Intersections

These are my how-to tips for navigating intersections. For detailed information on New Zealand's driving rules please refer to the Official New Zealand Road Code and drive.govt.nz.

While caution is important, do not drive too slowly through intersections. Slower speeds can close gaps quickly, making previously safe opportunities hazardous.

Uncontrolled Intersections

Make sure you know the give way rules. It’s important to be confident in your right of way; excessive braking when you have the right of way can lead to confusion and potential hazards for other drivers.
When approaching wide intersections where your lane can accommodate two vehicles, position your vehicle on the far side of your intended path. For example, if you are turning left, stay on the far left of the road before making the turn.
 As you approach intersections, especially complex ones, reduce your speed. This gives you more time to assess what’s in front of you and anticipate what’s coming next. This is especially important for learner drivers.
At Stop signs, complete stop just before the line. Then, scan left and right to ensure it’s safe to proceed.
While it’s legal to have just your wheels behind the line at traffic lights or Give Way/Stop signs, it’s advisable to stop with your number plate just behind the line instead. This reduces the risk of overstepping and provides extra space for larger vehicles, like buses, that may need to cut corners.
Fun fact: Stopping slightly back from the line still allows you to activate ground sensors at traffic lights while maintaining a safe distance.
 Don't creep forward when trying to find a gap, as this often results in your car driving over the give way line, exposing your vehicle’s nose too much and increases the risk of a crash.

Controlled Intersections (Intermediate skills)

Roundabouts

Familiarize yourself with roundabout rules and approach them slowly. This will make it easier to identify gaps in traffic.

If you see a gap on approach, maintain your speed or accelerate to smoothly take the gap.
If you need to stop to give way, you should start accelerating just as the last car passes you. This helps ensure you don't miss the gap or get caught mid-motion when a new vehicle approaches.

Since the intentions of other motorists at roundabouts can be unclear, pay attention to their speed and wheels. This will give you a better indication of their direction than indicators alone. For example, an approaching vehicle travelling very fast with straight wheels is likely to be driving straight through.
Indicate and check your blind spot just as you pass the barrier before your exit. This gives you enough time to brake if a vehicle isn’t yielding, helping maintain traffic flow. Indicating after leaving the roundabout instead of during the exit can be marked as a critical error.
Always take roundabouts wide and only turn the wheel to match the curvature of the roundabout. Overturning can lead to driving onto the roundabout incorrectly, especially after passing the halfway point.

Traffic Lights

To avoid being rear-ended, brake early for traffic lights and intersections. Your brake lights serve as an added signal for inattentive drivers. This practice also conserves fuel and reduces strain on your brake pads, extending their lifespan.

When near traffic lights, avoid excessively scanning too far ahead as it may cause you to miss a light change. If you need to look around, focus on one thing before returning your attention to the lights.
 Always attempt to brake for orange lights. If stopping is unsafe, accelerate through them.
Pay attention to how long lights have been green or red; if it’s been a while or if you are not on the main road, prepare for them to change.
Be aware of where to stop at traffic lights. Most have pedestrian lines; if yours is faded, consider where pedestrians would walk and stop a meter behind that line.

When both you and pedestrians have a green light, they have the right of way. Drive slowly up to the first pedestrian line, to give vehicles behind you the option to go straight through the green light.
Be mindful of green sections on the road surrounded by solid lines; these are designated for cyclists and must not be used by vehicles for stopping.