Local drivers are being reminded to make sure they’re up to speed with the new give way rules set to be introduced nationwide on Sunday 25 March, 2012.

Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander said while the new give way rules were easy to follow, people would have to prepare themselves for the change and remain alert in the weeks following their introduction.

“The new give way rules will initially be top of mind for drivers but given that most people’s driving habits are deeply entrenched we will all need to be extra careful at intersections for quite a while after the rules are introduced,” Mr Mander said.

He said it was expected the introduction would be relatively trouble free in the district’s urban areas, but more caution was required in rural areas, particularly at intersections on high speed roads.

“Intersections where people turn across traffic to leave a state highway like Tuckers Beach Road and the entrance to Lake Hayes Estate will all require extra caution,” he said.

“People making right hand turns across the traffic flow will now have to give way to both straight ahead and left-turning traffic and given the speed with which vehicles travel on the open road, it’s very necessary people get it right.”

Information on how the new rules worked including videos could be viewed online at www.giveway.govt.nz and brochures outlining the change could be picked up from QLDC offices and libraries.

An extensive nationwide publicity campaign also launched this week.

“The changes to the give way rules bring us in line with other countries and ultimately will help reduce crashes by making decision making easier at intersections,” Mr Mander said, however while urging everybody to familiarise themselves with the new rules he added that they shouldn’t be too keen to start trying them.

“It’s important that everyone remember that the rules don’t come into force until 5am on Sunday 25 March. Until then the current rules are still in place.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact QLDC transport manager Denis Mander 03 441 0499.

By: Andrea Bunting