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Government and transport - Source: ONE News
The notorious right hand rule should be consigned to the dustbin as a bad idea and if Australia can do it, so can we, says the Automobile Association (AA).
New Zealand is the only country in the world with the right hand rule - if cars are turning they give way to all traffic not turning, and in all other situations, give way to traffic crossing or approaching from the right.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce released the "Safer Journeys" discussion document on Tuesday, throwing up more than 60 suggested changes to laws, regulations and policies to reduce the road toll.
One change could be making right turning cars give way to traffic turning left into the same road, which would give drivers less to think about.
It is estimated this could reduce intersection crashes by 7%, though it would take a $2 million education campaign to get drivers used to the idea, and $1 million to make changes to road signs and road markings.
According to the AA, New Zealand's give way rules are a factor in 2560 intersection crashes and one or two deaths each year.
"It's basically ridiculous that New Zealand has got a different rule to everyone else in the world," says AA spokesman Mike Noon.
The AA has long lobbied for the right hand rule to be changed, he says.
It was introduced here in 1977 and originally came from Melbourne where it assisted trams.
Here it was seen as a way to deal with a large number of intersections, before many intersections were replaced with roundabouts, Noon says.
Melbourne has since got rid of the rule but in New Zealand attempts to also revoke, supported by Ministry of Transport, Minister of Transport Safety, police, local government, Institute of Professional Engineers, cycling groups, and the AA, have been voted down by Cabinet as "too hard for the public to cope with".
Noon says the rule is confusing for the more than one million tourists that visit New Zealand each year and New Zealanders travelling all over the planet.
The rule is responsible for a lot of side impact accidents, where the driver is not well protected, he says.
One newspaper survey showed 20% of drivers do not observe it, he says.
"In most cases he who is bravest goes first and gets across."
Australia managed to get rid of the rule in 1993 without too much trouble, he says.
What do you think of the right hand rule? Do you observe it? Have your say on our messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentgrenadier said on 2009-08-19 @ 17:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
If this road rule is so good, why is New Zealand the only country in the world using it? I have been driving (both on the left and the right) for 61 years, and I still remember how immature I was at age 15. No way was I ready to drive and endanger other persons at age 15.
prea said on 2009-08-19 @ 16:14 NZDT: Report abusive post
Make it compulsory to attend a driving school, in particular for 15 - 18 year olds, and only the driving school can apply for sitting exams. This way the 15+ year olds learn the rules and how to drive properly and the problem for parents having to take them everywhere will be a lot less.
silverdays said on 2009-08-19 @ 14:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
Perhaps the inability to understand simple road rules and follow them should be the criteria we use to refuse a drivers license. Too stupid to understand the rules and you would be considered too stupid to drive. Oh - wait - that is how it is supposed to be.
RickyBeee said on 2009-08-19 @ 11:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
WHINGING POM ALERT!Thank goodness this is being proposed. It's such a silly rule, and dangerous too.After 4 years I still have a moment of panic every time the situation arises. The worst moment is when you're turning right and a left turner is waiting for you BUT THERE'S SOMETHING COMING STRAIGHT ON behind the left turner. You have to wait to avoid a metalic-crunch disaster, but the left turner, unaware of the car from behind, GETS ANGRY WITH YOU! You all sit around like muppets.Scrap the rule!
johnpeg said on 2009-08-19 @ 01:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
I travel quite a lot, for pleasure now and drive on the right in some countries also. The relaxed simplicity of learning road regulations in these countries is soon forgotten when I return to NZ with this 'right hand rule'. "What a joke"! some supporters of the rule may think "he's a useless driver". I'm not an incompetent driver, at the age of 61 I've been a London bus driver, NZ truck, car & bike license ....Voila ..... (I'm on holiday in France - be nice to see it gone before my return). JP