KEY POINTS:
Where the Southeastern Highway joins the motorway northbound, why has the phasing of the traffic lights been changed? There are roadworks in progress, apparently to widen the slip road and install traffic lights. During this time the phasing has been changed, so that even when there is no cross-traffic, the traffic on the Southeastern is still held up, forming a long queue even at 7am. And now, piling insult on injury, they've narrowed three lanes to two. Can it please all be changed back?
Paul Judson, East Auckland.
The phasing is out of kilter because the traffic detector loops that regulate the timing of the lights are out of action while the roadworks are in progress.
The chaps who monitor traffic signals at the Traffic Management Centre on the North Shore are doing their best to manually adjust the signals to keep the traffic moving. Perhaps not at 7am, though.
Peter McCombs, project director for Transit, says the idea behind the project at the onramp is to lengthen the right-turn lane on the approach, build an additional priority lane for trucks and high-occupancy vehicles, and install all the lights and technical paraphernalia that go with them.
The work should be finished by the middle of this month.
Being a frequent motorway traveller, I see people moving into the centre lane from both of the outside lanes at the same time, and a lot of near-misses. Who has right of way?
Susan Vowels, Auckland.
This is a matter of good driving skills, really. Neither has right of way, but neither should they change lanes without making absolutely sure that it is safe to do so.
The Road Code suggests that you signal for at least three seconds before moving into another lane, so other motorists have time to note your intentions. And you move only when you are very sure that no one else has the same idea.
Is it still legal to have passengers riding in the tray of a ute?
Richard Petricevich, Devonport.
I don't know that it has ever been legal, has it? The Road Code states that you must not ride in or on a vehicle in a way that might result in injury, and drivers must not let passengers ride in that way. Similarly, a driver can be fined if passengers are not strapped in.
