Road User

2017 Amendment to Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2017?

The Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2017 (the Road User Amendment Rule) amends the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (the Road User Rule).

The Road User Rule establishes the rules under which traffic operates on roads. It applies to all road users, whether they are drivers, riders, passengers, pedestrians, or leading or droving animals.

Why was the Road User Amendment Rule made?

The Road User Rule has been amended in order to implement the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2017, which came into effect on 1 July 2017.

This Act amended the Land Transport Act 1998 to enable road controlling authorities, such as councils and the Transport Agency, to make bylaws allowing electric vehicles to use specified special vehicle lanes.

From 1 September 2017, it will be up to individual road controlling authorities to decide if they will make bylaws that allow electric vehicles access to any special vehicle lanes within their network.

What amendments have been made to the Road User Rule?

Changes to the Road User Rule include:

• the insertion of a definition of ‘electric vehicle’ which is “a motor vehicle with motive power wholly or partly derived from an external source of electricity”:
• amending the definitions of ‘bus lane’ and ‘transit lane’ to include reference to electric vehicles using those lanes. An electric vehicle may use a special vehicle lane if the road controlling authority makes a bylaw permitting those vehicles in the lane and installs a sign or road marking at the start of the lane:
• extending the application of B (bus) traffic signals to drivers of electric vehicles who are lawfully using bus lanes.

When do the changes to the Road User Rule come into effect?

The changes to the Road User Rule come into effect on 1 September 2017.

Was the public consulted on the changes?

During the select committee stage of the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, submissions were received on the proposal to enable road controlling authorities to allow electric vehicles access to special vehicle lanes.

Additionally, the Ministry of Transport sent details of the proposed changes to the Road User Rule to about 1,600 groups and individuals (including people who had registered an interest in the the Road User Rule and stakeholders involved with electric vehicles).

How can I obtain a copy of the Road User Amendment Rule?

Rules can be read, free of charge, at the National Office and regional offices of the Transport Agency. The rule is available on the NZ Transport Agency website at: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/road-user-2004-index/(external link).

A consolidated version of the Road User Rule, incorporating the amendment, is available on this website from 1 September 2017: http://nzta.thomsonreuters.co.nz/REG-NZL-PUB-Y.2004-427.pdf(external link)

Will the Transport Agency allow electric vehicles in special vehicle lanes?

As the road controlling authority with control over state highways, the Transport Agency has, to date, undertaken assessment of special vehicle lanes on the state highway network in Auckland, to determine suitability for electric vehicles. More information is available on the Transport Agency website: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/roads-and-rail/electric-vehicles-special-vehicle-lanes/(external link)