Give way rule to change

[bogan]

and when the lights go fucked and stay orange, nobody can figure out how to turn right! so i thank the gods i'm on my bike and just split through and show them

[quickbuck]

My new theory: people don't think in terms of rules when they're driving so much as patterns. It's only when the patterns have been disrupted (and often not even then) that they go back to the rules to try to figure things out. And they get it wrong.

I had a think about this while riding through Palmy today.
I think you are right by gum!

A couple of weeks ago I was waiting at the intersection of Rangitikei and Tremain, and a Mitsubishi (Probably Diamante) turned right in front of me from the other side of the road as soon as my light went green! There were two vehicles facing him. Me and a little hatchback thing beside me.
If i was in my early 20's and wanted to demonstrate to the hatchback what 100HP does to a 300kg (all up) missile, then I would have most certainly changed the shape of the Mitsi.

I rode off, thinking What an idiot. Lucky I didn't hammer it......

Today while riding through town, I was analysing the light sequence of all the lights.
It's those STUPID Green Arrows!
MOST of them give all lanes (including the right turning lane) the go ahead, before the red arrow stops the right turning traffic, and then makes it wait for the cue across the road to finish crossing....
EXCEPT the lights on the intersection in question.... as far as I could make out.
It was a pattern this driver was familiar with. However when the pattern changed, he may well have been confused as to why a motorcycle and a car started coming towards him!

Quite possible this driver actually did a LOT of driving in the city, not Stuff all like I originally thought.....

So, the pattern theory is most likely how many drive....

[bogan]

never had a problem with the lights in question, the guy probly just ran a really late orange or red, happens pretty often round here

[kwaka_crasher]

It's those STUPID Green Arrows!

Even worse than those are the red arrows. Sure, they have their place at SOME intersections but they're every-fucking-where now. I get sick of waiting at the lights on a red arrow when the way is clear so I just ignore them now.

[quickbuck]

Even worse than those are the red arrows. Sure, they have their place at SOME intersections but they're every-fucking-where now. I get sick of waiting at the lights on a red arrow when the way is clear so I just ignore them now.

Yup, same effect...
They make all drivers Morons who don't have to think, or make a decision......

Truth be told though, if you let a human make a decision there is a chance they will get it wrong.......

[quickbuck]

never had a problem with the lights in question, the guy probly just ran a really late orange or red, happens pretty often round here

Nope, he was stationary for a long while....
I was sitting there ensuring i had good situational awareness, and making sure there were no runners on Tremain.... The most likely way to get taken out at an intersection with lights....

You're quite right though, Palmy drivers are as bad as the drivers of Waihanae, it is just that the speed in Palmy is twice that of Waikanae.

[R-Soul]

I sat behind a driver this morning that was confused about the give way rules as they stand now. His incompetence held up a huge number of vehicles while he provaricated about who actually had the right of way. No one was prepared to move while he sat there creeping forward then braking hard from time to time. Eventually he made his mind up as to who had right of way and hauled out into the path of a friggen truck! He got it wrong. Thankfully no one hurt, but a few people were left shaking their heads and I am picking that the truck driver may well have required a change of underwear when he got back to base. As bikers we have enough issues around being seen anyway. It is not going to be anybetter if a rule change happens. We are going to be even more vulnerable than we are now.

I dont think they should change it. Sure we are "special" and the only country that has this left turn give way rule, but it was brought in for a reason. There were some terrible accidents on open roads where a car that was turning right off a road had to give way to one turning left, getting hit from behind.

But THAT is what the problem is with the rule - it actually allows, no demands that drivers pull out in front of other cars and truck, relying solely on their knowledge of the law. Whereas if that rule was abolished, drivers would pull out when there is a gao, relying solely on their insticts for self preservation. A much more accurate barometer.