Brian Kelly: Don't give way to ignorance

Am I the only one who knows that two of the give way rules are changing on Sunday the 25th of this month?

There has certainly been plenty of publicity about it, but that was months ago and now with just days remaining until some pretty significant road rule changes, all has gone quiet. Considering what's been happening on our city roads over the past week I find this pretty scary. There have been a couple of nasty accidents on the local scene lately and these have appeared to be at either controlled intersections or on a reasonable bit of road. What's going to happen after Sunday the 25th at intersections locally, let alone own nationwide?

Panelbeaters and towtruck drivers must be getting ready for a boom season. Apparently changing the intersection rules back to the way they were more than 30 years ago is going to mean 2000 fewer accidents a year and save millions of dollars.

It has long been considered that Tauranga has some of the worst drivers in New Zealand. I am not quite sure how we got the reputation but there have certainly been times driving around town when I have had to agree with it. So how are we going to cope with the changes? Quite honestly if surveys are anything to go by, we are not.

Just recently TV One's Close Up did a vox pop and asked if people knew about the proposed intersection changes ... almost all those questioned failed. I'm sure if I walked down Devonport Rd tomorrow and asked the same question I would get much the same result. Many local drivers seem to struggle at roundabouts now, so how are they going to get on learning the new give-way rule?

There was certainly plenty of talk on the changes a few months back, but since then all has gone quiet. Nothing on television, radio or in the newspaper. Maybe the transport authorities are going to let us figure it out for ourselves before they take action.

Apparently the reason the Government is waiting until the last minute is because research in Korea said it was a good idea to do so. So our government is taking advice from Korea now.

A couple of handy tips as you prepare for the changes from the New Zealand Transport Agency. They have come up with two ways to remember the change.

Top of the T goes before me:

When you're turning right from the bottom of a T-intersection with no signs or signals you will need to give way to all vehicles at the top of the T and that rule also applies to driveways and at supermarkets.

If you're turning right, give way: This rule will apply at intersections where two vehicles are facing no signs or signals, or the same signs or signals. You will need to give way to left turning vehicles coming from the opposite direction if you are turning right.

After more than 30 years of getting used to a fairly important piece of road knowledge it scares me to think that from 5am on Sunday week we have to wipe the slate clean and start a-fresh.

My suggestion this weekend would be to go to the NZ Transport Agency's website and download the latest rule changes or call into the AA and pick up a brochure. It could be well worth your while.

I have been teaching my son to drive over the past few months; a lot of his tutoring has been on the highways and byways of Auckland.

The one thing I have been emphasising to him is concentration.

You are in charge of a lethal weapon ... think and plan ahead. It is now a lot harder for drivers to get a licence. Since the new licensing laws have come into effect, 1500 have had to resit the test in the past two weeks. With the old driver's licence test, there was an 80 per cent pass rate.

Since the introduction of the new test the pass rate is now just 39 per cent.

According to licensing authorities, it all comes down to practise and preparation.

I think the same apples to our new intersection rules. Prepare, prepare, and prepare.