The give way rules changing at 5am on March 25 because of increasing injury accidents are a return to the pre 1977 rules.
When a similar rule change was introduced in Victoria in 1993, there was a 7.1 per cent decrease in intersection accidents.
When the current, left turning gives way to right turning, rules were introduced in 1977, there followed a 2.5 per cent increase in casualty crashes at intersections in the three years following the change.
That 1977 change was made was also made following the Australian State of Victoria, and it has taken New Zealand governments 30 years to realise the error.
On New Zealand roads intersection crashes currently account for 20 percent of fatal and serious injury crashes. The majority of fatal intersection crashes happen in rural areas, but most of the serious injury crashes are in urban areas.
The changes are also expected to make intersections closer for pedestrians and cyclists. The number of intersection crashes involving pedestrians hit by turning traffic has increased by 79 per cent since 2000. The NZ Transport Agency estimates the rule change will save one life and prevent 97 injuries -13 serious and 84 minor, each year.
The rule change also makes New Zealand roads friendlier for overseas educated drivers.
Rule one: From 5am on 25 March 2012, all traffic turning right gives 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 – or as it was taught before 1977, when turning right, give way to all traffic.
Rule Two: At an uncontrolled T-intersection, all traffic turning from a terminating road, the bottom of the T, will have to give way to all traffic on a continuing road. This will bring it into line with T-intersections where there are Stop or Give Way signs on the terminating road.
http://youtu.be/gpXAfPkogD4
6 comments
Hairsplitting!!
Posted on 17-03-2012 17:35 | By penguin
What applies if one is half way through a turn under the old rules when 5.00am arrives and the other driver calls "foul?" And whose clock/watch would be showing the correct time? Could make for some interesting court cases. Maybe we will all need to synchronise our clocks with Telecom time at midnight.
rule 2
Posted on 17-03-2012 18:56 | By hapukafin
My prediction is that rule 2 will create more accidents.
Finally
Posted on 17-03-2012 19:36 | By basmand
Finally! It was time to change this oakward rule. I expect more head-on crashes in the first period of change though, cause people who are used to the 1977 rule have to learn the new rule. It will take some casualties/deaths, but eventually it will save more casualties/deaths.
1977?
Posted on 18-03-2012 08:44 | By Capt_Kaveman
where does 1977 come from it was 1993 victoria introduced it for the trams and some idiot in NZ made it here it is and always was a dumb rule
Eazy peazy
Posted on 18-03-2012 14:19 | By Kin
As a Pom I've never seen the sense in the NZ rule so thank god it is changing to one that makes more sense, i.e. the British way. For those struggling to understand it, it is so easy - you don't turn right unless it is clear and that includes traffic turning across the front of you as in "Rule 2"! It's so logical only a fool could have thought to change it. Why it has taken 35 to revert back to the British way I cannot fathom. I know the old colonies like to do it their way when the apron strings are cut but there are some things that should just be left because it is the best way. Don't try and re-invent the wheel.
I guess reading is not possible in the cave
Posted on 18-03-2012 14:24 | By Kin
Hey Cavey, can you not read? 1977 comes from the article. NZ is returning to the rule it had pre 1977 before it was changed. Victoria changed BACK in 1993. It's simple English. Duh.
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