Some key milestones in the development of transport regulations in New Zealand.
Date | Milestones |
---|---|
1902 | Compulsory annual inspection of vehicles – over £100 – is introduced by the Motor Car Regulation Act. The same act requires the certification of drivers of cars that carry passengers or goods and available for hire. |
1925 | Driver licences become compulsory for all drivers. |
1931 | The ‘Right Hand Rule’ is adopted following increasing concern over intersection crashes. Motorists are to slow down to the city speed limit of 12mph (19km/h) and give way to traffic on their right. |
1931 | New driver regulations require drivers to pass an eyesight test using the Snellen chart, a hearing test, a traffic law test and a practical driving test, from 1 June. |
1931 | From 1 June, only people aged 18 years and over can drive a vehicle weighing two tons or more and only people aged 20 years and over can apply for a licence to carry passengers, plus they had to provide a medical certificate. |
1931 | Omnibuses and char-a-bancs (large vehicles generally equipped with tiered seating to carry around 15–25 passengers) have to pass a mechanical safety check and be issued with a certificate of fitness. |
1937 | After 1 March, all cars must have a warrant of fitness check every six months. In announcing this measure, the Minister of Transport, Robert Semple said it was designed to ensure all cars had safe lights, tyres, brakes, steering and exhaust and would 'sweep the old crocks off the roads'. |
1965 | National Traffic Offence Bureau is established at Christchurch. |
1969 | Instant parking fines are introduced. |
1969 | The 'Breathalyser' is introduced in a effort to successfully conduct roadside tests to establish if a driver was likely to be over the limit. |
1972 | Metric introduced to transport. |
1975 | On 4 August, the ‘metricated’ traffic regulations take effect. Over two million speedometer conversion stickers are distributed to help motorists convert to the new metric speeds. |
1978 | Road User Charges Act (enforced by Ministry of Transport) is introduced. |
1979 | To conserve fuel, carless days are introduced and weekend petrol sales are banned. |
1981 | Registered owners become liable for parking offences involving their vehicles. |
1992 | New motor vehicle registration and road user charges systems are implemented. |
1995 | From 1 April, all children under five have to be in an approved child restraint when travelling in vehicles. |
1997 | From 1 January, the ‘Vehicle Standards – Glazing Rule’ requires tinted windows to transmit at least 35% of the available light to ensure drivers can see traffic outside the rear corners of their vehicles. |
1999 | From May, all drivers have to upgrade their paper licences to the new credit card-sized photo licence. |
1999 | Drivers caught at double the legal alcohol limit, or travelling at 50km/h over the speed limit, will have their licences suspended for 28 days. |
1999 | Disqualified drivers and unlicenced drivers who had been warned not to drive until they got a licence could have their vehicles impounded for 28 days. |