28ththJan Nov--34rdth Feb Dec 2014 2017 27
FIRST ON THE STREET
No No 434 628
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
1 J IN O 30 SI BS D E
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Random roundabouts and other weird rules. It’s fantastic that we have finally achieved a reasonable flow of traffic through Frankton but it’s a bit concerning that with several new roundabouts and extra lanes appearing, we don’t seem to have our new system laid out in an easy to read way. There are incredible antics going on and it’s a miracle there are not more prangs as visitors to the area (and some locals) gamble on what lane goes where. Some roundabouts give both lanes the straight-through go-ahead, others only one—sometimes the right, sometimes the left. Another allows you to turn right in either lane. A new frequent kafuffle is turning right towards Arrowtown at the BP roundabout, only to find you are grappling for space in just one lane. There are an unusual number of drivers either at Five Mile, Pak n Save or Stalker Road roundabouts, who think they can veer across lanes and actually use the middle of the roundabout to pass another car. I doubt it was the intention of NZTA to provide passing lanes on roundabouts. The structure of the new roundabouts, with their lovely planting and mounding, are high and wide and don’t necessarily allow you to get a visual on people’s intentions or indications until the very last second. It’s hardly surprising you see people, usually in rental cars, literally flooring it into the abyss with their eyes closed, hoping for the best.
LWBTV presenter Henry Youngman catches up with our ‘Local of the Week’ - Marianne (aka - lady of the Mint House).
(Photo: Jodi Walters)
We have a new government who got into power on the promise of improving everything under the sun. Obviously, the reality of delivering these promises are hitting speed bumps, meaning those looking for change will be waiting a while longer. How much longer can we wait for an improvement in the crash statistics of visitors to our region behind the wheel of rental cars? While we wait for the new transport minister to get his feet under the desk, we could save some of the confusion on the faces of visitors by painting more big white arrows on the ground indicating what lane goes where. Preferably before you enter the roundabout. Even the most prepared tourist driver, who may have schooled up on our road rules before renting their car at Queenstown Airport will otherwise continue to be faced with a minefield two minutes into their journey. We need to give our visitors the confidence that if they learn our basic road rules we won’t throw curve balls at them and instead make driving here as simple as possible to understand. White paint is cheap. Arrows painted on the ground reminding people to stay left is already widely used in New Zealand. We already have arrows in some roundabouts. Surely the same before the roundabout will help people prepare to be in the correct lane before heading into the roundabout network of Frankton Flats. Lucy Hunt Guest Editorial
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THIS SATURDAY JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 92% correct
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