Ask Phoebe: Noise pollution unfortunate extra of living in city's specially designated transport corridors

Therefore driver education and voluntary management of heavy vehicle noise is advocated for before imposing full bans. Photo / Dean Purcell

Is there no restriction on noisy trucks passing through residential streets in Auckland suburban areas? Or any requirement not to use air braking systems within these areas, as there is in many rural townships? Container-laden trucks particularly, often articulated, presumably en route to and from the airport, thunder up and down Manukau/Pah Rds at all hours of the day and night - but are especially noticeable in the early hours of the morning, from 3am onwards. In particular, those heading south decelerate as they approach the traffic lights at Mt Albert Rd, with the noisy application of air brakes, and then the equally loud acceleration noises as they start up again and plough on through the traffic lights. While it is pretty much constant throughout any given day, it is the night-time noisy trucks that are really disruptive and upsetting. General traffic noise is accepted - we do live on a main thoroughfare - but can something not be done to limit the noise pollution from these noisy beasts? I appreciate that freight has to be moved, but at what cost through residential neighbourhoods? And why no noise restrictions or limiting measures? John Bryant, Royal Oak

Manukau Rd and Pah Rd are both arterial roads and are designed to cope with significant heavy vehicle volumes.

Pah Rd and the section of Manukau Rd north of Pah Rd to Green Lane West are also designated as a route for vehicles which are "over dimension". Because of their status these corridors and other arterial routes will experience increased levels of noise.

Auckland Transport staff say they will talk to the National Road Carriers Association to highlight the specific complaint over late-night noise at the intersection of Manukau and Mt Albert rds.

At specific locations engine braking can be restricted.

Engine braking provides the fastest stopping mechanism for heavy vehicles and any restriction needs to consider effects on general road safety. Therefore driver education and voluntary management of heavy vehicle noise is advocated for before imposing full bans.

Please could you help resolve a family debate over the give way rules at the intersection of School and Edmonton Rds in Te Atatu? In short, does the traffic turning left into School Rd from Edmonton Rd have to give way to right-turning traffic entering from Edmonton Rd? Part of the family think the law says, no you don't have to give way, and other parts of the family say the triangle-shaped refuge island allows a vehicle to turn right into School Rd creating a "no man's land", thus negating the requirement for the right-turning traffic to give way. It appears many drivers are not sure as there is a lot of "you go", "no you go" gesticulation at the intersection. Hamish Firth, Te Atatu.

Since March 2012 the rule has been that if you are turning right in a situation such as this and the opposing vehicle is turning left, the right-turning vehicle must give way. The placement of the traffic island doesn't change this rule, in this case.