By Rachel Morton
The right hand rule is something New Zealanders have lived with for more than 30 years and while it's entrenched in our driving habits one driving instructor says we'll cope just fine.
“There will be times in the initial part where they will need to concentrate, so it's always, if in doubt hang about and think it out,” says Passrite Driving Academy instructor Fred Bardon.
Nobody's more relieved by the changes than rental car companies who hire cars and camper vans to visitors from overseas who aren't familiar with New Zealand’s unique rule.
“Our customers will not need to be taught when they pick up, it's part of our procedure at pickup to explain this quite carefully and certainly sometimes there is confusion on their behalf,” says Kay Howe, of United Vehicle Rentals.
And those who are on the road all the time agree that the changes will stop any confusion.
“I think it'll make it easier for everybody,” says taxi driver Alan Ding.
The change will require significant investment for advertising, driver education programmes and engineering changes, like re-phasing lights and changing road markings.
While driving instructor Mr Bardon says we'll easily adapt to the left hand rule, he thinks most will struggle at unmarked t-intersections.
The problem, he says, is getting people out of the mindset of always giving way to the right and learning that this is one exception to the rule.
3 News