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.

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?

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

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.