Kiwis 20 yrs behind ....

[OwnTheRoad]

New Zealand is finally yielding to the rest of the world, after decades of confounding drivers from overseas

The Kiwis have been going it alone for nearly 20 years with a unique road rule that has been finally laid to rest.

New Zealand has been the only place on Earth to force vehicles making a left a turn at an intersection to yield to traffic making a wider arc across the intersection from the oncoming direction. Traffic turning left has to give way to traffic from the right – including that which is turning right across an intersection.

That changed at 5am on Sunday, when the country revised the rule. It’s one that has caused several near-accidents with foreigners who were unaware it even existed.

Just why New Zealand introduced such a quirky rule 35 years ago remains unclear. The same set-up in Victoria was ditched in 1993, for the sake of harmonising the state's road rules with those throughout the rest of the country. Originally Victoria's rules were out of step with other states to allow freer traffic flow for trams in Melbourne's central business district. After Victoria aligned its road rules with elsewhere in Australia, New Zealand was the one remaining jurisdiction anywhere in the world — as far as we know — to enforce the “Give Way to Traffic approaching from the Right” law universal under all conditions.

Some argue that the rules encourage civility by allowing cars making the more difficult turn to go first, but New Zealand Transport Agency, which implements road rules, said Sunday's switch would speed traffic flow, reduce accidents and avoid an estimated one fatality and 97 injuries each year.

In the short term, the agency is encouraging extra civility as drivers in the country of 4.4 million adjust to the changes.

NZTA Media manager Andy Knackstedt said the agency encouraged motorists to give a friendly wave when things go wrong, adding that a one-fingered wave doesn't count as friendly.

[J.C.]

Originally Posted by FTEMEL

New Zealand is finally yielding to the rest of the world, after decades of confounding drivers from overseas

The Kiwis have been going it alone for nearly 20 years with a unique road rule that has been finally laid to rest.

New Zealand has been the only place on Earth to force vehicles making a left a turn at an intersection to yield to traffic making a wider arc across the intersection from the oncoming direction. Traffic turning left has to give way to traffic from the right – including that which is turning right across an intersection.

That changed at 5am on Sunday, when the country revised the rule. It’s one that has caused several near-accidents with foreigners who were unaware it even existed.

Just why New Zealand introduced such a quirky rule 35 years ago remains unclear. The same set-up in Victoria was ditched in 1993, for the sake of harmonising the state's road rules with those throughout the rest of the country. Originally Victoria's rules were out of step with other states to allow freer traffic flow for trams in Melbourne's central business district. After Victoria aligned its road rules with elsewhere in Australia, New Zealand was the one remaining jurisdiction anywhere in the world — as far as we know — to enforce the “Give Way to Traffic approaching from the Right” law universal under all conditions.

Some argue that the rules encourage civility by allowing cars making the more difficult turn to go first, but New Zealand Transport Agency, which implements road rules, said Sunday's switch would speed traffic flow, reduce accidents and avoid an estimated one fatality and 97 injuries each year.

In the short term, the agency is encouraging extra civility as drivers in the country of 4.4 million adjust to the changes.

NZTA Media manager Andy Knackstedt said the agency encouraged motorists to give a friendly wave when things go wrong, adding that a one-fingered wave doesn't count as friendly.

Well I'm glad he cleared that one up.

[XP6]

Yep that had me confused and abused a few times while holidaying there, it was the only thing we had trouble with :(

Tis a beautiful place!

[twr7cx]

Didn't they change this a few weeks ago or even months now?

And what's the relevance to the T-Series forum?

[OwnTheRoad]

Originally Posted by twr7cx

Didn't they change this a few weeks ago or even months now?

And what's the relevance to the T-Series forum?

Oh sorry have i wasted you precious time mate .....
Its just a point of interest that i posted this info ,just to keep somthing in here going and as others who have said above that they were confused when in NZ driving it may well help other would be tourists avoid an accident ,as i am sure that although this rule has only just changed it will as it did in Victoria cause a s%1t load of confusion for some time to come as drivers adjust to the change......

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by twr7cx

Didn't they change this a few weeks ago or even months now?

And what's the relevance to the T-Series forum?

exactly right. on both counts, guess the op is also a bit slow...

[AU1XLS]

Knock it off slighest excuse and you start having a go at each other

[XRTickfordNZ]

Yeah was changed a few weeks ago now, was easy to get used to, some people still forget though lol so being cautious at intersections still.

Cheers,

Brendon

[GT]

I am glad they got rid of that - I still try to give way to right hand turning traffic occasionally, out of old habit. Did work and stopped traffic getting built up trying to turn right or turning right against a red light. Much more sensible to be in line with a norm in such driving practices especially in a country where they get so many foreign visitors.

The one they do have (that we could do with here) is if you have more than 3 (can't remember exactly how many now) cars behind you on the open road - you must pull over and let all the traffic past. Was home last year and saw it happen a few times and it takes all the frustration out of sitting behind a slow camper van etc. Just need to make sure that the Tourists know that one but the Police do enforce it. I assume it is still standing.

[Tonz]

Pt Lincoln (Tuna capital) still has this rule on 1 intersection only. Now that confuses the grey nomads.