the side when the other car does not give way! They actually got the idea from Victoria in 1977 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8031618/New-Zealand-scraps-ridiculous-road-rule.html

 

[bigjobs]

That rule in NZ is archaic ... good thing it is changing.

 

[Boris spatsky]

About time!

 

[TonyHancock]

I have been caught out a few times with this. (No accidents though!!)

It will be interesting to see how the locals cope with the change in the early days.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Deleted member]

That rule in NZ is archaic ... good thing it is changing.

The irony here is that it never used to be that way. Some bright spark decided to Change it after I left in the 70's

 

[Major]

I am currently driving around Northland and this issue is producing a lot of comment. All positive, apart from one idiot who told police that he was practicing the new rule which caused his accident.

 

[tuapekastar]

I have been caught out a few times with this. (No accidents though!!)

It will be interesting to see how the locals cope with the change in the early days.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

The changeover went surprisingly smoothly in Victoria IIRC.

 

[medhead]

The biggest issue will be all the kiwis living in Australia who don't realise the rule has changed. I've had a couple of near misses with those types in Brisbane, somewhere you'd least expect the rule to apply.


Sent from the Throne

 

[nickykim]

Will help me avoid those moments of blankness when I am driving my brother's car in Auckland....as in "now who has right of way here? It's me, no it's him, think I'll just let him go anyway".

 

[samh004]

My dad had a run in with a taxi driver just the once, many years ago, and for all the times we’ve talked about the rule since, haven’t really come across it. Good to hear it’s going away!

 

[Shelf]

I was caught in a game of 'who goes first' with some car turning across me 10km out of Wanaka, IIRC we both started/stopped 2 times before I let him/her through. It didn't feel logical to give way to a car turning across traffic.

 

[Fifa]

We were driving in NZ last month and had no idea of the left turn rule!
That is until a few days in when we were given a 'look' and realised we were in the wrong.

 

[JessicaTam]

A few years ago when I hired a car in NZ the attendant took great pains to explain the give way to right turning rule. Only forgot it once and was (loudly) reminded! Glad it's going. Now they just have to scrap their "give way to right at roundabouts rule" and I will be happy...

 

[medhead]

I was caught in a game of 'who goes first' with some car turning across me 10km out of Wanaka, IIRC we both started/stopped 2 times before I let him/her through. It didn't feel logical to give way to a car turning across traffic.

Funny it was Wanaka, I sat there for a couple of minutes when turning right waiting for the guy turning left, who was waiting for me to turn right. I tried to wave him through and he waved me through. We could still be sitting there, except I eventually decided to go.

. Now they just have to scrap their "give way to right at roundabouts rule" and I will be happy...

Oh, that might explain why I keep getting stuck behind clowns at round abouts who sit there waiting when there is a perfectly good gap.

 

[kiwi2768]

The irony here is that it never used to be that way. Some bright spark decided to Change it after I left in the 70's

I left in 1988 and I actually don't remember that rule being in force then.

Anyway at 5am on March 25th that rule is gone.

 

[Warks]

Good news. I've been abused before over there as I didn't know the rule but was then told by my passenger!
As we're visiting in September it will be one thing not to have to worry about. Well not too much anyway. There will still be people doing it for a long time.

All we've got to do is stop idiots doing U-turns at traffic lights in NSW!