Steven Joyce

Wellington, March 3 NZPA - The Government is looking to get rid of New Zealand's right hand rule as part of a range of measures announced today to make roads safer.

The rule change is part of the Safer Journeys 10-year road safety strategy, launched this morning by Transport Minister Steven Joyce. It also targets young drivers, drunk drivers and motorcyclists.

The Automobile Association(AA) supports a change to the rule. There was evidence that the give way rules are a factor in the 2560 intersection crashes, and one or two deaths, each year.

The current give way rule was introduced in 1977 and holds that the car turning right across the oncoming stream of traffic has precedence over the car turning left with the traffic behind it.

At uncontrolled T-intersections with two cars wishing to turn right, traffic on the driver's right get priority.

The rule came from Victoria, Australia originally to assist trams on Melbourne's streets, according to the AA.

But Victoria changed back in 1993 and experienced a decline in intersection crashes as a result.

New Zealand is the only country in the world to have the right hand rule.

Changing the give way rule will also go to Cabinet later in the year and public input will be sought. The New Zealand Transport Agency will develop a mass media campaign before any changes are made.