When we buy a car we rarely think about cabin noise as being a major consideration in the purchase decision. Unless the car is obviously noisy when we drive it we’re unlikely to think about it. In this article we’ll…
In this article, we’ll discuss how competent drivers avoid accidents, and tell you your obligations if you do have an accident. Until computers control all our vehicles, we will continue to have crashes because drivers are only human. Unfortunately, humans…
When you start driving you will see three types of speed sign: a public regulatory limit, a private regulatory limit and a suggested safe (advisory) speed. Speed limit Public regulatory limits always end in zero. They start at 10km/h (which…
In this article we’ll recap on the basics of overtaking, then talk about advanced techniques taught to police drivers and instructors. The Road Code has an excellent basic set of guidelines for overtaking. Overtaking is the most risky manoeuvre on…
In a car you have four contact patches with the road, each one about the size of your hand. On a motorbike, the contact patches are the size of a credit card and there are only two. In a truck,…
Imagine this scenario: you are driving down Newton Road in Auckland in the left-hand lane and you are turning left into Piwakawaka Street. It’s drizzling lightly. You can see the map here (it opens in a new window). At the…
When you drive along a motorway you’ll find that most other roads pass over the top of the motorway and there are a few good reasons for this. Bridges It is easier and cheaper to build a longer two-lane bridge than…
If you learned to drive during summer, chances are that you won’t have driven in snow before. The main issues with snow are that it reduces the friction between your vehicle and the road, and can block roads. Ideally, if…
When you learn to drive you will have some experience of hazardous conditions, but it’s unlikely that you will experience all kinds of difficult situations that you might encounter. For example, you could learn to drive in Auckland and have…
As the number of tourists visiting New Zealand grows, so does the number of rental cars driven by people who may never have driven on the left before. Tourists might not speak or read English and therefore struggle to understand…
Your hazard warning lights are when all your indicators flash at the same time. They are designed to be used as a warning to other road users. There are some common misconceptions about hazard warning lights and when they can…
If you drive a modern car – one produced in the past few years – chances are that the advice you’ve been given to correct a skid is now wrong and might even be dangerous. The Road Code has been…
New Zealand’s current law, which was brought into effect on 1 November 2009 states that it is illegal to drive while impaired by drugs, even legally prescribed drugs such as Benzodiazepines. However, it’s only alcohol that has prescribed maximum limits.…
Studies done in various countries have found that certain intersections are very daunting for some drivers. Where you get a lot of traffic passing through and needing to go in different directions intersections can not only be complex in their…
Tailgating is driving behind someone too closely. There is a recommended safe following distance which varies with speed and is indicated by time: the two-second rule. This means that the time difference between the back of the vehicle in front…
To drive smoothly we have to take one lesson from racing drivers: use the smoothest line around the corner. We’re not going to be braking and accelerating as harshly as racing drivers, though, just steering like them and using moderate…
NZTA is asking for feedback on changes to penalties levied on freight operators whose vehicles exceed either the weight limits stated in Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002, or those set out in a permit. The general limits…
The braking distance, also called the stopping distance, is the distance a vehicle covers from the time of the full application of its brakes until it has stopped moving. This is often given as a 100-0kph distance, e.g. 56.2m, and…
NZTA is working with the Road Transport Association NZ, Log Transport Safety Council and National Road Carriers to reduce engine braking noise. An initial trial, costing $100,000, is taking place on SH2 Takitimu Drive near the Elizabeth St roundabout in…
Heading over to the UK on your OE? If you’re driving around you’ll see a few new animal signs that won’t be familiar from driving on New Zealand roads. This specialist sign means that police dogs might be on patrol…
