Transport Minister Steven Joyce yesterday confirmed traffic turning left at intersections will have right of way over right-turning vehicles under changes proposed for early 2012.
Current give-way rules for turning vehicles were "confusing and out of step with the rest of the world" and changing them could cut intersection crashes by 7%, Mr Joyce said.
Changes were also planned to the rule for "T" intersections, so that traffic from an uncontrolled terminating road would give way to traffic on a through road.
An extensive education campaign was planned to ensure drivers were aware of the changes before they came into force, Mr Joyce said.
Dunedin driving instructor Jim Pine, of J.
Pine Driver Education, was a traffic officer when the current give-way rule was formalised in 1976.
It mirrored rules in Victoria, Australia - but the Australians later opted for the left-turn rule.
"It really is a stupid situation. We're the only country in the world with this rule. If we want to make the roads safer, and not confuse the visitors that come here, then it had to change."
Most New Zealand drivers did not struggle to comprehend the current rule.
The change would require some driver re-training, and some time to bed-in with road users, Mr Pine said.
ACE Academy of Driving owner Clive McKane warned the change would also mean changes to traffic-light phasing and road markings at some intersections.
It would cost millions of dollars in a recession, with no guarantee crash rates would come down.
"I think it should be delayed until we really leave the recession, and in the short term I think there will be an increase in crashes as people get used to it."
Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan, whose organisation supported the change, expected the proposed publicity campaign to reduce the likelihood of a surge in intersection crashes.
The campaign would "heighten driver awareness" elsewhere on the roads while the change would likely reduce intersection incidents involving international tourists.
He doubted safer intersections, and safer roads in general, would lead insurers to reduce their premiums.
This was a "big" but not "significant" change to insurers' risk, Mr Ryan said.
AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon called the current rule "ridiculous" and Southern District road policing manager Inspector Andrew Burns welcomed the change as another tool to tackle the region's "significant" intersection crash rate.
There were 1047 fatal and injury crashes at Dunedin intersections from 2005 to 2009.
New Zealand Transport Agency figures show more than half of those happened when someone failed to give way.
Mr Joyce also announced changes to improve motorcycle safety, including making tests motorcycle-specific, removing the option for reduced time on a restricted licence, introducing a power-to-weight restriction for novice riders and promoting the wearing of high-visibility clothing by riders.
Moped riders would also complete a basic handling test and motorcycle learner theory.
Public consultation on the Driver Licensing Amendment Rule is likely to start early next year.
