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Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Commencement
• 1.3     Principal rule amended

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

• 2.1     Use of traffic control devices
• 2.2     General requirements for traffic signs
• 2.3     General requirements for markings
• 2.4     Steady vehicle displays in the form of a continuous display
• 2.5     Pedestrian crossings, school crossing points, school patrols and other pedestrian facilities
• 2.6     General requirements for signing parking restrictions

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

Section 4     Amendments to Schedules

Section 5     Schedule

 

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Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2014 (the amendment Rule) amends Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (the Traffic Control Devices Rule). The Traffic Control Devices Rule specifies the requirements for the design, construction, installation, operation and maintenance of traffic control devices, and sets out the functions and responsibilities of road controlling authorities in providing traffic control devices to give effect to their decisions on the control of traffic.

The objective of the amendment Rule is to make changes to the Traffic Control Devices Rule to:

• allow temporary signs authorised by an enactment to continue to be used after a law change makes them obsolete;
• allow a monogram or logo that marks the historical significance of a street to be included on the street name sign;
• allow markings intended for pedestrians and cyclists to be decreased in size when installed on places such as footpaths;
• clarify that a red arrow applies to all traffic intending to travel in the direction of the arrow and that it is not overridden by bus, train or cycle signals;
• enable a left turn green arrow to change to a full green disc without an intervening yellow left turn arrow;
• allow yellow disc signals on motorway ramp signal advance warning signs to be mandatory only where approaching vehicles are likely to exceed 70 km/h;
• clarify that drivers must have an unobstructed view of the full length of pedestrian and school crossing points;
• clarify requirements for parking signs by updating a cross-reference to refer to the specific requirements for parking signs rather than the general requirements for parking signs;
• clarify that cycles, mopeds or motorcycles may be excluded from a bus lane by either a sign or a marking;
• change the required sizing of a particular temporary supplementary sign;
• clarify that a “Cycle Only” sign applies to a cycle path, but not to a cycle lane, as this means “cycle only" by default;
• amend an incorrect reference within the specification of sign A14-1 street name.
  

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, amendments proposed to the Traffic Control Devices Rule and ten other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2014 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). Following consultation, the provisions in the Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into eleven separate amendment Rules, including this Rule.

The NZ Transport Agency sent details of the amendment proposals by letter or email to approximately 2,400 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended. The Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the NZ Transport Agency’s Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was also made available on the NZ Transport Agency’s website. The availability of the amendment proposals for comment was publicised in the daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and in the New Zealand Gazette.

The NZ Transport Agency received 25 submissions on the Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which four commented on the proposed amendments to the Traffic Control Devices Rule.

The submissions received were taken into account in finalising this amendment Rule following which it was submitted to the Associate Minister of Transport for signing.

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2014.

1.2     Commencement

This Rule comes into force on 1 November 2014.

1.3     Principal rule amended

This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004.

Section 2    Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1    Use of traffic control devices

2.1(1)     In clause 3.2(1), before "installed may continue" insert "manufactured or".

2.2    General requirements for traffic signs

2.2(1)    In clause 4.4(5)(a), after “road controlling authority’s area,” insert “or to mark the historical significance of the street name,”.

2.3    General requirements for markings

2.3(1)    In clause 5.4(2), after “Subject to” insert “5.4(2A) and”.

2.3(2)    After clause 5.4(2), insert:

“5.4(2A)    The dimensions of markings intended solely for pedestrians or cyclists may be decreased provided that the dimensions of each letter, numeral or symbol are decreased in approximately the same proportion.”.

2.4    Steady vehicle displays in the form of a continuous display

2.4(1)    After clause 6.4(2), insert:

“6.4(2A)    A steady vehicle display of a red arrow applies to all traffic intending to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow and is not overridden by a white or yellow B signal for buses, a white or yellow T signal for light-rail vehicles or a green or yellow cycle signal for cycles.”.

2.4(2)   Replace clause 6.4(3)(d) with:

“(d)    a green arrow signal followed by:

• “(i)   a yellow disc signal or yellow arrow signal; or
• “(ii)   in the case of a left turn green arrow signal, a green disc signal in an adjacent column provided that a signal phase for pedestrians that conflicts with the left-turning traffic does not commence when the left-turn green arrow signal changes to a green disc signal.”.

2.4(3)   In clause 6.4(17)(b) replace “and one yellow disc signal mounted above the variable traffic sign and one yellow disc signal mounted below it.” with “; and”.

2.4(4)   After clause 6.4(17)(b) insert:

• “(i)   where approach speeds are likely to exceed 70 km/h, one yellow disc signal mounted above the variable traffic sign and one yellow disc signal mounted below it; or
• “(ii)   where approach speeds are not likely to exceed 70 km/h, the yellow disc signals may be omitted.”.

2.4(5)   In clause 6.4(19)(b), after “yellow disc signals”, insert “, if present,”.

2.4(6)   Replace clause 6.4(20)(b) with:

“(b)    in display B, the variable traffic sign must read “Ramp Signal On” and the yellow disc signals, if present, must comply with the specifications in Schedule 3 and flash alternatively at approximately one Hertz with approximately equal on- and off-times.”.

2.5    Pedestrian crossings, school crossing points, school patrols and other pedestrian facilities

2.5(1)   Replace clause 8.2(7)(b) with:

“(b)    the driver’s view of the entire length of the pedestrian crossing is unobstructed by any permanent growth, construction or physical feature.”.

2.5(2)   Replace clause 8.4(4)(b) with:

“(b)    the driver's view of the entire length of the crossing is unobstructed by any permanent growth, construction, or physical feature.".

2.6    General requirements for signing parking restrictions

2.6(1)   In clause 12.5(2), replace “4.2(3)(b)” with “12.5(1)”.

Section 3     Amendment to Definitions

3.1(1)   In Part 2, Definitions, the definition of “Bus lane”, after “excluded by the signs” insert “or markings”.

Section 4     Amendments to Schedules

4.1(1)   In Schedule 1 Signs, item R1-8, under “Shape and size” replace “800 x 250 mm” with “900 x 300 mm”.

4.1(2)   In Schedule 1 Signs, item R1-8, under “Border” replace “10 mm” with “15 mm”.

4.1(3)   In Schedule 1 Signs, item R4-9.1, delete “lane or”.

4.1(4)   In Schedule 1 Signs, after item W16-8, insert the two items set out in the Schedule to this Rule.

4.1(5)   In Schedule 1 Signs, item A14-1, under “Description” after “locality” insert “or historical significance of the street name”.

4.1(6)   In Schedule 1 Signs, item A14-1, under “Size” replace “4.4(4)(a)” with “4.4(5)(a)”.

4.1(7)   In Schedule 2 Markings, item M8-1 - Numbers for road markings, after Note 7 insert:

“8. For pedestrians and cyclists, the dimensions of each numeral may be decreased in accordance with 5.4(2A).”.

4.1(8)   In Schedule 2 Markings, item M8-2 – Letters for road markings – A to J, after Note 6 insert:

“7. For pedestrians and cyclists, the dimensions of each letter may be decreased in accordance with 5.4(2A).”.

4.1(9)   In Schedule 2 Markings, item M8-2 – Letters for road markings – K to T, after Note 6 insert:

 “7. For pedestrians and cyclists, the dimensions of each letter may be decreased in accordance with 5.4(2A).”.

4.1(10)   In Schedule 2 Markings, item M8-2 – Letters for road markings – U to Z, ‘&’, ‘apostrophe’ and ‘/’, after Note 6, insert:

“7. For pedestrians and cyclists, the dimensions of each letter or symbol may be decreased in accordance with 5.4(2A).”.

 

Section 5     Schedule

W16-9	40 km/h Advisory School Zone
The sign indicates to drivers that they are entering a school zone with an advisory maximum speed of 40 km/h whenever children are present in the zone. Signs must be installed on both sides of the road.
Shape and size	rectangle 900 x 1500 mm (speed limit ≤ 70 km/h)               1200 x 2000 mm (speed limit > 70 km/h)
Background	yellow-green (RF)
Border	black 20 mm (≤ 70 km/h)          30 mm (> 70 km/h)
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	“SCHOOL” “ZONE” above	Black	120/20.4 (≤ 70 km/h) 160/27.2 (> 70 km/h)
	A horizontal line above	Black	20 mm (≤ 70 km/h) 30 mm (> 70 km/h)
	"40" above	Black	225/38.2 (≤ 70 km/h) 300/51   (> 70 km/h)
	"WHEN" "CHILDREN" "PRESENT"	Black	120/18.6 (≤ 70 km/h) 160/24.8 (> 70 km/h)

 

W16-9.1	School Zone Ends
The sign indicates to drivers that they are leaving a school zone.
Shape and size	rectangle 800 x 800 mm (speed limit ≤ 70 km/h)                1200 x 1200 mm (speed limit > 70 km/h)
Background	yellow-green (RF)
Border	black 30 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	“SCHOOL” “ZONE” “ENDS”	Black	125/19.5 (≤ 70 km/h) 160/24.8 (> 70 km/h)