It is now more than two years since the rule dealing with priorities at intersections was changed, when "give way to right-turning traffic" was changed to "give way to left-turning traffic". Are there any statistics to show what difference the rule change has made to the numbers or severity of intersection accidents? Terry Mills, Auckland.
The Transport Agency says its crash analysis system does not hold data that would allow it to say with certainty which crashes were caused by drivers not obeying the new give way rules introduced in March 2012. It has, however, collated data from crashes at intersections that involved turning manoeuvres affected by the new rules. This nationwide data is shown in the tables above right: The first table relates to crashes in which drivers were making turning manoeuvres affected by the rule change, which changed the driver who is required to give way. These are the crashes most likely to be caused by confusion over the rule changes. However, the Transport Agency cannot tell if the rule changes or some other factor caused the crash.
The second table refers to crashes in which a driver making a right turn and an oncoming vehicle have collided. The Transport Agency says there has been an overall reduction in the number of crashes because the rule change has reduced confusion and makes it clear that the right-turning driver now has to give way regardless of what the other vehicle does.
The big bay where Napier and Gisborne are located is known on all charts and maps as Hawke Bay so why is it always referred to as Hawkes Bay? A picture of a cake in a recent Herald states a bakery in Hawkes Bay so it would appear the Herald editors/writers can't get it correct either. TVNZ also refers to it as Hawkes Bay during their weather report. Can you please confirm what is correct or is it something that has crept in over the years? Ian Langley, Auckland.
As I understand it, the bay itself, containing the ocean, is Hawke Bay, named by Captain Cook after the British First Lord of the Admiralty of the day. The term Hawkes Bay has crept in over time, and generally refers to the land part. And - ahem - Gisborne is in Poverty Bay, not Hawkes Bay, as any proud Gisburnian will tell you. You might have been thinking of Hastings?
