Ready for a new rule
Most people turning off the side street give way to all traffic turning off the main road, although the current law says the main road cars have to give way to turning vehicles to their right, Mr Kairua says.
Porirua shouldn’t see a rise in crashes on Sunday when the rule changes, he says. ‘‘I’m cautiously optimistic.’’ The council will be monitoring Porirua’s intersections to see whether give way signs and road markings are needed where drivers show confusion about give way rules. Two intersections have been flagged as potentially confusing, and KapiMana News has created graphics to illustrate the correct give way rules.
Traffic turning left from Kenepuru Dr onto Raiha St enters a sliproad, and has right of way over traffic turning right off Kenepuru Dr.
The council is considering painting give way signs on the road to remind right- turning traffic to give way, Mr Kairua says.
In Titahi Bay the John StWhanake St intersection is an example of an exception to the new give way rule. Cars at the stop sign on John St turning right into Whanake St must give way to cars turning left from the give way sign on the opposite side of the intersection. This is because cars at a stop sign must give way regardless of the road rules, even to cars at a give way sign.
Take the new rule quiz at nzta.govt.nz, and the free interactive video at giveway.co.nz.