An amendment to this notice was published on 20 June 2019, Notice No. 2019-au2863.

Notice Type
Authorities/Other Agencies of State
Notice Title

Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004—Active Stop Ahead Sign Trial – Stage 2

Pursuant to subclause 3.4(1) of Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (“Rule”) and a delegation from the NZ Transport Agency, I, Glenn Bunting, Manager Network Safety, authorise the installation and maintenance of active stop ahead signs:

  1. for the purpose described in Schedule 1;
  2. in the form and layout set out in Schedule 2;
  3. at the locations stated in Schedule 3;
  4. for the period specified in Schedule 4; and
  5. subject to the conditions and an evaluation outlined in Schedule 5.

The active stop ahead signs may be installed for the purpose of evaluating their use and the trial will be called the “active stop ahead sign trial – stage 2”. This follows a previous trial of active stop ahead signs that ran from 12 November 2015 to 30 October 2017 (notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 12 November 2015, Issue No. 123, Notice No. 2015-au6658).

Schedule 1—Purpose of trial

The purpose of the trial is to:

  1. enable the installation of active stop ahead signs as an alternative to the W10-1 and W10-1.1 stop ahead warning sign combination as specified in Schedule 1 of the Rule;
  2. evaluate the effectiveness and safety of active stop ahead signs;
  3. assess drivers’ understanding and response to active stop ahead signs; and
  4. measure drivers’ behaviour at intersections controlled by stop signs which have active stop ahead signs installed in advance of the intersection (Group A sites) or
  5. where installed at railway level crossings, measure drivers’ behaviour at the level crossings controlled by stop signs, which have active stop ahead signs installed in advance of the level crossing (Group B sites).

Schedule 2—Form and layout of active stop ahead signs

The signs must conform to the following description:

Symbolic warning – Active flashing light (Stop Ahead)

The lights in the left and right top corners flash alternately at approximately 1 Hertz and 50% duty cycle when a vehicle is detected approaching the sign.

Shape and size

Rectangle 1200 x 1800mm

Background

Black

Border

None

Legend

Description

Colour

Size

 

Lights in the left and right top corners flash alternately at approximately 1 Hertz and 50% duty cycle

Orange (lit)

100mm diameter

 

W10-1 sign

As for W10-1 sign

750 x 750mm diamond

 

“STOP”

Yellow (R)

200/32

 

“AHEAD”

Yellow (R) 150/24

Note: The dimensions, descriptions and terms used to describe the sign in this notice conform to the opening notes in Schedule 1 of the Rule.


Example:

Active stop ahead sign

 

Schedule 3—Location (two sets; group A intersection and group B level crossings)

The locations approved for this trial are:

Group A

Road Controlling Authority

Intersection Location

Ashburton District Council

Somertons Road at the intersection with Thompsons Track

NZ Transport Agency and Manawatu District Council

SH54 (Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road) and Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road at the intersection with SH54 (Milson Line) and Milson Line

Queenstown Lakes District Council

Riverbank Road at the intersection with Ballantyne Road

Selwyn District Council

Goulds Road at the intersection with Ellesmere Junction Road

Selwyn District Council

Hamptons Road at the intersection with Shands Road

Selwyn District Council

Longstaffs Road at the intersection with Trices Road

Selwyn District Council

Maddisons Road at the intersection with Weedons Ross Road

Selwyn District Council

Newtons Road at the intersection with Curraghs Road

Selwyn District Council

West Melton Road at the intersection with Hoskyns Road

Selwyn District Council

Coleridge Road and Leaches Road at the intersection with SH77

Southland District Council

Bayswater Road and Avondale Road at the intersection with SH96

Southland District Council

Mayfield Road and Ryans Road at the intersection with SH96

Southland District Council

Grove Bush - Woodlands Road (North West and South East approaches) at the intersection with SH98

Southland District Council

Two Chain Road at the intersection with Riversdale-Waikaia Road

Timaru District Council

Tiplady Road and Coach Road at the intersection with Winchester-Geraldine Road

Waimakariri District Council

Earlys Road at the intersection with Tram Road

Waimakariri District Council

Johns Road at the intersection with Plasketts Road

 

Group B

Road Controlling Authority

Level Crossing Location

Carterton District Council

Wiltons Road at the Wairarapa Metro Line railway level crossing

Grey District Council

Lake Brunner Road at the Midland Line railway level crossing

Horowhenua District Council

Jacksons Road at the North Island Main Trunk Line railway level crossing

Rangitikei District Council

Kiekie Road at the North Island Main Trunk Line railway level crossing

Ruapehu District Council

Matapuna Road at the North Island Main Trunk Line railway level crossing

Selwyn District Council

Frasers Road at the Main South Line railway level crossing

Waimakariri District Council

Marsh Road at the Main North Line railway level crossing

 

Schedule 4—Period of trial

The trial may begin after the publication of this notice and, unless terminated earlier, must end by 30 August 2020.

Schedule 5—Conditions and evaluation

  1. An evaluation must be undertaken as outlined in Selwyn District Council’s trial application of 2 August 2018 and include:
    1. Measurement of drivers’ compliance with the stop signs before and after the active stop ahead signs are installed;
    2. Analysis of vehicle speed and volume on the immediate approaches to the intersection or level crossing before and after the active stop ahead signs are installed. Speed must be measured within 25 metres of the stop limit lines to identify vehicles that are travelling at high speeds just prior to the limit lines;
    3. Assessment of drivers’ awareness and understanding of the active stop ahead signs, including a targeted feedback survey and assessment of any resultant driver behaviour change at the intersection;
    4. A study of crashes that occur at the intersection or level crossing before and after the active stop ahead signs are installed;
    5. A description of any operational problems with the signs during the trial and how they were resolved; and
    6. An assessment of cost and benefits of the signs and activation system as trialled and any recommendations to improve the signs or their operation.
  2. Any missing, damaged or malfunctioning sign must be repaired or replaced as soon as possible during the trial.
  3. Each road controlling authority is responsible for monitoring traffic at sites within their jurisdiction. The Accident Compensation Corporation in coordination with the road controlling authorities and the Police are responsible for producing the final reports required in this notice.

An interim evaluation report must be sent to me by 15 March 2019 and a final report by 4 October 2020.

Signed at Wellington this 6th day of September 2018.

GLENN BUNTING, Manager Network Safety, NZ Transport Agency.