My husband and I are involved in a disagreement which we hope you can solve for us. Every morning going to work we turn right onto St Lukes Rd at Motat and every morning the traffic coming off the motorway which is turning left, and ourselves seem to meet. There have been quite a few near misses just lately and I think as we are going straight ahead we have right of way and my better half says they are turning left so they have right of way. Which of us is correct? If I ever get involved in an accident at this site I would like to know if I am in the right or not. Raywyn McCall, Auckland.
I went out to have a look at this problem. Traffic exiting the motorway at St Lukes and wishing to turn left on to St Lukes Rd has a short slip road from the off-ramp to St Lukes Rd. Once on St Lukes Rd, for a short distance there are two marked lanes. Thus straight-ahead traffic and left-turning traffic can both access St Lukes Rd, but then must "merge like a zip" when the two lanes become one.
From observation, drivers on the slip road all looked over their right shoulders to make sure the way was clear before turning left. As is often the case, good driving and courtesy should solve the problem.
Is it legal for tradesmen to park their vehicle across or along footpaths in front of the houses where they're working? I see it all the time and builders are the worst, they leave several vehicles blocking the footpath when they're working on a house. I often have to step out on to the street to get by. If it's not legal, what can I do about it?
What about people parking their cars on the grass strip between the sidewalk and the street? I live near a school and every afternoon, I find a car parked on the grass in front of my house. Is this allowed and what can I do other than telling them off or fencing off the area when it's wet so they don't ruin the grass.
Maria Tapper, Remuera.
