Amendments to road rules in effect from 1 October 2011

[mattian]

sorry if this has already been posted. Came into effect from Saturday so I guess this is just a reminder.
About bloody time they did that for bikers in bus lanes.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/nation...from-1-october

[oneofsix]

sorry if this has already been posted. Came into effect from Saturday so I guess this is just a reminder.
About bloody time they did that for bikers in bus lanes.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/nation...from-1-october

Try this link for more 'actuate' details
http://nzta.govt.nz/about/media/releases/1409/news.html

[superman]

Yay for bureaucrats!

[oneofsix]

I love the bit about school buses stopped to let of or on children, the school bus sign is optional????? How are you meant to know it's a school bus and therefore apply the 20k speed limit.

There is an existing requirement for drivers to reduce their speed to 20km/h when passing a stationary school bus, displaying a school bus sign that is stopped to pick up or drop off school children. From 1 October 2011, drivers passing a stationary school bus displaying an optional ‘school bus’ sign with flashing lights, will need to reduce their speed to 20km/h. The bus driver will also be required to only operate the flashing lights for up to 20 seconds before and after the school bus has stopped. This will help to warn motorists that they need to take care and slow down as they are approaching an area where children are likely to be crossing the road.

[sil3nt]

I love the bit about school buses stopped to let of or on children, the school bus sign is optional????? How are you meant to know it's a school bus and therefore apply the 20k speed limit.

I was under the impression this was always the law. My brother even failed a driving test for driving too fast past a stationary school bus.

[oneofsix]

I was under the impression this was always the law. My brother even failed a driving test for driving too fast past a stationary school bus.

It has 'always' been the case for a school. bus with School bus sign, this is as per the first sentence

There is an existing requirement for drivers to reduce their speed to 20km/h when passing a stationary school bus, displaying a school bus sign that is stopped to pick up or drop off school children.

So then go looking for what the law change changes. To me it is that the signs become optional. Therefore how do you tell it is a school bus given that a lot of schools have regular bus stops near by that are used by the school buses as well.

[Gremlin]

To me, it's that it looks like school buses could be equipped with American style lights etc, that flash about a school bus sign, and that these signs were the optional part.

I saw the school bus sign as being optional or not required, only for longer trips and not the runs right after school etc. That said, with the dopiness of some pedestrians absorbed in their iPods etc, I would imagine eventually people will have to slow down around all buses

[Bassmatt]

It has 'always' bee nthe case for a school. bus with School bus sign, this is as per the first sentence

So then go looking for what the law change changes. To me it is that the signs become optional. Therefore how do you tell it is a school bus given that a lot of schools have regular bus stops near by that are used by the school buses as well.

To me it says that if its not displaying the sign you don't have to slow down.

[oneofsix]

To me, it's that it looks like school buses could be equipped with American style lights etc, that flash about a school bus sign, and that these signs were the optional part.

I saw the school bus sign as being optional or not required, only for longer trips and not the runs right after school etc. That said, with the dopiness of some pedestrians absorbed in their iPods etc, I would imagine eventually people will have to slow down around all buses

I hope you are right Gremlin and that would make sense but can't see why that required a change to the law, the school bus sign is still a school bus sign even if it has flashing lights isn't it?

[Gremlin]

I hope you are right Gremlin and that would make sense but can't see why that required a change to the law, the school bus sign is still a school bus sign even if it has flashing lights isn't it?

tbh, I was confused as well, as the law is already clear. I can only presume the school bus sign was defined very accurately, and the definition has been added to/modified or something like that?

There are also requirements under WOF for how lights are to be presented, and what they can do.

[JustNick]

Can anyone tell me what the "b Bus signal" is referring to?

[mattian]

Can anyone tell me what the "b Bus signal" is referring to?

up here in Dorkland we have a seperate light that operates the same as a green light for buses but is just a "B". it goes on before the lights go green for the rest of the traffic so that the buses (and now other users of the bus lane) can go ahead of cars. I have only seen a couple of bus lanes with this function. Usually in the city center.

[Max Preload]

I love the bit about school buses stopped to let of or on children, the school bus sign is optional????? How are you meant to know it's a school bus and therefore apply the 20k speed limit.

No. They've just fucked up the wording of the press release to make it ambiguous. The SCHOOL BUS sign is still compulsory but there's now also an optional version with flashing lights - optional for the bus operator to install and use. See Section 12(1) here.

[Max Preload]

To me it says that if its not displaying the sign you don't have to slow down.

Only if you read the press release, not the legislation.

[JustNick]

up here in Dorkland we have a seperate light that operates the same as a green light for buses but is just a "B". it goes on before the lights go green for the rest of the traffic so that the buses (and now other users of the bus lane) can go ahead of cars. I have only seen a couple of bus lanes with this function. Usually in the city center.

Cheers for that, I used to live up there and I hadn't even noticed them.