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Car turning left gives way - Source: ONE News -
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The government is looking to get rid of New Zealand's right hand rule as part of a range of measures announced on Wednesday to make roads safer.
The rule change is part of the Safer Journeys 10-year road safety strategy, launched by Transport Minister Steven Joyce on Wednesday. It also targets young drivers, drunk drivers and motorcyclists.
The Automobile Association(AA) supports a change to the rule. There is evidence that the right hand give way rules are a factor in the 2,560 intersection crashes, and one or two deaths, each year.
Currently, if you are turning you must give way to all traffic not turning, and in all other situations, give way to traffic crossing or approaching from the right. That means a car turning right across the oncoming stream of traffic has precedence over the car turning left with the traffic behind it.
At uncontrolled T-intersections with two cars wishing to turn right, traffic on the driver's right get priority.
It means drivers have to check in three different directions, opposite and behind them, and also on the road they are entering.
Joyce says it should be replaced by a simpler system, which would reverse the current right hand give way rules.
The existing rule came into effect in 1977. It was adopted from the Australian state of Victoria which had introduced it to assist trams on Melbourne's streets, according to the AA.
But Victoria changed back in 1993 and experienced a decline in intersection crashes as a result.
New Zealand is the only country in the world to have the right hand rule.
A rule change might also help many of the thousands of New Zealanders who head overseas and jump into cars, blithely turning right at the first opportunity and wondering why they cop either abuse, or the front of the left turning car.
It is estimated changing the rules to align with other countries would reduce intersection crashes by 7% and the social cost by about $17 million a year.
It would improve pedestrian safety at intersections, where there has been an 88% increase since 2000 in pedestrians being hit, many of them hit by a turning vehicle.
AA spokesman Mike Noon says a change to the "ridiculous" rule would require a $2 million driver education programme and engineering changes, such as re-phasing lights and changing road markings in some places, which could cost $1 million.
However, he welcomed the change.
"It's more simple that the current rule. We find people don't obey the rule and some don't know what to do."
Changing the give way rule will also go to Cabinet later in the year and public input will be sought.
The New Zealand Transport Agency will develop a mass media campaign before any changes are made.
What do you think about the proposed changes? Have your
say on the messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentGRACEKENNEDY said on 2011-07-13 @ 19:12 NZDT: Report abusive post
I strongly believe that changing the driving age in New Zealand is unnecessary. I feel this way because not only am I a responsible fourteen year old looking foward to getting my license but I know for a fact that car crashes often resulting in death and injury are generally due to alcohol related cases. A better solution would be to change the alcohol laws and to possibly increase the time a person is on their learners license.
steph_longstaff said on 2011-06-24 @ 09:43 NZDT: Report abusive post
I dont think the driving age should change. What needs to happen is the government needs to restrict the cc rating of cars that learners and restricted drivers can actully drive, i beleve that if we stop learners and restricted drivers driving fast cars this will stop the amount of crashes as they will actully be able to control the cars they drive.
hojksgd said on 2011-03-29 @ 18:28 NZDT: Report abusive post
The problem is not the people on learner licences because they usually have a responsible driver in the passenger seat, but it is the ease of which that a restricted licence can be gained which is the problem, people end up driving by themselves without enough experience on the road which is dangerous!
Charlottie269 said on 2010-09-22 @ 20:06 NZDT: Report abusive post
I am a 14 year old in the year above my age which means all my friends in my year can drive but i will miss out for an extra 12 months on top of the other 6 months. This new law change is only going to do 1 thing. Piss me and everyone of my friends around my age right off. This law is going to make no change to the amount of deaths because i believe its not the 15 year old learner drivers who are killing people. this law is just going to put a bad taste in my mouth for our current government.
mackenzie323 said on 2010-08-24 @ 20:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
Raising the driving age will only make more people eager to get out there on the road to break the law,so raising the driving age will not change anything!!!!!!!!!!