NZ Road Rules

[Ewan Oozarmy]

Hi everyone! I'm fairly new to NZ - I arrived in Auckland from London in November - and need some clarification on the road laws here as I recently got a ticking off from a Cop for filtering (lane splitting) on by bike.

1. Is filtering illigal? Every other country I've ridden in (Europe and US) it's expected where possible. In fact in the UK you will fail your bike test if you don't filter when there is an oppertunity.

2. Can you legally drive a car whilst talking/texting on a mobile phone?

3. Can you legally undertake (overtake on the inside/slow lane on motorway)?

4. Can you legally drive without insurance? Even 3rd party?

5. Can you legally drive under the influence of party pills?

2 - 5 would all be illegal in other countries (except the US) I've driven/ridden.

Any help would be appreciated - may save me a ticket in the future....

Cheers,

Dean

[emaN]

Use the "search" function bro...I'm sure there's a few threads about 'filtering'.
You're mostly right about 2-5 tho'...shocking, innit?!

Was 'interesting' riding in NZ again, after having spent 4 1/2 yrs riding around London, UK, Europe!

[James Deuce]

Injury and death resulting from MVAs are regarded as non-violent crime in NZ too. Don't go trying to sue as ACC covers your physical repair, recovery and rehabilitation.

Do a search on Lane splitting and filtering.

[Swoop]

#3,#4,#5 = Yes.
#2 = a possible charge of careless use???

Filtering = SEARCH BUTTON.

[crashe]

Hi everyone! I'm fairly new to NZ - I arrived in Auckland from London in November - and need some clarification on the road laws here as I recently got a ticking off from a Cop for filtering (lane splitting) on by bike.

1. Is filtering illigal? Every other country I've ridden in (Europe and US) it's expected where possible. In fact in the UK you will fail your bike test if you don't filter when there is an oppertunity.
Do a search on this, as there is lots of threads on this topic.
I lane split, but as soon as I spot a cop ahead, I swing in behind a car and merge with the traffic until I have past the cop sitting there and then back to lane splitting again.

2. Can you legally drive a car whilst talking/texting on a mobile phone?
Yes you are allowed to but there are some who are trying to ban this practise. It is seen as being a dangerous thing to do. They want to bring in the 'handset' thingee where you dont hold the actual ph. It is distracting for some drivers using them.

3. Can you legally undertake (overtake on the inside/slow lane on motorway)?
I know in the UK the cops give you a fine for passing others in the slow lane. Here in NZ the people sit in the middle lane or the fast lanes on the motorways and dont use the blardy slow lane and hold up traffic in the faster lanes. So the only way past is going into the slow lane and passing them. The cops should ticket the people who slow the faster lanes down as they should be over in the slow lanes.

4. Can you legally drive without insurance? Even 3rd party?
Yes - but I personally reckon that everyone should have at least 3rd party insurance

5. Can you legally drive under the influence of party pills?
Ummmm dunno - ask a cop

2 - 5 would all be illegal in other countries (except the US) I've driven/ridden.

Any help would be appreciated - may save me a ticket in the future....

Cheers,

Dean

answered in RED


Number 3. Maybe Transit could put up signs stating:
If you are going to slow and holding up traffic, get the fark over to the slow lane.

or

SLOW lanes for slower drivers
Middle lanes to over take the slower drivers.
Fast lanes for those that are going much faster than the slow drivers....

[Sam I Am]

yep it's all mad Please dont ge me me started !!

[Big Dave]

Yuh.

And the one about giving way at a Tee intersection must have been written by Abbott and Costello.

[WRT]

answered in RED


Number 3. Maybe Transit could put up signs stating:
If you are going to slow and holding up traffic, get the fark over to the slow lane.

or

SLOW lanes for slower drivers
Middle lanes to over take the slower drivers.
Fast lanes for those that are going much faster than the slow drivers....

I know what you are trying to say, however we don't have "Fast" or "Slow" lanes here in NZ. In fact, even if we did use that terminology instead of left or right, they would all just be variants of "Slow". Something like "Slow", "Slower" and "Reversing only".

[Ewan Oozarmy]

Yuh.

And the one about giving way at a Tee intersection must have been written by Abbott and Costello.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that one. Unique (and f*cking rediculous!)....

[Swoop]

It has been rumoured that the Irish Intelligence Service (Namely their Cypher Breaking section) has just cracked the English Road Code...

[Ewan Oozarmy]

I know what you are trying to say, however we don't have "Fast" or "Slow" lanes here in NZ. In fact, even if we did use that terminology instead of left or right, they would all just be variants of "Slow". Something like "Slow", "Slower" and "Reversing only".

Yeah, and as for "leave a safe gap between yourself and the vehicle in front" should read "leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of more than 1 metre and someone will sqeeze into it and indicate afterwards".

It's definitely been a learning curve for me.....

[Pwalo]

[QUOTE=Ewan Oozarmy;1055879]Yeah, and as for "leave a safe gap between yourself and the vehicle in front" should read "leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of more than 1 metre and someone will sqeeze into it and indicate afterwards".

Yep that one always amazes me. It gets worse at the first hint of rain. Everyone slows down and then closes up the gaps even more.

Mind you, the authorities over here do tend to focus on speeding, rather than lane discipline, or courtesy.

Still you are in Orkland which isn't renowned for having the most patient of drivers.

[WRT]

Yeah, and as for "leave a safe gap between yourself and the vehicle in front" should read "leave a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of more than 1 metre and someone will sqeeze into it and indicate afterwards".

It's definitely been a learning curve for me.....

Well you shouldnt indicate before, that just gives away your next move!

[The Stranger:Me]

Well you shouldnt indicate before, that just gives away your next move!

It's no one elses business where I am going.

[Swoop]

Yep that one always amazes me. It gets worse at the first hint of rain. Everyone slows down and then closes up the gaps even more.

This is done for safety reasons. You are travelling at a slower velocity, so the impact speed will be much less if you drive with your front bumper up the exhaust pipe of the cage in front.
Most aftermarket exhaust pipes are NOT designed to make more noise, but the prime design requirement is to be able to accomodate a full front bumper... [/bollox mode]