Ask Phoebe: Stop sign rule seems case of interpretation

Stop sign. Photo / Dean Purcell

Law does not specify that drivers in line of cars can follow on without stopping if road is clear.

Q. It is my understanding that if you are the second or third car at a compulsory stop and have stopped you may proceed through the intersection without stopping again as long as the road is clear. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Duncan Shand, Auckland.

The Land Transport Road User Rule 4.1 (1) states that, as at June 1, 2013:

A driver approaching or entering an intersection on a roadway where the vehicles that are moving in the direction in which that driver is travelling are controlled by a stop sign at or near the intersection must;

(a) stop his or her vehicle before entering the path of any possible vehicle flow at such a position as to be able to ascertain whether the way is clear for the driver to proceed; and

(b) give way to any vehicles approaching or crossing the intersection from a roadway not controlled by a stop sign.

The interpretation of this rule is up to you.

Q. Have you got any idea if street lighting will be added to the motorway stretch between Albany and Silverdale? This would be helpful with the ever-increasing population growth in Millwater and Orewa.
Jacques Buitendijk, Orewa.

The Transport Agency says it has no immediate plans to install lighting between Albany and Silverdale. This rural section of the Northern Motorway is designed and constructed to meet safety standards and has a high four-star rating under the highway assessment scheme known as KiwiRAP (www.kiwirap.govt.nz) together with a history of a very low incidence of night-time crashes.

All interchanges along the route are well lit, there's good separation between north and southbound lanes, and extensive use of reflective markers and rumble strips also help keep drivers safe at night.

The Transport Agency continually monitors all of its state highway network so that it can respond if necessary to any changes in traffic volumes or driving behaviour. While travelling north to Paihia I've come across different cat's eyes colours on the centre line. White and yellow are the common ones and everyone knows what they mean. I've now seen blue, red and green ones. Can you find out what they signify? Hazel Wood, Northland. You can also find coloured cat's eyes on city roads. The white and yellow cat's eyes mark the centre of the highway, as we know.

The other colours are used by the Transport Agency and local authorities to help contractors and emergency services find important stuff at night. The blue ones indicate there is a fire hydrant nearby, the green ones show there is a drain crossing under the highway, and the red ones on the outside of bends mark the edge of the highway.

• The distance between Swanson and Waitakere train stations is 3.9km, not 2km as reported in a column last week.