Car News Articles

The new road rules that came into effect on July 1 include a raft of changes. Most notably, there’s the introduction of bicycle storage areas at the beginning of intersections.

These storage areas, which aren’t, as the name suggests, little sheds on the road, are designed to give cyclists a fighting chance when they’re in traffic. The idea is that they move to the front of the traffic line, sit in a storage area and wait for the lights to change.

Other changes include the mandate that you must turn left from a slip lane if there’s one available, and you can’t enter a crossing that is blocked on the other side by another vehicle or obstacle.

Then there’s the change that allows long vehicles in roundabouts to turn from the middle lane or using both lanes if need be, as well as the change that allows you to drive on a painted island for up to 50 metres if there’s a turning bay ahead of it.

The most interesting are the rules concerning wheeled recreational devices, which includes scooters, skateboards and rollerblades. They’re lumped together with wheeled toys such as pedal cars and tricycles, and if you’re using one you’re not allowed to hitch a ride with a moving car, nor are you allowed to use the wheeled toy or recreational device on a divided road or a road that has a speed limit greater than 50 km/h.

Finally, you’re not allowed to carry animals on your lap when you’re driving, nor are you allowed to have an animal on the fuel tank of a motorbike unless you’re a farmer, and you’re not riding for more than 500 metres. Then it’s OK to have the kelpie on the fuel tank as you head off to round up some sheep.

Of course all these new laws are coupled with the RTA’s usual heavy fines and demerit points.

Do you think the road rule changes are a good idea? Or is it just Roads and Traffic Authority pedantry? Have your say.