Give Way rule poised to change

[slofox]

BTW, the old fellas should be able to remember when we had the give way to the left rule years ago...

Yeah. I do remember it. And the fuss the change created. And I still wave a "thanks" to those left-turners who let me turn right in front of them because it has NEVER felt right to me.

Hey - who you callin' Old sonny?

[Scuba_Steve]

Im confused to why alot of people think this change back is a good thing??? It makes no logical or logistical sense.

Take a 'T' intersection currently a person turning left gives way to someone turning right, they always have space to pull into the curb thus giving passage for those going straight through & chance for them to get round the corner.
Under new/old "reverse" rule the right turning person has to give way so now not only do they have to wait for straight through traffic but also the turning traffic (which was previously their "gap" to get round the corner & out of they way), so they have to wait for all traffic and unlike when left turners give way there is no guarantee of passage for those traveling straight through so if a busy street congestion could become a major problem as the "flow" would no longer be there.
Thus as I said no logical or logistical sense the ONLY advantage I can see is that tourists would be ever so slightly better at intersections, but doesn't help the rest of their driving tho or anyone else & last I checked "tourist's" were NOT New Zealanders and did NOT live here.

And anyone who thinks it'll make intersections "safer" sorry (no offense) but your a fucking moron if people can't drive, they CAN'T drive, changing the rule aint gonna help that.

Rant over... for now. But the old saying "be careful what you wish for" does spring to mind.

[sinned]

About time that bloody stupid kamikaze give way rule was changed. It's so bad that when Victoria changed back to the usual rule used by the rest of the world/country, they didn't have the typical upwards spike in the accident rate that occurs with changed rules! The mexicans got rid of it in the mid-late eighties and haven't looked back.

It is quite obviously an appalling rule, notwithstanding parochial bleatings to the contrary.

I was around when this rule change happened.
Yes it is an appalling rule - trust NZ to be one of the first to make a stupid decision. What I remember as the main reason was so cars would not be stuck in the middle of the road waiting to turn and holding up other traffic. That doesn't sound reasonable now and didn't then either.

It wasn't too difficult making the change and there was plenty of care taken at intersections and a bit of friendly waving. So a change back should not be difficult with sufficient education. That does not take into account the drop in driver standards, attitudes, drugged drivers, and generally a lot more morons on the road.
Why it hasn't been done earlier is all about politics: no government has had the balls to make the change knowing a change like this will be unpopular and that will reflect in the polls. Even the Nats are putting the actual change out past the next election.

[stify]

Im confused to why alot of people think this change back is a good thing???

last I checked "tourist's" were NOT New Zealanders and did NOT live here.

I'm not confused and tourist's do tour here...and they just don't give way as our current rule stands(I see examples everyday)..I work in Katikati and we have a good number of overseas workers doing their oe/backpacking/seasonal work thing, with their "standard" cheap car and no insurance, I think it's not a bad thing really...In time I think no one will give a rats arse about the change,

[scumdog]

Take a 'T' intersection currently a person turning left gives way to someone turning right, they always have space to pull into the curb thus giving passage for those going straight through & chance for them to get round the corner.
Under new/old "reverse" rule the right turning person has to give way so now not only do they have to wait for straight through traffic but also the turning traffic (which was previously their "gap" to get round the corner & out of they way),

I was wondering when somebody would think of that let alone bring it up...

[stify]

I was wondering when somebody would think of that let alone bring it up...

I think of the very same thing every time I expect the oncoming left turning traffic to give way...but you picks your time with some luck I might add and hope they understand the give way rule, also the number of oncoming vehicles that cross the centre line to pass the left turning vehicle(vehicle that is giving way) is also a valid factor I think in this change, I find it easier to control the following traffic when turning rather than predict what the oncoming traffic is going to do even taking into account any extra space you would have kerb side

[scracha]

erson turning left gives way to someone turning right, they always have space to pull into the curb thus giving passage for

a) they don't always have space to pull into the curb
b) Reality is that even when they do have space to pull into the curb, most don't.
c) many don't always check for following traffic before turning right resulting in overtaking car striking right turning offender.
d) it's bloody dangerous turning right in front of moving traffic just because they happen to be indicating left.

congestion could become a major problem as the "flow" would no longer be there.
Thus as I said no logical or logistical sense the ONLY advantage I can see is that

Congestion not really an issue in the sticks. In busy urban areas it'll be solved via roundabouts, traffic lights and one-way systems. This will improve traffic flow.

And anyone who thinks it'll make intersections "safer" sorry (no offense) but your a fucking moron if people can't drive, they CAN'T drive, changing the rule aint gonna help that.

I could say you're a fucking moron but I'm clever enough to see both sides of the coin and adopt a wait and see approach. I personally think after the initial couple of years it'll be business as usual.


Obviously 4 million Kiwi's MUST be smarter than the 6.5 billion other fools on planet Earth who never even considered their clever give way system.

[Latte]

I cant find the source, but I remember when Victoria changed back to the "old rule" there were very few accidents caused by the confusion, and the occurence of accidents at intersections dropped notceably afterwards.

[davebullet]

Where's my hook turn in the legislation? I want my fucking hook turn!!!!

[merv]

Where's my hook turn in the legislation? I want my fucking hook turn!!!!

Well we better get some trams on the streets so that we might need the hook turn

[Berries]

The existing rule is a crock of shit, so I'm glad to see they have finally got someone with the balls to change it. Crashes going up ? Well, it takes two to have a crash at an intersection and I wouldn't trust the other driver now or after the changes. Crap drivers will always be crap drivers. And NZ has a shed load of them.

[slofox]

Here's a concrete example for you as to why the rule should revert...happened to me last night.

I'm waiting to turn right into the side street. A car is approaching from the opposite direction and indicates he will turn left into the same side street. Current rule gives me ROW. But this guy is approaching with some alacrity and gives me pause. Just as friggin well cause he barrels round the corner despite me having the go ahead. He stopped in the supermarket that I was going to. I saw him inside and said "that rule hasn't changed yet y'know". Answer? "I'm from England and we have it the other way there. Sorry, I realised I had made a mistake when you blasted the horn at me..."

So there ya go. First hand experience.

[Kickaha]

Here's a concrete example for you as to why the rule should revert...happened to me last night.

That's a piss poor example of why it should change but a good example of why that guy should have his licence pulled if doesn't know the road rules he's meant to be currently obeying

[Mudfart]

Something occured to me today:

After they started publicising the proper way to indicate at roundabouts, a whole bunch of numpties got it in their head they had to indicate something and started indicating - completely incorrectly. Like those dumbies who indicate right, all the way through a roundabout that they are going "straight" * on (instead of just indicating left to exit).

(* i.e. taking an exit 180 degrees (or less) round from where they entered.)

What's the bet that all this publicity about the change coming up makes some people start to behave that way now? e.g. reading the headlines and just assuming it starts next week.

I wonder how crashes that will cause...

yep i am the great mambozo...i can see the future, and the future shows insurance premiums going up, and ACC levies, followed by more rises in registrations...its a good time to be a panelbeater or a mortitian.