Set to turn full circle 35 years

A FEW days ago, during a conversation with a couple of lads, the subject of "who gives way to who?" came up.

It was a timely chat, for in a fortnight's time the new (old) left-hand-turn rule comes into being.

It will replace the right-hand-turn rule which was introduced back in 1977 ... which replaced the left-hand-turn rule which had worked perfectly well up until then and which is now (after 35 years of confusing hindsight) being brought back in.

That move, all those years ago, was yet another example of agencies and offices allegedly working for us defying what for me should be the most vital piece of working advice ever created ... "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

Giving way to something turning right never really worked and often led to confusion because everyone kind of grew up to think "left".

Which was good advice, as I once discovered in central Tokyo when I was waved off on a test ride of a new motorcycle.

The multi-laned streets were daunting and stacked with traffic.

The street signs were all in Japanese and there were no real location landmarks because everything was just simply high-rise.

The Japanese owner of the bike simply told me to take off and when I wanted to return "just keep turning left".

I did, and after 20 minutes I found my way back.

I asked him what would have happened had I turned right at some stage.

"You would not really like Osaka," he said with a smile.

And so, the other day we were discussing the change which is set to become absolute law at 5am on March 25.

Which is a Sunday.

That is sensible, as a Monday morning with work-hour traffic emerging a couple of hours later could have been interesting.

In a perfect world it should all go without major drama, but as I see on the roads of the Bay every day, it is not a perfect world.

For despite the passing of 35 years there is still clear and present hesitation at intersections, marked or otherwise, about who should go first.

But it's always nice to see drivers waving to each other.

I did enjoy the words from an Automobile Association spokesman on the issue as he explained how a similar changeover went well over in Victoria 19 years ago.

"If Australians can cope with the rule change then I'm damn sure we can as well," he said.

And so, it is all about to go back to how it used to be.

"Well, it will benefit some people more than others, of course," one of the boys said, to which someone else responded ,"yeah, anyone who gets their licence from that day on".

"No, no ... panelbeaters," he said.

Let's prove him wrong - start thinking about it now and be thankful it's not being introduced the following Sunday.

That's April 1 ... April Fool's Day.