Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Part 1     Rule requirements

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

Section 2     Amendments relating to traffic control devices

• 2.1     Vehicle-mounted signs
• 2.2     Ramp signals
• 2.3     Pedestrian crossings
• 2.4     Poles, markings and other indicators of pedestrian crossings
• 2.5     Pedestrian traffic signals
• 2.6     Responsibilities, functions and powers

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

• 3.1     Amendments to existing definitions

Section 4     Amendments to schedules

• 4.1     Amendments to Schedule 1, Signs
• 4.2     Amendment to Schedule 2, Markings

Part 2     Schedules

Schedule 1     Amendments to Schedule 1, Signs

 

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2006 amends Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004, which 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.
The objectives of this amendment to Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 are:

• • to allow fixed signs to be used at ramp signals instead of variable signs (although variable signs are reliable, they have a higher risk of failure than fixed signs and potential for vandalism or damage);
• • to clarify some provisions relating to pedestrian crossings and pedestrian traffic signals, in particular that reflectorised white ‘zebra’ stripes must contrast with the surface of the roadway; that a pedestrian crossing exceeding 15 m must either be controlled by traffic signals or be interrupted by one or more traffic islands; that road controlling authorities do not to have to mark a limit line in advance of a pedestrian crossing if it is not practicable to do so; and that ‘zebra stripes’ must not be marked at a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing;
• • to clarify provisions relating to school bus signs, in particular imposing a specific duty on school bus operators to comply with requirements relating to the installation or removal of school bus signs;
• • to amend the definitions of  ‘passenger service vehicle’ and ‘power assisted cycle’ so that they are aligned to those definitions in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (as amended consequentially by the Land Transport  Amendment Act 2005);
• • to insert new signs in Schedule 1, and make minor corrections to existing signs, and to make minor corrections to markings in Schedule 2.

 

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, a number of amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 and 10 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2006 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). The main purpose of the changes proposed by the Omnibus Amendment Rule was to clarify provisions and correct some errors in Rules.

On 28 June 2006 Land Transport New Zealand (Land Transport NZ) sent a letter containing the Rule amendment proposals to about 2201 groups and individuals who had expressed an interest in the Rules to be amended, and sought submissions on the proposed changes. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the Land Transport NZ Help Desk and was available on the Land Transport NZ website. The availability of the draft was publicised in five metropolitan newspapers, selected regional newspapers, Te Karere National News and the New Zealand Gazette. Land Transport NZ received 49 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 13 commented on the provisions relating to traffic control devices.

Following consultation, the provisions of the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 11 separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister for Transport Safety for signing.

 

Part 1     Rule requirements

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2006.

1.1(2)     This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004.

 

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on 6 October 2006.

 

Section 2     Amendments relating to traffic control devices

2.1     Vehicle-mounted signs

Subclause 4.4(16) is amended by omitting “for transporting school children” and substituting “as a school bus”.

 

2.2     Ramp signals

2.2(1)     Subclause 6.4(17) is amended by revoking paragraph (a) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(a) for each approach lane to the signals on the ramp a display mounted on a single column (display A) with two single-column, 3-aspect traffic signals (figure 3A of S4-3 in Schedule 3) separated by a traffic sign that displays the words ‘One Vehicle Per Green Each Lane’; and”.

2.2(2)     Paragraph 6.4(19)(a) is amended by omitting “and the variable traffic sign must read ‘Ramp Signal Off’ ”.

2.2(3)     Paragraph 6.4(20)(a) is amended by omitting “the variable traffic sign must read ‘One Vehicle Per Green Each Lane’, and”.

 

2.3     Pedestrian crossings

2.3(1)     Clause 8.2 is amended by inserting the following subclause after subclause (3):

“8.2(3A) If white does not contrast with the colour of the adjacent roadway, the roadway must be resurfaced or marked to provide a contrast to the white lines.”

2.3(2)     Clause 8.2 is amended by revoking subclause (4) and substituting the following subclause:

“(4) A pedestrian crossing must be marked in accordance with 8.2(3), and if applicable with 8.2(3A), by 30 June 2007.”

2.3(3)     Subclause 8.2(5) is amended by revoking paragraph (b) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(b) replaced by traffic signals”.

 

2.4     Poles, markings and other indicators of pedestrian crossings

Subclause 8.2(11) is amended by revoking paragraph (b) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(b) must, if practicable, mark a limit line that consists of a white line that is not less than 300 mm wide and not less than 5 m from the pedestrian crossing; and”.

2.5     Pedestrian traffic signals

Clause 8.5 is amended by inserting the following subclause after subclause (2):

“8.5(2A) A road controlling authority may not mark a pedestrian crossing in an area controlled by traffic signals.”

2.6     Responsibilities, functions and powers

The following heading and clause is inserted after clause 13.6:

“13.6A  Responsibilities of school bus operators

“A person who is a school bus operator must ensure that 4.4(14) to (16) are complied with.”

 

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

3.1     Amendments to existing definitions

3.1(1)     Part 2 is amended by omitting “Transport Services Licensing Act 1989” from the definition of passenger service vehicle and substituting “Act”.

3.1(2)     Part 2 is amended by omitting “200” from the definition of power-assisted cycle and substituting “300”.

 

Section 4     Amendments to schedules

4.1     Amendments to Schedule 1, Signs

4.1(1)     Schedule 1 of Part 3 is amended by adding the following bullet points to the opening words:

• • “Within the described ‘shape and size’, the corners of signs may be rounded.
• • A traffic sign that conforms substantially with the form of a traffic sign prescribed in this Schedule is deemed to be an authorised traffic sign.”

4.1(2)     Schedule 1 of Part 3 is amended by:

• (a) omitting “100 mm” from item R1-1.1 (beside “red (R)” opposite “Border”) and substituting “75 mm”; and
• (b) omitting “(R)” from item R1-2.1 (beside “black” opposite “Background”) and substituting “(unlit)”; and
• (c) omitting “(R)” from item  R1-8.1 (beside “white” opposite “shape and size” where it first appears); and
• (d) omitting “allows” from item R2-3.1 (under the heading “colour”) and substituting “arrows”; and
• (e) omitting “R2-2 above W15-4 (if used)” from item R2-11.3 and substituting “W15-4 (if used) above R2-2”; and
• (f) inserting the signs set out in Schedule 1 of this Rule in their appropriate position.

 

4.2     Amendment to Schedule 2, Markings

Schedule 2 of Part 3 is amended by:

• (a) omitting “Vehicle hold line” from diagram M1-3 and substituting  “Limit line”; and
• (b) omitting “2400 (urban)” and “3600 (rural)” from diagrams M6-1  and M6-2.1 and substituting “2 m”.

 

Part 2     Schedules

Schedule 1     Amendments to Schedule 1, Signs

[Ref. Cl. 4.1(2)(f)]

New signs inserted in Schedule 1 of Part 3

R4-12.2	Emergency stopping lane – other times
Adjacent lane is available only for the purposes of avoiding a collision or stopping in an emergency at times other than described on a sign mounted above which defines an alternative lane use for specific times.
Shape and size	rectangle 900 x 750 mm
Background	white (R)
Border	red (R) 30 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘EMERGENCY’	black	100/15.5
	‘STOPPING’	black	100/15.5
	‘LANE ONLY’	black	100/15.5
	‘OTHER TIMES’	black	75/12.7

 

W1-1.10	Road works supplementary - bridge under repair
The bridge beyond the sign is undergoing repair. Two options.
Option A
Shape and size	rectangle 950 x 500 mm [supplements W1-1]
Background	orange (RF)
Border	black 15 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘BRIDGE’	black	125/18
	‘UNDER REPAIR’	black	125/18
Option B
Shape and size	rectangle 1200 x 600 mm [supplements W1-1B]
Background	orange (RF)
Border	black 20 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘BRIDGE’	black	160/24.5
	‘UNDER REPAIR’	black	160/24.5

 

W2-1.22	Hazard warning supplementary – film crew
There is a crew filming ahead – expect crew, people and equipment ahead. Two options.
Option A
Shape and size	rectangle 950 x 500 mm [supplements W1-1]
Background	orange (RF)
Border	black 15 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘FILM CREW’	black	125/18
Option B
Shape and size	rectangle 1200 x 600 mm [supplements W1-1B]
Background	orange (RF)
Border	black 20 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘FILM CREW’	black	160/24.5

 

W3-9	Uneven surface
The road ahead has an uneven surface.
Shape and size	diamond 600 mm square
Background	orange (RF)
Border	black 25 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘symbol with two humps’	black	560 x 160 mm

 

W4-1.4	Lane closed – centre lane, three lane, one way road
Centre lane of three lanes stops ahead, traffic in centre lane move to left or right lane (as appropriate).
Shape and size	rectangle 750 x 750 mm
Background	white (R)
Border	black 25 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘3 up arrows with parallel shafts at the base, centre arrow turning left or right’ below	black	shafts 100 mm
	‘trapezoidal shape indicating lane closure’	orange (RF)	230 x 300 mm

 

W18-2.1	Helicopter
Helicopters fly low over road ahead
Shape and size	diamond 600 mm square
Background	yellow (R)
Border	black 25 mm
Legend	Description	Colour	Size
	‘symbol of helicopter’	black	500 x 250 mm