Traffic chaos brings out the best in harassed city drivers

A man takes it upon himself to direct traffic at a busy Queen St intersection yesterday. Picture / Vitalis Skiauteris

It was the day that Aucklanders put aside their usual red-light rage and instead displayed a new-found road code courtesy.

As 300 sets of traffic lights went out around the city, motorists were seen waving other drivers through intersections, observing the right-turn rule and, in at least two instances, leaving their cars to help direct traffic and pedestrians.

Even police were getting into the spirit, praising drivers for "self-regulating" through intersections.

Detective Superintendent Gavin Jones said there were some incidents of driver "lunacy" during morning rush-hour traffic when the power was cut at 8.32am, but that was the usual day-to-day experience.

"I'm pleased to say that the public has been responsible," he said.

Among the strangest sights reported was a man dressed in business clothes standing in torrential rain directing traffic, his hand signals expertly guiding traffic through the busy intersection at Queen St and Wellesley St.

The scene was repeated as another businessman gave up his car in favour of directing others at Surrey Cres in Grey Lynn.

Elsewhere, normally fast-flowing traffic crawled through major city intersections and drivers courteously waved fellow vehicles through the lines of cars.

Police manned only five major intersections, while council staff managed others. The majority were unmanned.

Remarkably, there were very few accidents and none that was serious.

However, it was an unpleasant experience for some whose livelihood depends on the road.

Sub60 Couriers Auckland branch manager Matt Wade was having a "nightmare" of a day with drivers taking more than 90 minutes to get from Mission Bay to the central city.

With many of central Auckland's office buildings without power, city workers began heading home at midday.

Police northern communications Inspector Gavin MacDonald said by mid afternoon the majority of traffic lights were back in operation.

Those workers who did remain at work were treated to a clear trip over the harbour bridge on the northern motorway last night.