The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) says a multi-media public awareness campaign will kick off next month to ensure that drivers are aware of changes to New Zealand's give way rules which come into force from 5am on Sunday March 25.
NZTA Chief Executive Geoff Dangerfield said publicity around the rule changes was being carefully timed in order to ensure maximum awareness of the changes, while at the same time minimising the risk of drivers starting to apply the new rules too early.
“In the long run the new rules will help to reduce confusion and reduce crashes by making decision-making easier for drivers at intersections, but there are obvious safety risks if some people start following the new rules too early. That’s why our publicity will be carefully timed and delivered.”
Mr Dangerfield said a $1.2 million nationwide advertising campaign promoting awareness of the rule changes would kick off on March 15, ten days prior to the ‘go-live’ date, and would continue through until April 1. The campaign will include TV, radio, online and print advertising, along with a leaflet door drop to 1.73 million homes. The ads will focus on highlighting the date of the change, and will provide a simple overview of the new rules.
The advertising campaign will be preceded by a major update to the official website for information on the new rules - www.giveway.govt.nz(external link) on February 29.
The website will be updated with a range of new material, including videos illustrating the rule changes from a birds-eye view and from a driver’s view, an interactive quiz for people to test their knowledge of the rules, and PDF leaflets on the rule changes available in 13 languages and in larger print.
At the same time half a million leaflets detailing the rule changes will be distributed via councils, Police, the NZTA and driver licensing agents.
Information and diagrams on the rule changes have been available online since last year at www.giveway.govt.nz(external link).
Changing the give way rules is one of the first actions being implemented as part of the Government’s Safer Journeys road safety strategy, aimed at significantly reducing death and injury on New Zealand’s roads by 2020.
