Roading terms: Flush Medians and Merge Lanes
Ever since the intersection of Waikawa Beach Road with SH1 was changed a year or two ago there has been a lot of discussion about the corner and turning.
Some, like me, might not have known that the white diagonal lines are an area vehicles can use for turning south out of Waikawa Beach Road. Here’s the official word (with my emphasis):
Flush medians are white diagonal lines, painted down the centre of some urban and semi-urban roads, marking an area about one-car-width wide.
They’re called ‘flush’ because they are not raised, just painted on the surface of the road. Sometimes, however, there will be raised islands on the median to provide extra protection for pedestrians.
What flush medians are for
Flush medians are there to:
- provide a wider separation between traffic streams on either side of the road
- provide pedestrians with a place to pause while crossing two traffic streams
- provide a refuge for vehicles turning into and out of side roads or driveways.
Don’t use flush medians as:
- overtaking lanes (except for short distances just before the turn or when preparing to turn right and other traffic is occupying the adjacent lane)
- a place to park.
It’s an offence to use a flush median to overtake, or to park on one.
How flush medians improve safety
In New Zealand, there has been a 19% overall reduction in crashes on streets where flush medians have been installed. Rear-end crashes have reduced by 66% and incidents involving pedestrians by 30%.
How to use a flush median
It’s alright to drive on a flush median for a short distance if you’re turning into or out of a side road or driveway. You can use them to slow down before making a right-hand turn, or to merge left into a gap in the traffic flow.
If you’re using the flush median to make a right-hand turn you should indicate, then steer gently onto the median rather than at an abrupt angle. Use the median as an area to slow down and brake. This way the following traffic doesn’t have to slow down rapidly to avoid you.
Carry out a similar manoeuvre if you’re using the flush median as a refuge before merging into traffic on your left. Remember to indicate and check your mirrors, accelerate, and move gently into a gap in the traffic.
When you’re using a flush median, always remember to watch out for pedestrians, other vehicles using the median and any raised islands.
Source: Flush medians | NZ Transport Agency.
Previously we had a Merge Lane:
Leaving a merge lane after turning right at an intersection
Some roads have a merge lane to help vehicles that have turned onto the road join the traffic flow.
If you are in a merge lane at an intersection:
- show you want to merge by signalling for at least three seconds
- move into a safe gap in the traffic
- adjust your speed and following distance.
Source: The official New Zealand road code – About driving.
I presume all the above is taken from a NZTA publication and it does not answer the question. The top picture shows what is not at the intersection. SH1. We have only a single lane each way north and south and the bottom picture shows what we did have but which was removed in late 2017 in what was called safety improvements now further compromised by plastic sticks glued on the road in late 2018. The only thing the sticks have done is stop the overtaking on the median of cars slowing down to turn into Waikawa Beach when coming from the south. This could be achieved far more successfully by reinstating the slip lane which was also removed in the 2017 “upgrade”. The 9 months work was a waste of money and the design in the whole area shows the woolly thinking of all those responsible.
Usual residence: NZ