KEY POINTS:
Do you live in Auckland? Do you have a question or problem you want solved? Phoebe Falconer answers your questions every Thursday. Email: 'Ask Phoebe' at newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz
Where a road has three lanes, in a one-two configuration, there is often a solid yellow no-overtaking line on the two-lane side of the dotted line. Because it is an overtaking lane, drivers in the left-hand of the twin lanes often move into the middle lane without checking for oncoming traffic, thinking that the lane is for their use only. But the centre lane is sometimes used by traffic in the single lane for overtaking as well, coming the other way. Yellow lines are generally well-respected, but this seems to be an abuse of that respect, and can be very dangerous. What is the thinking of the Ministry of Transport? I can find nothing in the Road Code to support use in this manner. Roger Brown, Epsom.
This graphic from the Road Code pretty much sums it up, and no one is breaking the law here. It is permissible to use a centre lane for passing, as shown in the illustration, as long as you do not cross a no-passing line, and no oncoming vehicles are in that lane.
But you're right, it is very dangerous, not to say extraordinarily stupid, to move into an outside lane to overtake without checking for oncoming traffic.
The Road Code gives rules for overtaking on the right, including making sure no vehicles are coming towards you, making sure no one is overtaking you, and ensuring that you will be able to see 100m of clear road ahead after you have finished passing.
For more information on where passing is legal and where it is against the law, go to www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driving/passing.html
A speed camera, formerly on Remuera Rd opposite Koraha St, is missing. It was put there yonks ago to slow the traffic down before the then-unlit school crossing. And it's not only the box that the camera was in that has disappeared, but the pole it was on has gone too. Are we residents of the eastern suburbs so conditioned that we no longer need to be reminded to slow down, or is it the result of local economies? Where has the camera gone? Will it ever return?
M. Lawry, Remuera.
This took some tracking down. After fruitless enquiries at the Traffic Management Unit and the city council, I discovered that speed cameras are the responsibility of the police.
A very helpful sergeant at Greenlane police station told me that the camera had been removed for a spruce-up, also known as refurbishment, and will be replaced soon.
In the meantime, the road was dug up for resealing, during which the lines were damaged. They also need to be replaced, which necessitated removing the pole. But all will be returned to full operational status in the next month or so.
