Give way rule in NZ work in UK?

[GTIR]

When I was in NZ I had the misfortune to have to obey the give way rule. It took a number of near misses and shaking of fists until I realised I was the knobber!!

Basically you have to give way to any cars crossing your path if turning into a side road/turning on a single carriageway road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VyOTdH6A0w

I've often thought would it work here, even with all our extra traffic, but I'm not sure.

What do you reckon?

[Gad-Westy]

It's always nice on busy stretches when people do that as a matter of courtesy. Not sure I can see it working by law though. Even the most basic stuff seems a challenge here.

[grumbledoak]

No. It's effectively 'priority a droit', which even the French have given up on (and they drive on the right where it works better). It's a liability and the cause of hundreds of accidents every year. Soon to be dropped AFAIK.

[300bhp/ton]

Gad-Westy said:

It's always nice on busy stretches when people do that as a matter of courtesy. Not sure I can see it working by law though. Even the most basic stuff seems a challenge here.

It also can cuase tailbacks and potential accidents as someone decides to slow from 50mph to let someone turn from the opposite direction, while stacking up the traffic as they slowed down, then preventing any "natural" gaps in the traffic for the next person wanting to make a similar turn.

Proof, try driving East bound on the A303 past Stonehenge at 5pm.


This concept is not without credit, but not sure our crowded roads are really the right place for it, so its a no from me.

And besides if a turning is always busy and difficult and causing queuing traffic then either council or Highways agency should alter the junction, allow a turning lane, lights or a round-about.

[Bibbs]

In Perth it's common for roads to have a short filter lane on the left.

So in that vid, the red car pulls into another lane, with a "give way" sign, before the turning on the left.

Works well.

Shame they can't drive for toffee.

[GTIR]

Bibbs said:

In Perth it's common for roads to have a short filter lane on the left.

So in that vid, the red car pulls into another lane, with a "give way" sign, before the turning on the left.

Works well.

Shame they can't drive for toffee.

I lived in Perth (Willetton) and the driving there is bloody awful!

Do not go out when it rains!

[Tsippy]

It would be good, assuming that the majority of people on the road are capable of driving in the first place. Unfortunately, I think that most drivers in the UK struggle with the concept of giving way at an island, never mind adding more "give way" rules.

I found that "Priorite a droit" works well in France, as long as the drivers use common sense, unfortunately some french drivers seem to take the Priorite a droit very aggressively which is what has caused most of the related accidents I assume e.g shooting out of a country side road assuming that the person on the main road was able to see through the hedge

[GravelBen]

The catch is it relies more on competent driving (ie being aware of what other cars are doing) than the alternative... hence being reviewed soon here in NZ as our bureaucrats prefer to focus on simplistic enforcement rather than education and driving standards.

In my experience its a very good solution for moderate traffic levels but I can understand the arguments against it in really heavy traffic.

Edited by GravelBen on Friday 11th June 15:25

[grumbledoak]

Tsippy said:

I found that "Priorite a droit" works well in France,

Largely replaced with proper Give Way signage, to prevent priority to those entering the roundabout, or the 'shoot out of a side road' scenarios.

Edited by grumbledoak on Friday 11th June 15:30

[HellDiver]

People already take too long turning left in to junctions (honestly folks, the wheels won't snap off or you won't flip over if you turn a junction at more than 3mph).

I don't see how them having to stop in the middle of the road would be in any way useful, especially considering the awareness skills of most of the drivers on the road. I could see hundreds of rear end collisions.

[Gad-Westy]

300bhp/ton said:

Gad-Westy said:

It's always nice on busy stretches when people do that as a matter of courtesy. Not sure I can see it working by law though. Even the most basic stuff seems a challenge here.

It also can cuase tailbacks and potential accidents as someone decides to slow from 50mph to let someone turn from the opposite direction, while stacking up the traffic as they slowed down, then preventing any "natural" gaps in the traffic for the next person wanting to make a similar turn.

But if they're turning left, they'd be indicating and have to slow anyway so disruption would be minimal.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 11th June 20:52