RIGHT-HAND RULE

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 98, 14 December 1943, Page 1

RIGHT-HAND RULE

CONTROL OF TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTIONS

A NEW REGULATION

A new regulation dealing with the application of the right-hand traffic rule at intersections has been gazetted.

Explaining the new rules, the Minister of Transport, Mr O'Brien, said that following the recent decision of the Full Court he had had representations from a number jof organisations that the former regulation as interpreted by the Court was a source of danger to roacl users. The interpretation made it necessary for a motorist about to proceed directly across an Intersection to give way to an approaching motorist turning across his path, this was at variance with all safe driving practice adopted by motorists for years past.

"In this circumstance," said the Minister, "I considered it essential to have a new regulation drafted and, this was circulated to the motor unions, the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin City Councils, the various commercial operators' associations and the New Zealand Drivers' Union^ All of "these bodies replied .approving of the proposed new regulation, and it will now come into force on December 23.

"This regulation in no way interferes with the general principle of the right-liana' rule at" intersections, but it is intended that any motorist who is turning or about to turn to the right and is therefore required to signal a turning to the right, must himself give way to all vehicles other fhan horse-drawn. I .am advised that the foregoing intention is legally given effect to by the new regulation, and therefore it is important for motorists and cyclists to know that during the Christmas season and afterward when they are about t,o_ turn or ,are turning to the right they give way to other.motorists or cyclists."

The Minister explained that the former provisions relating to trams and horse-drawn vehicles still remained substantially the same; namely, trams always had the right of way at intersections, and drivers of horse-drawfi vehicles were required to give way to all vehicles not being horse-drawn. la- the case of two horse-drawn vehicles meeting at an intersection the new righthand rule applied to those vehicles as above explained.

"Accident statistics for many years past indicate that the oollisio,ns at intersections form one of the largest groups of traffic accidents," said the Minister, "and if the principles of the right-hand rule were rigidly observed, it is safe to say that there would be no collision at intersections. Motorists will avoid .accidents if they approach all intersections with caution and observing ordinary road courtesy. This applies whether or not the righthand rule is in their favour, and by road, courtesy I mean the observance of the traffic rules in spirit as well as in letter."