[brokentrails]

the hardest thing for me to get used to was the kiwi accent

[wiki]

yielding to turners: in most countries, if a driver is making a turn across traffic (i.e. a left-hand turn in the U.S., or a right-hand turn in the UK), the driver turning across traffic is required to yield to oncoming traffic from the other direction, whether those vehicles are going straight, or turning into the same path as the driver turning across traffic. But in NZ, the driver making the left-hand turn across traffic has the right of way over oncoming traffic making a right-hand turn into the same path, but not over the oncoming traffic which is going straight. As you can imagine, this leads to quite a few accidents. However, they can't really change the law at this point, because it would cause even more accidents with people who have become accustomed to following the turning right-of-way law.

Nippon Clip-on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge)

Jo



When I came to the UK I used to annoy no end of people by stopping to give way to them! Luckily, I didn't try to take my "NZ right of way" too often, or I probably wouldn't be here now...

[NeilV]

the hardest thing for me to get used to was the kiwi accent

what can I say - I married one :)

Couldn't improve on the explanations given already so will leave it at that.
thanks jo-and-jeff and KerryS :cheers

[gpbenton]

yielding to turners: in most countries, if a driver is making a turn across traffic (i.e. a left-hand turn in the U.S., or a right-hand turn in the UK), the driver turning across traffic is required to yield to oncoming traffic from the other direction, whether those vehicles are going straight, or turning into the same path as the driver turning across traffic. But in NZ, the driver making the left-hand turn across traffic has the right of way over oncoming traffic making a right-hand turn into the same path, but not over the oncoming traffic which is going straight. As you can imagine, this leads to quite a few accidents. However, they can't really change the law at this point, because it would cause even more accidents with people who have become accustomed to following the turning right-of-way law.


Jo


Thanks for this. Now I know what to call a large number of drivers that cut across me when turning right - a Kiwi :yes .

At least it isn't as complicated as a US 4-way stop. :laugh