Wairarapa police say drivers should be well aware of the new give-way rules when they come into force tomorrow morning.
But some locals said they still need to study up on the changes, and will be driving cautiously in the next few days.
Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr, of Masterton, said police out and about this weekend would be patrolling intersections.
He said there would be little lenience for drivers caught breaking the new rules.
"The changes have been well publicised so police are expecting everyone to know them," he said.
"Despite this, we are asking motorists to be extra careful at intersections until all the changes are imbedded into motorists' driving behaviour.
"Motorists need to be aware that if they crash as a result of breaking the new road rules they will be liable for prosecution."
Masterton's Villa St-Lincoln Rd intersection has been used in safety messages from Wairarapa Road Safety Council.
Lincoln Rd resident of 16 years, Christine Meyer, said there had been heaps of accidents there over the years, and she didn't believe the new rules would change the behaviour of drivers. "It's going to cause a lot of accidents to start off with, I reckon," she said.
Other Masterton residents said they weren't as prepared for the rule change as they could be. Robert McLeod said he intended to study the lift-out published in Midweek on the rule change this weekend. "But I've seen the ads on telly and it's a bit different to what I expected, some of it, like the T rule," he said.
"I don't want to be crashing into anyone though. I hope they keep the rule and stick with it this time."
Shirley Groombridge said she would be taking advantage of help offered at the Wairarapa Community Centre on the changes. She has also read up on the rules online. "We'll need to watch for other people because we don't know they're aware of it," she said. "We'll just have to take it a bit slower."
New Zealand Transport Agency is urging people not to start using the two new rules until 5am tomorrow. "Our message for Sunday and beyond is simple: A little extra patience, caution and courtesy at intersections will go a long way," said chief executive Geoff Dangerfield.