I’ve been having a soul-search over the last few days.
Some of what I’ve previously written seems to have upset a few. Not as many as those who have enjoyed it, but still, it keeps me awake at night for a couple of extra minutes.
So, I’ve decided to make it up. I’m going to try to use this blog to bring a positive change to New Zealand.
In fact, I’m going to solve the biggest problem facing NZ today.
You might be thinking the credit crunch, crime, poverty, homelessness, or global warming.
But you’d be wrong. These are the boring generic problems found everywhere. The Chatham Islands might disagree on that last point, but still.
Maybe you’re thinking of something closer to home: leaky houses, low wages, John Key’s vacant grin, Jesse Ryder’s BMI, or John Henry’s rotation policy
But no, I’m talking about the abomination that is the New Zealand right-hand-turn rule.
This piece of ludicrous legislation has been a constant source of annoyance and danger every single day of my life since moving here.
Now, I know I’ve previously been a tad critical of the relative abilities of drivers in NZ. However in this case it’s really not them that’s at fault, but rather the idiot lawmakers that have imposed this stupidity. It doesn’t help of course that 42% of NZ drivers cannot use roundabouts, but in this case, they shouldn’t be the main target of the blame.
I’m absolutely certain that this is an issue that every motorist can agree on, whether you’re a born-and-bred Kiwi, or a half-wit Australian blogger.
For the uninitiated, let me explain. Consider the following intersection:
Now, a quick quiz:
In what order should the cars proceed in their desired direction?
A) Blue, yellow, red
B) Red, blue, yellow
Got your answer? Good.
The correct response, if you’re driving in NZ, would be *drumroll* B.
I know: ridiculous, ay bro?
Still not clear? Let me show you just why this is nuts.
This is what can, and does, happen. True story.
To further understand why the laws are wrong, let’s get inside the minds of the drivers in each car.
Blue car – “Righty-oh then, I’d better give way to the red chap. Unless of course the yellow fellow behind me is planning on slipping past my rear, in which case I could in fact turn left.”
Red car – “Shut bro, I’ve got the right of way here, but I dunno what this dude in the yellow Mutsubushi is planning to do.”
Yellow car – “If this little prick in front just nudges ahead three more inches I’m gonna floor it and screw anyone who gets in the way.”
See the issue? nobody knows what the hell is going on.
And what follows is a game of chicken. It’s the scene out of Dirty Harry: just who is feeling lucky, punk? Honestly, when the light turn green at an intersection in NZ, there is a full second pause when everyone is just too scared to move a muscle.
Still need convincing? Let’s weight up the pros and cons of this debacle:
Pros: Absolutely nought.
Cons: Ambiguous, illogical, dangerous.
The better way for the vehicles to proceed is of course blue, yellow, red.The right-turner gives way to all traffic coming in the other direction. Clear and easy. The left-turner has the right of way, and thus there is no need for the car behind to slip around the side, as she only has to wait a second before they can go.
Once again, the pros and cons:
Pros: Unambiguous, logical, safe, and it works.
Cons: Occasionally it sucks to be the one turning right. Solution: have a separate “right-turn” light at the busier intersections. Solved.
Now I’m not suggesting that this way is better simply because it the sane Australian way. It’s just plain better, full stop. I’ve proven it. Semi-scientifically. With diagrams and everything.
What I’d like to know from you guys is, are there any redeeming features of the NZ way that I’m missing? Is there anything at all to be said for the status-quo? I sure as shit can’t see it.
Ed said
This is great. I’ve lived in NZ for a few years in the mid 1990s. I just lost count how many times I could have been killed thanks to the NZ right-hand-turn rule. I also lost count of the number of fingers the red car driver had shown me when I was driving the blue car forgetting this stupid rule. Believe me my palms are sweating right now when I think of all the close calls I have been in.
At the time I thought maybe this was how people drove in NZ AND Aussie (I’m from Asia originally), but apparently it wasn’t after I got a chance to visit Sydney many years later.
During my stay in NZ, I must have brought up this issue with everybody I knew, and the thing was, after I got them to understand how people from the rest of the world drove, they were all like, oh it makes so much more sense and things like that. But then they carried on sticking to the stupid rule and did nothing, didn’t even bother to talk to their local MP. And they continued to read in the papers every Monday morning about death toll on the road from the weekend like it was sports score. I’m not saying the right-hand-rule is the cause of every accident, but I’m certain quite many people would have been alive today if not for this rule.
Don’t get me wrong, I love NZ and the people there, and I still consider myself fortunate to have lived there. But still someone have got to wake them up and tell them it’s good to be proud of your country and everything but sometimes you just need to swallow your pride and do things like the rest of the world do, when they make more sense.
Keep up the good work, mate!
donnasoowho said
I suspect that taking the bait (when I feel sleepy) is a bad idea but I can’t resist saying that I fairly much think the exact opposite of you every time I drive/ride (as a kiwi living in Australia) about how dangerous the Australian version of the road rules is – because it leaves (the red car) hanging out in the middle of the stream of traffic without any priority to move out of the most dangerous position in the middle of the intersection. I also think it can also be argued that the yellow car has the right of way (as is going straight ahead), therefore the blue car probably has time to slow down and turn the corner before the red car. The primary advantage of NZ’s give way rules is that they are entirely consistent in all situations (give way to the right and those turning right) so you always know if something is on your right – you have to give way which is arguably more intuitive. Although I seem to recall that there isn’t a lot of evidence to support that either way is particularly more effective than the other at reducing crash rates at intersections (many older kiwis – like my parents, still mourn for the days of the ‘whip around the corner’ rule) but I suspect it ain’t gonna change back.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Apart from – there are rubbish drivers everywhere.
jake the muss eats way too much kina and paua said
lmao. dont most crossroads have a lane going eachway and stop signs on both other sides?if not,then give way right..
Robert said
When I first learned to drive in Melbourne, Australia, in 1986, the rule here was the same as in New Zealand.
I recall it was a pesky extra rule to remember, but I don’t recall too many actual problems in reality. At that time I believe Victoria was the only state of Australia with this rule. The law was changed in the early 1990s to bring Victorian road rules into closer alignment with the other States of Australia. Now left turners always have the right of way.
Elle said
Laughs … pictures speak a thousand words … I actually prefer the NZ way, but I drive defensively just the same. I do not assume the yellow driver is going to wait for me to go (saying I am Ms Red). Infact I view the yellow car as having first dibs on the right of way as it is on the straight road. On a busy road this means that the blue car could whip around the corner as I wait for the great line of yellows to pass. They have my blessing to do this after pausing long enough to ascertain that I cannot move just yet because of said line of yellow cars. That’s how I was taught, and few roads are so narrow that yellow could not get passed blue easily, so no problem! I have never had so much of a close call with this so maybe it is your driving that causes the confusion … hmmm? … grins, funny but.
GSX1400 said
Ha! You reckon our intersections are bad when you’re driving? Try riding a bike sometime! (One with a motor not one of those strange pedal powered ones). Even though my bike has a headlight bigger and brighter than the sun I’ve lost count of the number of times cars have turned in front of me even when I’m going straight ahead! Apparently I’m either invisible or the average car driver assumes that he has right of way over anything smaller than his car.
Love the blog, keep up the good work.
admin said
Ed – I’ve had the same discussions with people. Seems to somehow make sense to the locals.
Donna – I’ll admit that they are consistent, in a way. But the rules simply break down at intersections.
Jake – Good point, but I was actually referring to intersections with traffic lights. Can’t draw them properly though :(
Robert – Didn’t know Vic used to have this law. Heartening that it was changed though.
Elle – Defensive driving is a MUST here. Don’t get me started on indication. It’s the law, not just a friendly suggestion!
GSX1400 – I’m sure what you’re saying is true, however to NZer’s credit, they are more considerate of cyclists (the pedal ones) than in Aus, IMHO. I think because they’re such fitness freaks. Anyone have stats on bike ownership in NZ?
ausois said
Apparently when Victoria had the give way to the right rule it was hoped the rest of Australia would follow. The process of making, or keeping Australian road rules consistent meant ultimately Victoria had to drop it and get into line.
NZ has no land borders and has a consistent rule that works when you understand it I believe. It gives me the heeby-geebies every time I come back to the “Land of the give way to the right cloud” for a while … AND every rental car agency gives you a pre-drive lecture on it in my experience.
So maybe it is one of those adjustment things and you’ll soon be over it Mr Master Blogger. Heck when I first came to Oz I thought my kids could start school on their fifth birthday wearing mufti – we were marched off to the local pre-school. Adjustment is a two to three year process and even then you still get surprises IMO.
lovelycate said
I’m an ex-pat kiwi and have lived in Melbourne for 6 years now. I gradually made the adjustment to the weird ‘don’t give way to the right, unless you’re at a roundabout’ rule – not before getting some very rude gestures from the charming drivers sharing the road with me. Now I have problems when I return ‘home’ and have to readjust my radar.
Like others have said, there are crap drivers everywhere, and I have to say I’ve come across some seriously scary road behaviour while I’ve been here. And there certainly seem to be a lot more very serious road accidents here than in noozild!
Anyhoo, I still love it here. I rickon once you’ve got through the teething pains of moving to a country where *theoretically* they speak the same language, but in reality it’s a whole new dialect, and you move past the initial influx of stereotypical comments and ‘jokes’, you’ll be grouse mate!
Just to throw something else into the mix – I actually really like the hook turn thing here. People – even born and bred locals – seem to freak out about it, but damn it works and it makes sense (in my tortured brain at least).
Robert said
The comments here to me show that the difference between, say, Melbourne and somewhere in New Zealand, would be similar to the differences between Melbourne and somewhere interstate in Australia… Only Melbourne has hook turns. Victoria once was unique in having that different left turn rule. and though no one commenting here notes this at all, slang differs from one Australian state to the other. (Similar to the rest of the world – slang does not necessarily follow political boundaries.) Some say the accent differs in places too.
“Grouse” is occasionaly heard in Australia, but it is a fad term from the late 1970s (like “groovy” or “neat”); a few people of the right age still say it, but the majority of Australians would never say it. I have heard many Australians from outside Melbourne insist it is never said in their region, and that it is a Melbourne-specific term.
People elsewhere in Australia seem horrified by the concept of a hook turn and assume that every intersection in Melbourne has them. They are actually rare, and where they do occur are heavily signposted.
I have travelled across Australia and to New Zealand. To me, the number of difference between Melbourne and Darwin would probably be similar to the number of differences between Melbourne and Christchurch.
Motella said
Ki or Ra?
Love your work!
Rhonda from NZ said
When I started reading I was thinking ‘no way that’s not right, you’ve got it all wrong about who gives way.’ But as I read on I realised you did have it absolutely right and I laughed. Your little dialogue about what the drivers are thinking is exactly what I think when in each of those situations. And I didn’t miss your subtle dig about our accent in there either, ’shut’. This post made me laugh the most. I appreciate it.
Bundy said
You forgot to throw in the added confusion of putting some pedestrians crossing at the lights so that everyone has to give way to them and the fact that half the drivers here forget to indicate anyway until the last possible nano second when they are already half way across your lane. You normally have two options if you are the red or blue driver. Either stop until no other cars are in the area, or go as fast as you can before anyone else reacts and put your hand up in an apologetic wave. The fact that NZ is the only country in the world driving on the left to have this rule doesn’t help either.
And Robert, don’t get anyone started on hook turns!! For those who don’t know, a hook turn is performed at an intersection to turn right, however it can only be done from the furthest left hand lane. WTF is with that?!? Left hand lane to turn right??
admin said
Robert – You’re far too sensible about things. Where’s the ill-informed knee-jerk reaction?
Rhonda – I should be right, this issues been gnawing at me for 12+ months. Trust me, I’ve thought about it.
Bundy – You’re right, the only two possible approaches are to be ultra-careful, or close your eyes and floor it. There is no middle ground.
As for hook turns, I’ve not lived anywhere where they’ve been used. BUT, I know people who have, and they swear by them.
Tom said
There’s some interesting research suggesting that the more ‘chaotic’ and less governed intersections are (my summary at least), the safer they are as then drivers have to communicate be cautious rather than assuming things.
99% of intersections I ever come across in NZ or Aus are controlled by signs or lights anyway but I do prefer the NZ way.
admin said
For those that say they prefer the NZ way, put aside the fact that it’s what you’re used to.
Objectively, how is it better than the alternative I’ve described above?
In my mind the simple fact that’s it’s ambiguous as to who should go first simply makes it unsuitable and just plain wrong.
I’m happy to be convinced otherwise. But it’ll take some doing.
Also see here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_New_Zealand#Give_way_to_the_right
NZ is the only left-hand-driving country to have this rule. All the others go the sane way.
admin said
Tom – Do you have a link to this research?
Clairzilla said
Some scary shit… I’m so glad we don’t have this rule in Aussie. I don’t know how many times I almost crashed in NZ
brett nimmo said
so you havent driven in adelaide then have you……………..
Roger said
this is exactly what makes living in NZ exciting mate! makes you feel alive after another narrow escape. keeps the blood pumping.
Lt said
the reason for the right-hand turn rule is a bit obvious if it wasn’t there only one car per phase turning right would ever get through at major intersections during the amber light. And it takes only the slightest bit of intelligence for the guy in the red car to be able to tell whether or not there’s enough room for yellow to get past and so whether or not to hold back. I do agree Auckland is a soulless city with pathetic public transport and far too many hills, Christchurch is awesome doesn’t it just make so much more sense to build a city on a plain.
jake the muss eats way too much kina and paua said
yeh,but you have to get that the yellow car can easily go around the blue car.NZ does not have skinny roads like most part of australia citys do.for example: the yellow car can easily go around the blue car making the red car wait,if the red car pulled out in front of the blue and yellow car they must be as blind as one of them hairless tunnel moles,lol
exausinnz said
i think its pointless trying to convince people that their road rules are illogical. Both because if you’re a foreigner telling a kiwi they are doing something wrong you’re outcast as an arrogant aussie, but also can you IMAGINE how confusing intersections would be if you suddenly changed that rule out? Every car in your diagram would be wondering if the other person was up to date with the rules and it will all come to a grinding halt.
but just to back up your thoughts, while I was driving there for almost 2 years, I found constantly while I was the “blue car” I had to look at the red car, and get ready to give way, but then start looking in my rear vision mirror to decide if mr yellow was going to blow past, instead of looking ahead at where I was turning.
its definately “different” and illogical, but changing it from what so many generations of kiwis are used to would cause more accidents I’d say than it would save.
Robert said
Thanks admin I’ve no major issues I guess. Have never lived in New Zealand and I think visiting as a tourist is wonderful.
exausinnz they did change this rule in Victoria, Australia, where we originally used the New Zealand system. There was many months warning, lots of publicity including TV adverts with green and red arrows showing the change, and yes people managed. People on Victoria weren’t too traumatised because many already understood the ‘other’ was from driving interstate in Australia. (Sweden switched from driving on the left to driving on the right, overnight.)
The comment about skinny roads is funny. Much of Australia has ridiculously wide streets. I’m from Melbourne and had often heard Sydney had narrow streets. Well, many are narrower than Melbourne’s at just four lanes without the two lanes for parking and two lanes for trams and two lanes for trees, but they weren’t narrow! As opposed to NZ “highways” which are single carriageway running one lane each direction.
Linda said
Hey there!
What a true story about this intersection! :) I’m a backpacker and have been driving around NZ for more than 3 months now, and that rule at that intersection is very confusing indeed.
May I add that I found your blog through the NZ Herald, who wrote about two Australians’ blog (you know, the small riot). First thing I did was check out your blog, seeing with my orwn eyes if it was that bad. I think if you read one blog entry, you already see that you guys are just being quick-witted and ironic. So now your blog is in my bookmarks and I love reading it! I recognise a lot of it, travelling around NZ.
p.s. I’m going to Australia too.. Any advice? ;-)
simon said
Sounds silly. As an Aussie living in Canada I can vouch that people here aren’t as good with roundabouts either. They also do plenty of other weird things. Say you are standing on the side of the road waiting for a lull in traffic so you can cross, cars will actually stop in the middle of the road and wait for you to cross. It does not matter if it is a busy four lane road and they are completely disrupting the flow of traffic (and you can’t just count on the other direction somehow seeing you and stopping for you too), or if they are the only/last car on the road and you could have easily walked behind them.
If people do this to me I just stare at them blankly and wait for them to keep going, purely out of spite.
rightsidechick said
I so totally agree! This rule’s just silly. It makes sense when yours and everybody else s steering wheel’s on the left side! Get rid of it asap!
kiwiinindo said
Biased as it is, it really does seem to work, I know a lot of old people complain about it and waft on about the old days. What annoys me is the inconsistency of its applications in relation to traffic coming from the right at a supermarket etc when you are turning right. If you are coming in from the main road into the supermarket you should give way to the car coming out of the supermarket and turning right. Yet 9 times out of ten the other car looks at you blankly and waits for you to turn in.
I would be keen to see the research on uncontrolled intersections. It does kind of make sense, especially seeing I spend most of my time in Indonesia now where driving is absolutely bonkers. But it works, bloody scary for the un-initiated but in nearly a year here I have never seen a car accident or even a fender-bender.
BTW love the blog, have quite a few aussies at work and we love poking fun at each others cultures.
Paul said
I’m like the yellow driver (I dont mean an asian, cos I dont crash, I mean the driver of the yellow car)
Adrian said
Only the kiwis seem to think this is a good idea. That figures. When I bring up the stupidity of this rule with my fellow kiwi work mates the reply from them is, “if you dont like ur laws mate, the go back to where you came from”
So much for constructive critisim. Ignorant fools
Dirk said
This is to all you ‘yellow car’ drivers out there, including the blogger:
Before passing, always ask yourself ‘is it really necessary to pass?’ Don’t pass just because you are feeling impatient with the car in front – that’s often when accidents happen.
(From the NZ road code actually)
admin said
You’re spot on Dirk. Just about all of the confusion is caused by the yellow car.
I’ve seen people go to extraordinary lengths to get around the blue car just to get moving 5 seconds quicker.
The trouble is, human nature being what it is and all, this is always going to happen. And the rules of the road allow for it to happen. Whereas if the red car is giving way to all oncoming (including left-turning) traffic, there’s no confusion.
Dirk said
Well, make it illegal to pass a turning car in the same lane – problem solved.
In the end of the day I don’t care which rule applies, as long as everybody adheres to it.
However, I’ve come to appreciate the current rule being in the ‘red car’ during heavy weekend or rush hour traffic. I don’t think that I would be able to turn into my street otherwise.
BTW, I normally don’t comment on other people’s blogs but I think yours is brilliant. People need to learn how to laugh at themselves again.
I only wish that one of those Kiwi expats in Oz would do something similar on Australians. But they just seem to be glad not to have to live in NZ any more – mainly because of the right-of-way rule or so it seems.
val said
just a question…as you seem to love putting new zealand and new zealanders down….why are you living in new zealand…
i am a kiwi living in aussie and i would never ever consider putting the country down that i choose to live in…..i may get the kiwi and sheep jokes thrown at me and even the way i say the number six….however i have never put aussie down and i think you are a idiot that new zealand does not need….so head back to aussie so i can ignore you and your stupid website :P
admin said
Dirk, it probably is illegal. Either way, don’t think it’d make a jot of difference as to what people actually do in reality.
Another thought: if the right-turner has the right of way, why do they still have the right-hand slip lanes for them to pull into?
And yes, we need to find a Kiwi blogger who’s living in Aus. Anyone know of someone?
admin said
Val,
You realise you can ignore my site anyway, right? It actually takes action on your part to come here.
I think deep down you and I both know that secretly you love this site. Am I right?
Grant said
http://www.fastandsafe.org.nz/Pages/Media/EndOfTrafficLights.htm
The research that Tom was referring to is at the above address.
Based on that, it would make th Gold Coast the most unsafe place to drive. I have never encountered so many traffic lights in my life. I figure the nutcase who invested the traffic light must have retired there and they keep on erecting monuments in his memory. I swear, I drove down one street and by the time I drove back down it 10 minutes later another set of lights had gone in.
I reckon that instead of Defensive Driving, people should be given remedial courses in Considerate Driving. Habits such as using indicators, travelling at the speed limit when the conditions allow, and pulling over to the left when your vehicle is incapable of reaching the speed limit is required. Indicators would help enormously in the right hand rule situation, as 90% of the time the car turning left hasn’t indicated they are turning left, and the bozo in the yellow car is sitting way out towards the centre line with the intention of performing a magical “slingshot left turn manoeuvre too so the poor guy in the Red car ends up getting shunted from the rear while he tries to tune his ESP. Courtesy and consideration are the answer.
admin said
Hi Grant,
Thanks for the link. To summarise, what they’re claiming is that by removing traffic lights, it forces people to drive more carefully, and therefore be more considerate or other road users, which leads to safer roads.
I can see the logic, but wonder if it’d work in practice?
The ambiguity of the NZ system certainly makes motorists take responsibility for their own safety. Like I said, and I’m not exaggerating, when the lights turn green here, there is a definite pause before any cars start to move.
It’s just that I’ve seen the “system” break down on so many occasions, simply because nobody *really* knows when it’s safe to cross and intersection.
Also, as described here: http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_New_Zealand#Give_way_to_the_right NZ is the only major left-side-driving country to have this rule. I know NZ likes to be unique, but surely that fact alone is saying something?
Anyway, I agree about the considerate driving suggestion, but I reckon some sort of compulsory defensive driving for learner drivers has a lot to be said for it.
Along with not letting 15.5 year olds get behind the wheel unaccompanied. Still can’t quite get my head around that one.
kiwiinindo said
Letting 15.5 year old loose on the road is a hallmark from times gone by, when it was necessary for farmer’s children to able to drive into town and pick up stuff. Politically its been difficult to change this situation. However, you now have to stay longer on the restricted licence now before getting the full than in the past. Admittedly still no where near as tough as the Aussie system.
To be honest though 15.5 year olds are the least of the worries on NZ roads.
Fred McDagg said
“42% of NZ drivers cannot use roundabouts”
This used to be true until they changed the rules a year or two ago, about indicating left before exiting the roundabout.
It’s now shot up to around 98%. It’s a daily pastime of mine to count the near misses or general dithering around this has caused as people don’t understand how they are supposed to indicate.
There are old ducks indicating left to go straight ahead (very dangerous), twits indicating left then right and still going straight ahead (dangerous and stupid) and a multitude of other combinations.
It would be funny if it weren’t so bloody scary.
This is what happens when the rules change and nobody really understands the original rule, the new one or reason for the change.
I think you should just do what I’ve done, when in Rome… Just remember to be on your guard.
Actually maybe this is why Kiwis have such a carefree attitude to life; they live every day as if it were their last. There’s a strong chance it could be if they drive everyday.
Grant said
I disagree about the 15.5 year olds being let loose on the road. I have just been through the process of getting my eldest through to his full license. He’s a very able and considerate driver – A lot better than a lot of hopeless 25 year olds. [The law is an ass in that it says that anyone older than 15 is capable of driving, and everyone under 15 is incapable, when in fact that is patently not the case.]
Kids need to start to learn to drive as soon as they can see over the steering wheel. Get all the mechanics of driving out of the way in a paddock before they are obnoxious 17 to 20 year olds (who by virtue of their age “know everything and are therefore unteachable).
A lot of this comes down to being responsible. As a parent is it my responsibility to train my kids to be valuable members of society. If my son was a loony behind the wheel I’d stop him driving. He know when he was on his restricted license that if he breached any of the conditions, then he would be right back to the Learners (‘L’ plates and all).
If more of those teaching kids to drive were capable drivers and understood their responsibilities as parents, there would be fewer problems also.
Rufus said
I say introduce the good old “MELBOURNIAN DOG’s LEG TURN” at every major CBD intersection on a tram path… think of all the carnage that would cause..Now that’s gotta be one of the most unusual driving experiences I have ever had.
However, it still doesn’t beat the “Magic Roundabout” in Hemel Hempstead, UK for those real driving nutters. 9 mini roundabouts around a major roundabout – I’m sure the town planner who thought that up must have been a Morris Dancer in a former life.
Whilst I’m at it, all those drivers who thing they can multitask a cellphone and driving at the same time should be hung, drawn and quartered up a cellular tower. How many times have I followed behind a car and seen the familiar lean of the head to one side, a wave of the arms, and slightly erratic driving at 45kmph in a 70kmph zone. Get real, and get a blue tooth!
And another thing. Why do drivers of luxury vehicles insist on parking in disabled and pram carparks? Are they mentally retarded, plain blind or just stupid? Does stupidity even count as a disability?
Enough for now… it’s hard trying to type on my Blackberry whilst cruising the motorway at 100kmph…
Larrissa said
I work for the automobile association of NZ and if that yellow car is going straight ahead he has right of way, he goes first and as he goes straight ahead the blue car would turn and then the red one but if the blue car isnt quick enough to go when the yellow one goes straight ahead then the red has right of way, my friend you need a road code coz you got that all wrong. The reason people die in accidents like that is because they also havnt read the road code…
Jodes said
Wow. An interesting point brought up, and so many different opinions.
I’m a Kiwi living in Melbourne,and think you forgot a colour.
The green car sitting behind the red car, cos it’s waiting for the red car to turn. How many cars need to be backed up behind the red car, because it can’t get across the road? Especially if it’s a busy and narrow road! it makes it even more dangerous, because that’s when people start getting patient and decide to overtake the ‘red’ car. Believe me – I’ve seen it done over here! So yeah – it’s not just kiwi drivers that are crazy!
I’m like Linda, saw the article on Stuff about the blog and had to check it out for myself. I love it. I’ve put it on my favourites and love the updates.
Great work.
admin said
Larrissa,
I think my artistic skills might be to blame here. The point is, the yellow car should not slip past the blue car, as there shouldn’t be room. However there usually is, and it causes no end of confusion as to who actually has right of way. The poor dud in the red car doesn’t know what the yellow car is going to do, and so has to pause and wait to see, adding to the chaos.
admin said
Hi Jodes,
Welcome aboard.
People who have come here via the media beat-up (that’s all of them) have either been disappointed that this blog is such a bunch of crap, of have got a giggle out of it. Pleased you one of the latter.
Jodes said
That last comment was meant to be it’s when people start getting IMPATIENT, not patient. Sorry.
admin said
Jodes,
I have enough trouble making sense of the scenario presented. Adding another car would blow my mind.
Also – There are now almost 50 comments and there is no consensus on the merits of the rules as they currently stand, let along how they’re actually supposed to work. Ergo, they are stupid.
Jodes said
Maybe we should just be flying!
admin said
Well, Beyond 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_2000) did promise us flying cars by 2000. For the sake of NZ motorists, I hope they come sooner rather than later.
chinachopper said
val is one hilarious person. would never slag an aussie off, then sails into the expats .
re; the nz blogger in oz. when will the kiwis get it. we dont mind/ care/ give a toss.bring it on. go for ut . the thin skin is as much a kiwi trait as the anti- accent. make sure your blogger uses the name convicts, or underarms or something that fires up the kiwis. nz barely raises a mention in oz, but surely its time for someone funny to poke their head up from there . a little unnder represented in the humour stakes huh? the wonderful conchords excepted. actually piggy muldoon was a crack up. every time i rib my kiwi mate croydie about his weird accent he goes all po-faced and spruiks like some vowel challenged parrot. ‘ectually, we speak the most pure form of unglish on the plinnet.and we dont hev an icc-sunt’ never fails to crack me up.
Karen said
Well, I just stop and wait for every car, bike and truck to turn before I do. I figure it is best to leave my slick driver ego at home, let them gesticulate and be safe rather than sorry.
Ken said
Robert, funny thing about Sweden is that their cars were always left hand drive, even when they drove on the left, so that made the changeover much easier than it would be in NZ, Australia, or the UK. Samoa is going to change from right to left in September supposedly to make things easier for Samoans coming back from NZ or Australia – but most of their cars are left hand drive.
NZ Chuck Norris | Fush ‘n’ Chups said
[...] NZ intersections, everyone gives way to Chuck Norris. If the yellow car tries his shit, Chuck Norris will roundhouse kick him in the [...]
Fush 'n' Chups said
[...] sense might prevail with New Zealand’s insane right-hand-turn rule. Right-hand rule not the right [...]
RayTaylor said
I like the NZ system
Having driven in both aussie on various holidays (not melbourne) and learned to drive in NZ, it is much nicer.
There is *always* space for this to happen in this order – if not, a giveway sign is posted, or cars simply back up – no problem.
The process is something like this
1) Blue leaving centreline to left – in giveway mode
2) Yellow following his centreline – has right of way. If cannot pass, will stop.
3) Red leaving centreline to right – in give way mode
That eliminates the yellow car out of the equasion. Yellow has either gone or stopped.
4) Blue sees yellow passing. This means that he can turn left as red will still give way to yellow following the centreline. There is time to turn before he has to be back in give way mode
or
4) Yellow has already passed or yellow has stopped. Blue must allow Red to turn.
Blue is now out of the equasion
5) If blue is still there, he sees blue waiting for him to go. Otherwise he must be still giving way to yellow.
If you are turning left, you give way to people turning to their right. Unless you see they are giving way to someone else, then you might as well go.
Ray Taylor said
Repost of the main point
If you are turning left, you give way to people turning to their right. Unless you see they are giving way to someone else, then you might as well go.
In all situations, if you are following your centreline and its not a roundabout then you have right of way
This second post is so i can switch on email notifications
fushnchupsblog said
Ray,
The problem is with the hesitation of the yellow car. Initially he doesn’t have room to maneuver around the blue car. But then the lights change to green and the blue guy starts nudging forward, wondering if the red car is going or giving way. The red car can see this happening, and waits, just in case Mr Yellow takes off.
Like I said in the post, it ends up a complete standoff.
Eventually what seems to happen is one of the three drivers just decides “bugger it” and goes. Which one that is seems to be pretty random.
The benefit of the Aussie (and rest of the world) system is that there is no ambiguity like there is here. There is absolutely no question as to who should go first. Surely that’s what you want in a traffic rule?
scott said
Just wanted to add that as far as I know the actual rule with roundabouts in Australia is that the car that has already entered the roundabout has right of way. Yes i know they will always be coming from the right anyway but the actual rule is not that they have right of way because solely because they’re coming from the right.
The only time you would actually need to make the distinction between the two meantioned above is when you have those tiny roundabouts in suburban streets. Typically, like most people here, I tend to follow the give way to your right rule on tiny suburban roundabouts just for safety’s sake. Some of these roundabouts are about as big as a pot plant and you don’t really need to slow down even though you should. There are some people who don’t bother slowing down at all and just slam on their brakes if they happen to see a car coming from their right. So, I may be in the right but my passenger probably wouldn’t care after some douche in a rusted Holden ute plows into the side of my car at 60kmh.
Myrtone said
“The problem is with the hesitation of the yellow car. Initially he doesn’t have room to maneuver around the blue car. But then the lights change to green and the blue guy starts nudging forward, wondering if the red car is going or giving way. The red car can see this happening, and waits, just in case Mr Yellow takes off.”
If only you permitted left turns on a red light, like the North American right turn on red, this situation could have been avoided. If the red car waits, then they should indicate to the driver of blue car they then can make their left turn, by gesturing in the direction of their turn, or even flashing their headlights.
“The benefit of the Aussie (and rest of the world) system is that there is no ambiguity like there is here. There is absolutely no question as to who should go first. Surely that’s what you want in a traffic rule?”
The rest-of-the-world system appears to be very old rule, dating from the days before motorised vehicles had turn signals, the only indication the one was turning was a momentary hand gesture. The benefit of flashing indicators is that one can signal after the intersection before the one at which the turn is made, and they will stay on until the turn is complete. This means that if turning right, you should be able to tell in advance whether an oncoming vehicle is going straight or turning. If the other vehicle is also turning right, you know you have enough time to slip across. Similarly, with NZ’s rule, if one is signaling left, you know you have right of way. But it still only works if driver are polite and cooperative, for example, if yielding oncoming straight through traffic while navigating a right turn, you should indicate to drivers of left turning vehicles they have enough time to slip round the corner.
We used to have the rule here in Victoria, but changed it in 1993 (to keep uniform with other Australian states) and there has indeed been a decrease in the number of accidents. Unfortunately, Victorian drivers are probably a bit selfish and uncooperative compared to those in New Zealand. For example, far to many of us don’t signal until the last minute rather than after the intersection before the one at which to turn. I don’t think we would have been so good with notifying drivers turning left that they have enough time to slip around the corner, etc.
Also, having right turning arrows at busy intersections would be a way round without changing the brilliant road rule. I don’t know the article is that scientific.