Right of way?

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#1215191 15-Jan-2015 01:16

If it was an unmarked equal intersection then you would give way.

Lane to lane it could be seen that way too. If it is two main highways merging equally - what then? Give way to the right. And It looks like a delta.

But I tend to think the other vehicle is merging into the main highway

or is it already in a lane of the main highway at this position?

It is. Looking at the map both vehicles are on SH2 the map says. So it is two lanes of SH2 merging into one lane

Give way to the right rule applies.

Having said that there is not much doubt the other vehicle performed a very bad merge so my feelings are similar to yours. Its kind of a bad faith discourteous merge ; (. But as confusing as it is, legalistically, the other vehicle may have right of way.

But also it kind of looks like the other vehicle was accelerated dangerously into your path. Maybe it would lose a few legal brownie points for that if it resulted in an accident.

OK hope that helps ; )

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mattwnz

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#1215193 15-Jan-2015 01:42

As per what several others have said, I believe you have to give way to them, as they are coming in from your right side. That is the way I have always understood it from 20 years of driving. We have quite a few of those stupid dangerous merge situations in the Wellington region, but I always make sure I give way to the traffic coming in from the right.

Bung

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#1215202 15-Jan-2015 04:04

There is no give way to the right in this situation. Imagine if tbere was a continuous stream of traffic in that lane, give way to the right would force the left merging lane to stop moving. It is a merge like a zip situation. In Australia the rule is clear the vehicle that is ahead has right of way. That gives right of way to alternate lanes. In NZ there doesn't seem to be a specific Road User Rule covering the merging of two lanes. Merge like a zip is the suggested answer.

Lurch

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#1215216 15-Jan-2015 06:25

They use to have signs up on motorways etc for years trying to tell idiots to merge like a zip. But Auckland drivers especially don't want to be over taken and speed up at the last second to cut you off and in get front.

After all it is a race isn't it?

tchart

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#1215240 15-Jan-2015 07:40

mattwnz: As per what several others have said, I believe you have to give way to them, as they are coming in from your right side.

I initially thought that too but that only makes sense if you are joining from the left (ie normal on ramp etc) because you are joining the main flow of traffic.

Since this is the opposite situation I'd say the person on the left has right of way.

But that would be too logical.

gzt

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#1215241 15-Jan-2015 07:48

Bung: There is no give way to the right in this situation. Imagine if tbere was a continuous stream of traffic in that lane, give way to the right would force the left merging lane to stop moving.

Well yes that happens in some places. It is a consequence of the rule. That's how it works. For particular places commuting drivers tend to know these consequences situations and provide some courtesy to compensate.

gzt

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#1215261 15-Jan-2015 08:34

Quick look at street view i still think both rules apply. Either party would be foolhardy to assert ultimate right of way in practice. One party did in practice.

Jase2985

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#1215267 15-Jan-2015 08:51

its a merge plain and simple

mdooher

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#1215300 15-Jan-2015 09:53

mattwnz: As per what several others have said, I believe you have to give way to them, as they are coming in from your right side. That is the way I have always understood it from 20 years of driving. We have quite a few of those stupid dangerous merge situations in the Wellington region, but I always make sure I give way to the traffic coming in from the right.

I disagree, once the two lanes ran out the Toyota was passing and therefore must give way.

Even it you look at it the other way the Toyota is turning (ok gently) onto another road. The first part of the give way rule is "If turning give way to traffic not turning..."

So the Toyota is at fault.

Matthew

trig42

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#1215306 15-Jan-2015 10:03

All that is needed there is a bit of courtesy.

Too many NZ drivers think it is a race, and you have kicked their dog/insulted their manhood (because it is usually men) if you get in front of them.

To me it looks like the Toyota driver should have slowed down to merge in behind, but because the dashcam shows a relatively narrow field of view (compared to the drivers eyes), we can't tell where the Toyota was after the OP entered their lane. If they were approximately even and it were me, I would have slowed for the Toyota as it was merging from my right, and its the polite thing to do.

Edit, I have driven that route a lot heading out of Napier towards Taupo/Gisborne. I always tried to stay in the left lane at that roundabout, but if I were in the right lane and saw a car coming from Ahuriri in the merge, I'd judge their speed out of the roundabout compared to mine and accelerate/decelerate in order for the merge to happen nicely.

MikeB4

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#1215321 15-Jan-2015 10:07

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/about-driving/merging.html

Both cars have a responsibility here, the merging vehicle must match speed and merge "like a zip" in a safe manner if need be further adjusting speed to allow this . The car in dual carriage lane should adjust speed to allow the merging vehicle to enter safely.

SaltyNZ

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2degrees

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#1215324 15-Jan-2015 10:10

I think the massive confusion & disagreement over who, if anyone should have given way to whom, indicates that the road needs to be painted with markings to make it clear.

Not that that's a guarantee. A couple of weeks ago I was coming up to a two-lane roundabout from the Albany mall to turn right onto Oteha Valley Road. I was in the right lane. There are arrows painted on the road at the roundabout: right lane can go straight or turn right, left lane can go left. Luckily, I was turning right instead of going straight, and had my eyes open, because a car pulled level with me in the left lane and proceeded to turn right in front of me.

The worst I have seen was when I had the misfortune to follow a truck in Penrith (before moving to NZ) that at two consecutive two-lane roundabouts (with arrows marking the lanes) proceeded to first turn left from the right-hand lane, and then left from the right-hand lane. And I'm not talking an 18-wheeler here that needed a ton of room to maneuver. I mean a little 5-ton truck; a glorified van.

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mattwnz

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#1215325 15-Jan-2015 10:10

mdooher:
mattwnz: As per what several others have said, I believe you have to give way to them, as they are coming in from your right side. That is the way I have always understood it from 20 years of driving. We have quite a few of those stupid dangerous merge situations in the Wellington region, but I always make sure I give way to the traffic coming in from the right.

I disagree, once the two lanes ran out the Toyota was passing and therefore must give way.

Even it you look at it the other way the Toyota is turning (ok gently) onto another road. The first part of the give way rule is "If turning give way to traffic not turning..."

So the Toyota is at fault.

Neither car is turning, they are going straight on into the same piece of road. I would compare it with a four way uncontrolled intersection, eg a cross , where two cars are both wanting to drive straight on into the same space on the road, and would hit if one didn't give way The car on the right has the right of way on that situation. The problem with merge is when two cars are both at the same point and both try to slow down or speed up to merge. Unfortunately the road on these types of merge situations are often too short and this situation regually arises, hence why I believe the car on the left should slow down for the merge, and the right one speed up, as the right one needs to speed up anyway to get to the same speed as traffic on that road. The NZTA however would be the best people to know the answer, although wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know, or just said merge and common sense was the answer.

I do often see traffic that stops at these merges, because the can't get the traffic to merge, or they don't feel safe to merge. That totally mucks it up, and can become a dangerous situation, and I have seen a crash occur from that.

JWR

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Ultimate Geek

#1215379 15-Jan-2015 11:28

I don't think either car are turning i.e. neither have to cross a centre line.

Therefore, it is a merge.

It is hard to tell. But, it did seem that the other car was ahead. So, you probably should have slowed a little and let him go ahead.

Also, if it was me, I would have been in the left hand lane there. I can't see any reason to be in the right hand lane.

dickytim

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#1215421 15-Jan-2015 12:09

Bung: In this merging lanes situation I don't think either lane has priority it depends on vehicle position. I suggest that JarleB should have seen the Toyota AHEAD of him and slowed down a little.

Edit. The White line on the left doesn't count as much as the absence of any line across the end of the merging lane.

The idiot in the Toyota was clearly behind the B pillar when he decided he'd like to be ahead.

This guy was being a dick, you should have shut the door on him.

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