The right hand rule

**Hitcher** · 4th May 2004, 13:37

Originally Posted by Cajun

i hate tauranga traffic, one reason i ride the bike all the time, i can get where i am going and not get held up so much. I would much perfer to riding/driving in auckland at least most of people up there know where the hell they are going and going there not here, where everone seams to be out for sunday drive every day. I have kicked alot of doors in on the bike over the years, just people not looking, correctly

It's nice to know that our observations of Tauranga traffic, made as outsiders, weren't unique. We were there at Labour Weekend last year (on our bikes) and gave up on the place after about an hour's tootling around. Mrs H nearly got killed twice on consecutive roundabouts -- not by geriatrics in Mitsubishi Lancers but by wankers in Pajeros. The place is insane!

**Skyryder** · 4th May 2004, 20:01

Originally Posted by Motu

Be kind - some of us old farts learned to drive under a different right hand rule,the old one still makes more sence....that was where if you were turning right into a side street across a main road,you gave way to the oncoming vehicle turning left into the same road.Now that car stops,the car behind swerves out to pass,or they all stack up behind.

Here is another old right hand rule. You are waiting in a side street and want to make a 'right' hand turn into the main road. A car approaches from you left and wants to turn into the street that you are waiting in. As the right hand rule is now applied the car to you left has to give way allowing you to make your right hand turn. Yea we all know how many cars allow us to turn and do we insist on the right hand rule. Not if you want to live a long. Under the old right hand rule in the same situation you had to give way. You waited until you could safely move out into the traffic. Have heard that the 'old right hand rule' may come back.

Skyryder

**Lou Girardin** · 5th May 2004, 06:39

[QUOTE=Skyryder]Here is another old right hand rule. You are waiting in a side street and want to make a 'right' hand turn into the main road. A car approaches from you left and wants to turn into the street that you are waiting in. As the right hand rule is now applied the car to you left has to give way allowing you to make your right hand turn. Yea we all know how many cars allow us to turn and do we insist on the right hand rule. Not if you want to live a long. Under the old right hand rule in the same situation you had to give way. You waited until you could safely move out into the traffic. Have heard that the 'old right hand rule' may come back.

That rule has never changed, the first requirement has always been to give way to your right. You've fallen for the main road/side road mistake.
Lou

]

**merv** · 5th May 2004, 07:52

I'd be happy to see them get rid of that damn give way when turning left rule as it does nothing to help traffic flow with everyone hesitating trying to decide if they should give way or not because it depends who's going past them from behind. That should go back to pre 1977 and be the right hand rule in its entirety.

**johno** · 5th May 2004, 20:21

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I don't know why NZ doesn't introduce a "left-turn on red" rule, as found in some other parts of the world.

This was, as I remember it, the reason originally for the give way rule when turning left. It was a pre-requisite for free left turns on red or at any controlled intersection. Unfortunately, there was so much controversy about the "new rule" at the time that the next step was quietly dropped. So we now have the worst of both worlds. (Usual political outcome).
Someone mentioned round-a-bouts are being replaced by traffic lights, this is an imported policy that has been applied in NZ for some years, evidently less accidents etc. It doesn't seem to matter about traffic flow. Anyhow, there are so'ooh many dumb shits at roundabouts unable to make a simple fuckin decision about a car in the distance that going to take forever to even reach the roundabout, let alone slow down and go around, it is better for the blood pressure to have dumb lights that cater for the lowest common denominater of driving skills.

**Skyryder** · 5th May 2004, 21:07

[QUOTE=Lou Girardin]

Originally Posted by Skyryder

Here is another old right hand rule. You are waiting in a side street and want to make a 'right' hand turn into the main road. A car approaches from you left and wants to turn into the street that you are waiting in. As the right hand rule is now applied the car to you left has to give way allowing you to make your right hand turn. Yea we all know how many cars allow us to turn and do we insist on the right hand rule. Not if you want to live a long. Under the old right hand rule in the same situation you had to give way. You waited until you could safely move out into the traffic. Have heard that the 'old right hand rule' may come back.

That rule has never changed, the first requirement has always been to give way to your right. You've fallen for the main road/side road mistake.
Lou

]

Just not too sure what you mean by the main road/side road mistake. As the law now stands in a "50"k speed area I am in a side street and want to turn right and the car to my left wants to make a right hand turn into the street that I am leaving. The car to my left gives way to me. I have the right of way. If I understand you correctly you are saying that has allways been the case. I may be wrong but I am sure that under the old right hand rule the car to my left had the right of way. When the law was changed in the late 60's? one of the things I can remember was moving out in front of a right turning car in the situation that I have desribed. This just never felt right. Still uncomfortable with this even today.

The second change would mean that all traffic from a terminating road gives way to all traffic on a continuing road. This means that traffic travelling along a major road that is turning right would not have to give way to traffic entering from a minor road or driveway; and the rules would be the same for all intersection and driveway situations.

see http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications...01/jul-01.html

As said I may be wrong but I thought the orange text was part of the old right hand rule

Skyryder

**Skyryder** · 5th May 2004, 21:15

Originally Posted by johno

This was, as I remember it, the reason originally for the give way rule when turning left. It was a pre-requisite for free left turns on red or at any controlled intersection. Unfortunately, there was so much controversy about the "new rule" at the time that the next step was quietly dropped. So we now have the worst of both worlds. (Usual political outcome).
Someone mentioned round-a-bouts are being replaced by traffic lights, this is an imported policy that has been applied in NZ for some years, evidently less accidents etc. It doesn't seem to matter about traffic flow. Anyhow, there are so'ooh many dumb shits at roundabouts unable to make a simple fuckin decision about a car in the distance that going to take forever to even reach the roundabout, let alone slow down and go around, it is better for the blood pressure to have dumb lights that cater for the lowest common denominater of driving skills.

Roundabouts only work effectively when there is an even flow of traffic from all points. Where they fail is when a continual stream of traffic from one point prevents the movement of traffic from another that has to giveway to the stream on the right.

Skyryder

**Motu** · 5th May 2004, 22:04

I think the confusion you are talking about is controled and uncontroled intersections as I mentioned earlier.If there is a stop or give way sign you stop and give way to everyone else.If there is no stop or give way sign then it is an uncontroled intersection and they give way to you - tiz bloody confusing and I see a lot of uncontroled intersections getting stop or give way signs put up.

**johno** · 5th May 2004, 22:36

Originally Posted by Motu

I think the confusion you are talking about is controled and uncontroled intersections as I mentioned earlier.If there is a stop or give way sign you stop and give way to everyone else.If there is no stop or give way sign then it is an uncontroled intersection and they give way to you - tiz bloody confusing and I see a lot of uncontroled intersections getting stop or give way signs put up.

As I understand it, there are no major/minor roads. If there is no control (and there ususally is) ie; stop/giveway signs, then everythin is equal.

**Lou Girardin** · 6th May 2004, 06:00

The problem has been defining major/minor roads. Some driveways are as large as the road feeding them.

**Motu** · 6th May 2004, 07:38

Originally Posted by johno

As I understand it, there are no major/minor roads. If there is no control (and there ususally is) ie; stop/giveway signs, then everythin is equal.

Equal in now the right hand rule applies - if you are at a T intersection and wish to turn right then the vehicle turning right into your road has to give way to you - you are on their right.At a controled intersection you give way to them.

**moko** · 10th May 2004, 02:43

I had 2 near misses while riding in N.Z. because of this rule,I`d been told that riding in N.Z. was "pretty much the same as in the U.K".Found myself a couple of times in situations where I was waiting to give way,once things had been explained to me and was met by blank stares from car drivers who semed not to know they had right of way.I discussed the rule and it`s logic with a couple of locals and they couldn`t see any sense in it either.Over here you`ll quite often have someone give way to you when you`re turning right out of good manners,friendly gesture kind of thing.not sure about now but France used to have a really crazy law that gave people turning out of a sideroad onto a main highway priority and the Frog Gestapo(well trained by their allies in the war)took great delight in booking irate Brits who thought they were in the right when some dork had launched an apparent suicide bid and got his 2CV or other shit-heap crunched in the process.I think they`ve changed their ways now so it`s only the personal hygiene and bravery thing they`ve got to work on.

**Jackrat** · 10th May 2004, 03:08

I have my own rules.
on my bike he who hesitates comes last.
In my Patrol, I'm bigger than you.
At all times,Trust no bugger.
Works for me so far.
Just love that parting comment about the french,Limpit mining bastards!!