New Zealand right of way change

[DSdriver]

As of 5am today right-turning traffic has to yield to oncoming left-turning traffic at intersections – a reverse of the give-way rules that have been in place for 35 years.

I can't get my head around this, do the Kiwis drive on the right or the left?

[Volksy]

Same side as the uk,

 

but you used to give way when turning left into a road, for someone who was waiting from the opposite direction. My first time driving in NZ, I didn't understand this, and nearly piled my van into a copper.

[ashmicro]

I don't even understand what that rule means.

[catsinthewelder]

Am I understanding this right?

 

You're in a car on a straight piece of road with a side road joining on you're left, theres a car coming towards you that is indicating right to turn into the side road.

 

Under the old system he would have right of way, if you were indicating left to turn into the side road.

 

 

Alright, it would mean that people wouldn't be blocking the carriageway for as long waiting to turn right but thats still a properly odd way of doing it, I'm not surprised you nearly had an accident.

[Mat.T]

this might explain better!:

http://www.news.com.au/world/kiwis-fina ... 6308654000

 

a month driving round NZ I never got used to it!

[DSdriver]

Ahh... I understand it all now, in New Zealand you had to give way whereas in the UK we just do it to be polite. Makes you feel a better person. Kiwis will be happier letting people do it out of a sense of civility. It will make them better people*

[STUNO]

And I have to get used to this starting today. Its going to be fun for a while

This is a tourist town and full of rental cars and camper vans that know no rules at all so we are used to watching out for the completely unexpected.

And could someone tell U.S. and some others not to look left when crossing the road and then stepping out 3 feet in front of a bus coming from their right.

One day the driver won't be able to stop....sorry, that has already happened

[sporty-shite]

Spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the agency is encouraging motorists to give a friendly wave when things go wrong.

 

And to be clear, he said, a one-fingered wave doesn't count as friendly.