Ask Phoebe: Too hard to set up new give way rule before Cup

The give-way rule will not be changed before the Rugby World Cup. Photo / Amos Chapple

Why is the change to the give-way rule being delayed until next year? It would make sense, surely, to push it through before the Rugby World Cup, when an estimated 85,000 foreign drivers will be in New Zealand. In most of their homelands, the rule is give way to the left, not to the right as we have. This must be a recipe for chaos, even in such a short time.
Mary Jones, Mt Eden.

A Ministry of Transport official tells me it was not practical (or even practicable) to introduce such a huge change before the RWC this year. Legislative changes such as this take time - although haven't we seen changes to laws rushed through in the past? - and there needs to be an adequate period for an awareness campaign to ensure drivers understand the change.

As well, road-controlling authorities need time to review their intersections to assess whether signs and markings need alterations.

So the give-way change will be in a draft road user amendment rule which should go out this year for consultation. The change is expected mid-next year.

The Transport Authority already provides advice to overseas visitors on driving in New Zealand, although whether they read it or take any notice is debatable (my words, not theirs).

The authority will also take a look at how this advice can be extended to manage the large number of overseas drivers expected during the Rugby World Cup.

Every weekday morning I travel from Royal Rd in Massey to Glendowie - that is, the length of the Northwestern Motorway - and then back again after work. Where the Northwestern joins the exit marked Ports, the speed limit falls from 100km/h to 80km/h. Why is this? And why doesn't everybody reduce their speed? I think the signs are easy to see but perhaps people are not aware - maybe there needs to be an illuminated sign above the motorway rather than off to the side.
Kate Smith, Massey.

When the central motorway junction was being built, the Transport Agency's predecessor, Transit NZ. designed tighter corners to accommodate the motorway extension down to the port within the narrow confines of Grafton Gully. The lower speed limit is to allow drivers to negotiate these tighter corners safely. As well, in such a congested area it also helps traffic flow more efficiently and lets drivers using any of the exit ramps on this stretch of motorway change lanes safely.

The Transport Agency has found that roadside signs are the easiest to read for drivers, and says most do comply with the speed limit.

As an aside, I was privileged to be shown around the central motorway junction project while it was being built, and I think the engineers did a magnificent job fitting all the new routes into such a tight space. Well done, chaps.