Good change, but it still adds confusions about the T-Intersections. In Europe they have signs identifying main road, main road always takes a priority (except when regulated by traffic light); the “right-hand give way” rule applies only to roads with equal priority and not regulated by traffic light. But here in NZ, we don't have signs for main roads. I suspect it will cause problem on the t-intersections, especially in the rural areas.

I hope that they are going to come down full force on drivers who fail to pull into the centre to allow strait through traffic past. I, for one, will be investing in a set of the loudest air horns I can buy to use on people who carelessly or ignorantly interfere with traffic flow.

As for the judgements that need to made, the one about whether the other vehicle is turning left, assuming that indicators are used correctly, determining whether it is turing left at the intersection or into a driveway further down the road requrie precise distance judgement. People who can't see 3D may find it more difficult to see the second vehicle in the first place. As for whether the other driver has seen your indicator, I believe that colour defficency may be an issue, I suspect that protanopia (red-blindness) may reduce the ability the see directional indicators but doesn't legally exclude people from driving, Brian Chandler, who runs the Grey Means Go blog says that turn signals are not hard for him to see but admits he can't speak for everyone.

So, the give way to the right rule will be forgotten as a result of this change in rule at intersections. What is the expected percentage of crashes as a result of this misunderstanding?

I think the rules should be left the way they are. Riding on a motorcycle my personal policy is to know when I have the right of way but give way to everyone else.

That second rule for the T intersection is already used where ever I dive I have never seen anyone on the base of the T go first the cars at the top of the T already is blocking the way I really don't see how it works that way.

Probably a fair estimation that those finding the existing rule difficult would find a lot of the road rules hard to come to grips with.

Tip: get a bus

@think about it #196

Im siding with Jasz on this, so many drivers dont use their indicators correctly going through roundabouts and always the excuse is that there isnt enough time, bollocks to that. It is do-able easily even on the smaller roundabouts, it simply takes application. Probably my main beef with many drivers is the way so so many simply dont use their indicators.

@think about it #196 - I must admit that I am extremely lazy when I exit a roundabout and allow the action of straightening my steering wheel to turn off the indicator. I am not aware that this has failed. Yet! Your point that most people don't turn their indicators off - well most people need to learn how to drive properly, and courteously. Sorry, the standard of driving in NZ is pretty dreadful, imho. That is what happens when you learn 'habits' as a 15 year old. That, though, is discussion for another day. On the drink driving thing - if you are involved in an accident and are found to have ANY alcohol, or drugs(including prescription), in your system then you should be held responsible. I believe that the Germans(do not mention ze Var!) employ this rule to great effect.

About time.

The old rule was easy to remember, that was never the main problem - but it required far too much mind-reading about what other drivers would do. In both examples if the red car pulled far enough over that traffic behind him could get past (even in a single lane), then he wouldn't have to wait for the green car. So the driver of the green car would have to guess whether the straight-through traffic could squeeze past or not before turning. The driver of the red car was often looking in his mirror to make the same judgment. If the gap was big enough the straight-through traffic often wouldn't need to slow down. Lunacy, and you'd see this on a daily basis. Yes the problem is selfish impatient drivers, but that's not going to change easily. At least this makes it logical.