Ask Phoebe: Strange shape for give way sign creates confusion

5:30 AM Tuesday May 15, 2012

Auckland Transport will put up square-backed signs at the few locations where visibility of the standard Give Way sign is a problem. Photo / Amos Chapple

In Glenfield, Bentley Ave and Chartwell Rd form a "T". The intersection is a busy one, as Bentley Rd leads to Glenfield Mall. Coming down Chartwell Rd, I pulled over to the right-turning bay to give way to the traffic coming up the hill and turning left into Bentley Ave, as per the new rules. This particular day, the car at the head of the queue turning left, refused to move. I know the new law and also refused to go. Eventually, with a lot of hand waving, I gathered that a "give way" sign had been installed in Chartwell Rd, facing the left turning traffic. The trouble is that it is not the usual shape, being mounted on a rectangular back board. Could you please ask the authorities what possessed them to change the shape, by which it's possible for opposing traffic to know what the sign is and to point out the confusion it can cause. Will all familiar triangle shaped "give way" signs be replaced as well?

- Clare Russell, Lou Reddish, Gordon Brooke and Tracey Smith, Glenfield.

Auckland Transport is aware of the issue at this intersection and it is closely monitoring it.

A fluoro backing board was placed behind the "give way" sign to make it more visible to motorists approaching it. Unfortunately a square backing was placed behind the sign, which created some confusion for motorists turning right from Chartwell Ave.

Auckland Transport has promised to change the square backing board to the more familiar triangular one, and this should have been done by the end of last week.

The triangular give way signs are not all being replaced. Auckland Transport will put up square-backed signs at the few locations where visibility of the standard sign is a problem.

Devonport historian Paul Titchener has this to say about the Gold Hole:

Between 1890 and 1914, sulphur was mined at White Island. In 1914 a volcanic eruption destroyed the mining operation, and a number of workmen were killed. This finished the sulphur mining industry in New Zealand.

The sulphur from White Island was shipped to Northcote Point and stored in heaps at what was called Sulphur Beach, destroyed when the Harbour Bridge motorway was built .

In windy weather the dry sulphur dust was blown on to the harbour, and collected in the bay. This floating golden yellow mat of sulphur was very distinctive, and the locals of the time, called the bay "the gold hole".

By Phoebe Falconer

TK () | 10:06AM Sunday, 20 May 2012

I note that the Chartwell/Bentley Ave intersection has always been the same - there is clear

Ross (Titirangi) | 10:06AM Sunday, 20 May 2012

Looking at Google Street View heading up Chartwell, the Give Way sign is there, but it is indeed very hard to see. Because like so many others it is almost completely hidden in the trees. Surely somebody could have simply pruned the trees so that it could be seen? I'd love to know who was dim enough to actually put the sign on a square backing! I suppose they are still employed by Auckland Transport.

Jolyon Smith (Albany) | 03:12PM Tuesday, 29 May 2012

There is no issue at the Bentley Ave/Chartwell Ave [sic] intersection. Had your correspondent being paying proper attention to ALL of the signage for motorists, instead of speculating as to what might or might not be on the other side of a sign not intended for them, they would have seen the clear road markings indicating the give way instruction to traffic turning left from Chartwell.

Your correspondent would do well to brush up again on the road code that they profess to know so well, and perhaps take a refresher course in effective observation as a key component of driving skills.