Unresolved conversation...

[MSTRS:Me]

Was talking to someone today re the rules at intersections controlled with a Stop sign. Obviously if you are the 'first' vehicle at the line you must stop before entering the intersection when it is safe etc to do so.
As I understand things, if you are not the lead vehicle (which is stopped), you are either stopped in the queue or are about to stop because there are stopped vehicles in front of you...then it is accepted practice that you may proceed through the intersection when those ahead of you do so, without also stopping, as long as the way is clear, just as you would at a Give Way. Nowhere can I find a written word that says so.
Assuming you are approaching that intersection when the stopped vehicles move off, what sort of distance behind the last one is considered 'ok' to not stop?
And what about passing on a bridge? It is my understanding that it is a no no, I have never done so because I don't consider it a safe practice (no escape route) but there is also nothing in writing re this.

[FROSTY:Me]

my understanding is a bit different mate. As I understand matters you must pull up to the line STOP look then carry on. Ths is regardless of any traffic in front of you. Basicly stop means stop.
Overtaking on a bridge . A bridge is a normal part of the highway system and all normal road rules apply. 100m visibility etc.

[AllanB]

I got a lecture years ago for 'slip-streaming' around a stop sign in the manner you describe. The officer informed me that one should stop for at least 3 seconds. No ticket was issued - this was before quotas

I treat stop as each vehicle must stop, and I believe the law would read it in this manner if tested.

Bridges..........in theory if you have 100m clear visibility and the opposite side of the road is clear why not?

When is a bridge not a bridge - There are plenty of dual lane bridges on the Motorways in NZ.

[Mully]

my understanding is a bit different mate. As I understand matters you must pull up to the line STOP look then carry on. Ths is regardless of any traffic in front of you. Basicly stop means stop.
Overtaking on a bridge . A bridge is a normal part of the highway system and all normal road rules apply. 100m visibility etc.

+1. Never heard about the 3 second thing- but was always told you must come to a complete stop at a stop sign before proceeding.

[98tls]

Not sure on the bridge thing but in town stop means stop ie come to a complete halt,i recently got pinged $150 for not doing so,i was second in line and could see nothing was coming so just went with the first guy,this i explained but nope,wrong.

[Skyryder]

See my post #65 on GIVE WAY RULE

I think you need to come to a stop at a point where you can see 'clearly' both ways. I've never heard of any getting booked stopping in front of the line.


Skyryder

[scumdog]

A Stop sign? - Ya STOP and check the way is clear.

Doesn't have to be right on the line but you do have to stop - not do a 'Texas rolling stop' kinda stop.

"But I almost stopped, what's the difference"

"If I was whalin' the tar outa yore hide with my ba-ton which is different, almost stopping or actually stoppin?"
'That's the difference.'

[MSTRS:Me]

I can understand the need to stop (if you are still moving as you approach and the vehicles ahead of you move off). But when have any of you seen every single vehicle in the queue stop as it reaches the yellow line?

[Mully]

But when have any of you seen every single vehicle in the queue stop as it reaches the yellow line?

[parent tone] if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you do it too[/parent tone]

[MSTRS:Me]

[parent tone] if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you do it too[/parent tone]

If the river was deep enough....wheeeeeee.

[AllanB]

"If I was whalin' the tar outa yore hide with my ba-ton'

Some men pay good money for that kind of treatment. I suspect they are Suzuki riders..........

[Ixion]

..
And what about passing on a bridge? It is my understanding that it is a no no, I have never done so because I don't consider it a safe practice (no escape route) but there is also nothing in writing re this.

Would make things a bit tricky on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Not to mention the large numbers of bridges and viaducts on the motorways. One lane bridges, maybe another matter.

[Okey Dokey]

When I completed some bike training we went for a "graduation" ride in a group. TEC instructor went ballistic when most of the group passed through a STOP sign as one unit. He said, as scummie has said, a Stop sign means each vehicle stops at the line and looks.

[bsasuper]

You could always try "rolling on through" in front of an officer and see what happens if you think thats how its done, but he wont be able to give ya a talking to untill they scrape ya off the road.

[Virago]

I've always understood it as everyone stopping at the head of the queue.

I was all set to poke the borax at MSTRS over this, and went to the Road Code on the LTNZ website, to get the official wording.

Interestingly though, the wording is rather ambiguous:

Stop sign

At an intersection controlled by a Stop sign you must:

* come to a complete stop, not just slow down
* stop where you can see vehicles coming from all directions
* stay stopped and give way to all other vehicles (including bicycles, motorcycles etc)
* use the give way rules if you and another vehicle are coming towards each other and you are both at Stop signs
* not go until it is safe for you and all other traffic.

Double or single yellow lines are marked on sealed roads to help you stop where you can best see other traffic.

"Stop where you can see vehicles coming from all directions." In practice, this can be well back from the yellow lines in some cases. It is often well over the lines in other cases.

In theory, if you are second in a queue at a Stop Sign, and can clearly see in both directions, you can be deemed to be following the letter of the law if you don't stop again at the head of the queue.

Whether this is just an ambiguity on the LTNZ Website, or a hole in the actual law, is unclear.