KEY POINTS:
When Transit introduced the traffic light arrows about eight years ago, the intention was that they were simply an indication of when to give way. One could, for example, turn right across the other lane if the way was clear but the arrow was red. I now find we sit for large amounts of time at red arrows while the oncoming lane is clear. What is the actual road rule on these lights now?
Gav Kennedy, North Shore.
The Road Code, and Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 Clause 3.3, both state very clearly that a red arrow means you must stop if you are travelling in the direction the arrow is pointing. No ifs, no buts, no maybes.
Has the traffic light phasing at the intersection of Victoria and Albert Sts been changed? Or is it broken? Traffic westbound on Victoria, turning left into Albert, used to get a green arrow after the main green light phase. This has now been eliminated. When straight-through traffic gets a green light, left-turning traffic gets a red arrow until pedestrians have had their turn, and then the red arrow goes off, but only for 10 seconds. This causes a huge tailback on Victoria St for traffic wanting to turn left. Could the green arrow phase please be reinstated?
Mike Lyford, Auckland.
There have not been any changes to the lights here since the introduction of bus lanes in 2005 and the removal of the right-turning arrow in 2006.
But council acknowledges that this is indeed a very busy intersection, and they are looking at ways it could be improved. One idea is to introduce a phase exclusively for pedestrians. Such changes, though, do not work in isolation, and the traffic planners need to calculate the knock-on effect this would have on the surrounding network.
Very few motorists seem to know the right hand rule, when two vehicles are turning right at intersections where there are no give way signs. Could you please explain?
Margaret Leith, North Shore.
I'm assuming that, as well as no give way signs, there are no stop signs, traffic lights, roundabouts or pointsmen on duty, in other words an uncontrolled intersection.
And the rule is, when turning right, give way to all right-turning vehicles coming from your right. However, when two vehicles are coming towards each other and both are turning right, no one should have to give way. But of course, even when the other driver should give way to you, you still need to take care in case they don't.
