By Imogen Crispe
New Zealand drivers have been doing well since the give way rules changed in March, with no serious crashes reported.
Two give way rules changed four months ago, and so far police have not reported any serious incidents caused by the change.
AA Insurance head of corporate affairs Suzanne Wolton says the company has had about five to 10 claims relating to the rule change, and no more claims than usual.
“We’ve seen no increase at all in claims.”
She says all the claims were made about accidents happening at T-intersections and involved car damage but no injuries.
NZTA chief executive Geoff Dangerfield says drivers have been applying the rules well and taking care at intersections.
“Drivers have responded to the changes with patience, caution and courtesy, and that’s exactly what we need while these changes continue to bed in.”
The new give way rules mean vehicles turning right need to give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction and turning left, and vehicles at a terminating road at a T-intersection need to give way to all traffic on the continuing road.
Mr Dangerfield says it will be several months before crash data will be available to assess how the rule change has affected intersection crashes.
In April an NZTA survey of 1000 drivers found 90 percent of people knew the new rules. Before the rule change only 61 percent got it right.
Mr Dangerfield says drivers are doing well but it may take some time for the new rules to become second nature.
“Based on the great response from drivers over the first four months, we’re confident that things can continue to go smoothly.”
Ms Wolton says the campaign to teach people the new rules seems to have worked.
“The Government should be congratulated.”
3 News