New give way rules: Rotorua examples

The new give way rules come into force at 5am tomorrow. Over the long term the New Zealand Transport Agency expects the new give way rules to reduce relevant intersection crashes by about seven per cent, preventing around 100 injuries and one fatality each year. The Daily Post visited Rotorua intersections to find out who would have to give way to who under the new rules.

Two new give way rules come into force at 5am tomorrow and Rotorua police are encouraging motorists to be patient as drivers adapt to the changes.

Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes of the Rotorua police said uncontrolled T intersections should be the easiest aspect of the new rules.

Under the new rules the car at the top of the T intersection has the right of way. Mr Grimes said a lot of people were already driving to that rule so it would be easy for people to get used to.

The other change is that if you are turning right you have to give way.

"That is the rule which I think some people will find confusing."

Mr Grimes said motorists needed to be patient when at an intersection.

"Take your time. It might take a few weeks for everyone to get used to the new rules so people just need to be patient. They need to make sure that whatever manoeuvre they make at an intersection they do it safely," he said.

"If people are unsure about the rules they should look at the New Zealand Transport Agency website which will be helpful to them."

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says it's important people take the time to brush up on the two new rules before they head out on the road tomorrow .

NZTA Chief Executive Geoff Dangerfield said the changes were simple but people needed to take responsibility for making sure they knew what the changes were. "There are plenty of good tools available, and we're urging people to take advantage of them and to spend a few minutes to review the new rules this weekend," he said.

"Our message for Sunday and beyond is simple - a little extra patience, caution and courtesy at intersections will go a long way."

Information on the two new rules and resources to help people learn them are available at www.giveway.govt.nz. This includes an interactive quiz, a computer'drive through' animation illustrating how the two new rules will work, the TV ads, and resources in multiple languages.

The NZTA is also urging people to not to start using the two new rules until 5am tomorrow because until then the current rules apply.

The Changes:

The left-turn versus right-turn rule: This new rule will require all traffic turning right to give way to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction and turning left. This applies at cross roads, T-intersections and driveways where both vehicles are facing each other with no signs or signals, or the same signs or signals.

At uncontrolled T-intersections ('uncontrolled' means when there are no signs or signals to tell you what to do): At an uncontrolled T-intersection, all traffic from a terminating road (bottom of the T) will have to give way to all traffic on a continuing road (top of the T). This will bring it into line with T-intersections where there are Stop or Give Way signs on the terminating road.

What Won't Change: Road users should continue to obey all road signs and signals.

If you are at an intersection controlled by a Give Way sign, you must give way to all other vehicles except those controlled by a Stop sign.

If you are turning, give way to all vehicles not turning. Note: If the road is marked with a centre line, you are deemed to be turning if you leave the path of the centre line. If you follow the path of the centre line, you are deemed to be not turning.

If all other give way rules (or signs or signals) do not determine who gives way, give way to vehicles coming from your right. (An example of this is at crossroads controlled by traffic signals when the signals have failed and all approaches have a flashing yellow light.) Rotorua motorists are being urged to take extra care on the rules while drivers get used to the new give way rules.