Right-turn rule gives way in new road strategy

A proposal to get rid of New Zealand's give way to right-turning traffic driving rule has received general support from Dunedin driving instructors.

The possible change was part of the Government's Safer Journeys 10-year road safety strategy announced by Transport Minister Steven Joyce yesterday.

Should it go ahead, the change would reverse the give way rule, introduced in 1977, which holds that a vehicle turning right takes precedence over a vehicle turning left.

A car turning left would have the right of way.

At uncontrolled T-intersections, where two cars were turning right, the car turning off the through road would have right of way, reversing the status quo.

The overall safety package predominantly targets young drivers, drunk drivers and motorcyclists.

New Zealand is the only country in the world to have the right-hand rule.

The rule came from Victoria, Australia, originally to assist trams on Melbourne's streets.

But Victoria changed in 1993 and experienced a decline in intersection crashes as a result.

The AA, which supports the change, says the rules are a factor in 2560 intersection crashes, and one or two deaths, each year.

Some 17% of crashes are at intersections.

It is estimated changing the rules to align with other countries would reduce intersection crashes by 7% and the social cost by about $17 million a year.

Dunedin driving instructors contacted yesterday generally welcomed the change saying it was stupid to have ever gone to a give way to right turns rule.

However, one instructor, Clive McKane, of ACE Academy driving school, said he envisaged "total chaos" when the rule was introduced.

It was very difficult to re-educate people and the Government should leave well enough alone, he said.

Driving instructors Jim Pine and Alan Carter said they thought there should not be too many problems, so long as there was plenty of education, enforcement and publicity around the changes.

The Safer Journeys document says the New Zealand Transport Agency will develop a mass media campaign and supporting resources to help introduce the changes.

AA spokesman Mike Noon said a change to the "ridiculous" rule would require a $2 million driver education programme and engineering changes, such as rephasing lights and changing road markings in some places, which could cost $1 million.

However, he welcomed the change.

"It's more simple that the current rule."

- Additional reporting, NZPA