Ask Phoebe: Jumping into bus lane only for those turning, not for beating the traffic

Heading out of town along Fanshawe St between Halsey and Beaumont Sts one sees many signs saying the left lane is a bus lane. In the middle of them a solitary sign says the left lane is for buses and left-turning traffic. Does this mean cars turning left from Fanshawe St into Beaumont St can jump into the bus lane to skip the evening traffic jam once they get past the Halsey St lights? Gary Lowndes, Henderson.

No. Since the changes to the Road User Rule, non-special vehicles may use a special-vehicle lane to turn left into a side road or property access only if this manoeuvre is undertaken within 50m. The sign you have noticed is now redundant. Auckland City Council is conducting a trial of signs, and the current sign will either be removed from the area or moved to a new location and modified to suit. The council is also investigating a trial to provide motorists with a 50m marker to indicate when they are permitted to enter the bus lane to make a left turn.

Four questions about the route I cycle every day along Great South Rd.

How long is a trade vehicle allowed to park in a bus lane during its stated bus-lane period? Sometimes car transporters will block the Great South Rd lane south of Greenlane Rd to offload vehicles. Can a vehicle use a bus lane for the permitted 50m and then go straight ahead at the intersection ahead? Great South Rd has only one lane heading north towards Greenlane Rd except for the last 100m or so, and it's tempting to use the bus lane and then not turn left. Do bus lane-permitted vehicles have priority over other vehicles wishing to use the bus lane? I've been honked at by a private car wanting to pass me

And finally, is there a default direction that traffic can be assumed to be going at T or Y intersections from a middle lane which allows both left and right turns? Only a small minority indicate in the middle lane when approaching the intersection of Great South Rd and Broadway. Pieter Watson, Auckland.

So nice to have a theme. So, in order,

* No vehicle may "park" in a bus lane during the bus-lane operating time.

* Under the definition of use, you are not able to use the bus lane except for completing a safe turning manoeuvre, or entering and exiting a driveway. So no, you may not use the bus lane and then not turn left.

* Buses, cycles, mopeds and motorcycles are the only vehicles allowed to use a bus lane. Other vehicles should be using the lane only to complete a safe turning manoeuvre, or to enter and exit a driveway, and should give way to permitted vehicles.

* And on the final query, when a lane is marked to be a shared left- and right-turn lane, courtesy prevails. Motorists should be signalling their intention and turning into their respective lane.

If you are going south on Trugood Drive in East Tamaki, towards the intersection of Trugood and Cryers Rd, you must stop and give way before turning right into Cryers Rd. Directly opposite Trugood, a long driveway leads to a trucking company and a packaging firm. A problem occurs when a truck or truck and trailer wants to pull out of the driveway and go straight across the intersection and down Trugood. I have seen several verbal altercations between truck drivers and cars as to who has right of way.

My understanding of the law is that, for the purposes of the give-way rule, the private driveway does not exist and vehicles approaching the intersection from Trugood would have right of way over any vehicle leaving the driveway, no matter what its size. John Higgins, Auckland.

You are correct, Mr Higgins. Might is not right. The give-way rules apply at intersections where there are no traffic lights, stop or give-way signs, or a pointsman. An intersection is defined as where two or more streets or roads cross or join, or where a public entrance or exit joins a street.

These include entrances and exits to supermarkets, gas stations and other public parking areas such as airports and hospitals. It does not include private driveways. The truckies must give way.