Module 7: Lane positioning
Lane position and lane changes
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What you will learn
Keep a safe lane position and change lanes safely.
- Keeping left
- Changing lanes
- Merging
Keep left
LawKeep to the left and drive in the centre of your lane. On multi-lane roads, keep left unless passing or turning right, or when lanes are marked for different directions.
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View official source (opens in a new tab)Changing lanes and merging
LawTo change lanes: check mirrors, signal for 3 seconds, head-check, and move only when there's a safe gap. When you move into another lane, you must to traffic already in that lane. Where two lanes merge into one with no lane marked as ending, drivers should merge alternately – like a zip.
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View official source (opens in a new tab)Knowledge check
A few quick questions – no timer, no pressure.
You want to change into the lane on your right. A car is already in that lane beside you. What must you do?
Summary
- Keep left, centred in your lane.
- Lane change: mirror, signal, head check, gap.
- to traffic in the lane you move into.
- where lanes merge equally.
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How do you feel about this topic?
- Official sourceView official source: Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (opens in a new tab)NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi – Land Transport Rules index
- Official sourceView official source: General Road Code (car drivers) (opens in a new tab)NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi