"As long as you use your peripheral vision, mirrors and INDICATORS everything will be fine!"

What about those with peripheral visual impairment? And especially one-eyed people, yes many of them drive.

It is a perfectly clear and reasonable rule to clear heavily congested intersections. If people by now can't understand it, there needs to be more stringent driver testing, that's all.

I can think of dozens of intersections right now that would be almost impossible to turn into at some times of day, if this rule were not in place. It is polite, more than anything. The vehicles that have it easy, give way to those with more difficulty. Same reason downhill traffic give to upward vehicles, etc. But, then we're world renown for being some of the most impolite drivers around, so let's not have rules that help dispel that reputation...

The human brain does multiples of simultaneous things in order to merely walk, never-mind drive. Which is why (apparently) we only allow sensible adults to possess licenses. So that can't be a reasonable argument.

Just because we're the only country that does it doesn't make it wrong. Ask Kate Sheppard...

"Most people don't understand it or follow it". Most people don't follow the spreed limit. Do we keep changing that ?

I'm with Hamish, above. Don't change it.

By far the worst road rule ever - no wonder Australia (Melbourne) got rid of it. It's quite simple - if you are turning across the traffic - wait and give way! What I have noticed since being in New Zealand is that so many people turning left stop to give wsy - being totally unaware that there is traffic behind them not turning left - the right hand turning person can't go anyway! The situation can become quite 'dicey'. This dreadful road rule is constantly a potential accident. Get rid of it. As an aside - New Zealand drivers could fit their cars with indicators (they don't seem to be widely used), stop using their horns and develop courteous road manners - that is - be aware of people needing to change lanes and allow that to happen - generally lose the aggravation and drive safe!

I have lived in NZ for 5 years and it seems like 50% to 75% of times there are three cars at an intersection (turning left, following, turning right) everyone is confused. Not to mention the impact on traffic flow.

Here's another whacky road phenomenon I haven't seen anyone comment on. Dotted white lines. The Rule Book I studied to get my licence told me that dotted white lines mean it is safe to overtake with caution. Unbroken lines mean you cannot overtake or pass. So how come white dotted lines run around just about every blind corner and crest in at least the North Island. I live on a country road full of blind corners, hairpins, crests ... you name it. The guys just came and repainted all these bright white DOTTED lines around everything!! If you don't believe me, take a drive on Scenic Drive west of Auckland.

What about tee junctions. Councils were instructed to install give way signs in the interim while the confusing right hand rule was being revoked. Now some 10 years on, there are so many give way signs, that when one arrives at an uncontrolled tee junction, few appear to know or observe the rule. You turn at your peril. This hazard gets no publicity, where as the current grim reaper advertisements on TV show well marked intersections with give way signs.

If Samoa can change the side of the road they drive on, why can't we change this rule?

Come on, there must be a third alternative here.

Keeping the rule unchanged, we are forced to simultaneously look both ahead and behind before we can tell if it is safe to turn left. Which is stupid. We must also trust everybody to use their indicators properly. Which is a bit of a stretch, considering the steadily diminishing ability of NZ drivers.

Scrapping the rule, we would be faced with horrendous queues at many intersections, as cars wait forever in the middle of the road to turn right. Even worse than they used to before this rule was introduced. Which is frustrating and dangerous.

Every intersection has a different shape and traffic flow, so you could come up with a different rule for each intersection. But even I might find that too confusing.

So the only thing I can come up with is to just keep on widening the intersections and adding extra lanes, as we have been slowly doing over the years. And that is very expensive. And impossible in many places.

Anybody got anything better?

After driving in NZ for 35 years and in Sydney for 10 years, I have to say Australia has it right. Less confusion, everyone knows who has right of way without having to assess traffic from many directions to be able to make a decision whether to turn or not. NZ could put up a few more "No Right Turn" on those dangerous intersections. Go to the next intersection to turn safely. Works here.

The title to the article is incorrect, it is not about dumping the give way to your right rule. Which in fact most people do not follow. It is removing the ridiculous "left turning traffic, give way rule". If you take a holiday in Aussie it takes just driving for a short time to learn the better way.

Yeah of course its right. Its a great rule that helps keep traffic flowing . Mike Noon doesnt know what he is talking about. 1 million tourists ...but how many of them drive?? When it was introduced they had to install thousands of Giveway signs to make it work properly which it now does. I think its such an obviously correct rule that the rest of the World should take notice.