23 NOVEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 4055

Regulatory Signs—Variable Speed Limit Sign

1. General purpose of signs:

The variable speed limit signs, when displayed in accordance with the said Wellington ATMS Operating Procedures Manual, and either

(a) Transit New Zealand (Ngauranga Gorge Variable Speed) Bylaw 2000 (or any bylaw passed in substitution for the said bylaw); or

(b) a temporary speed limit imposed in terms of Regulation 23 of the Traffic Regulations 1976;

shall regulate the speed of vehicles using the section of State highway.

2. Description of signs:

(a) Shape and Size: Square minimum sides 1700mm.

(b) Background Colour: Black.

(c) Legend: Generally in the form shown in Diagram 1 so:

(i) the speed value, in kilometres per hour, with numerals at least 400mm high shall be depicted by yellow light emitting diodes.

(ii) the rounded, having a minimum internal diameter of 1350mm and maximum outer diameter of 1500mm, shall be depicted by red light emitting diodes.

(d) Additional Legend: Circular lights in each corner of the sign, being yellow light emitting diodes, may flash to draw attention to the sign.

Warning Signs—Variable Lane Change Sign

1. General purpose of signs:

The variable lane change signs warn drivers of the need to change lanes in the direction displayed due to closure of a lane or lanes ahead.

2. Description of signs:

(a) Shape and Size: Square minimum sides 1700mm.

(b) Background Colour: Black.

(c) Legend: Symbols, generally in the form shown in Diagram 2 so the correct numbers of lanes and the direction of lane change, within a rectangle at least 950mm wide and 650mm high, shall be depicted by yellow light emitting diodes.

(d) Additional Legend: Yellow circular lights in each corner of the sign may flash to draw attention to the sign.

Diagram 1
Variable speed limit sign

Diagram 2
Variable lane change sign

Schedule 2

Operating Conditions

(a) The procedures for determining which legend will be displayed at any time will be determined by protocols and strategies defined in the Wellington ATMS Operating Procedures Manual approved from time to time by the Chief Executive, Transit New Zealand.

(b) The legend shall be displayed and, as the circumstances determine, removed in accordance with strategies defined in the said Wellington ATMS Operating Procedures Manual.

Signed at Wellington this 20th day of November 2000.

J.P. EDGAR, Manager Safer Roads.

m8674

Approval for 20 Metre Long Stinger Steer Vehicles

Pursuant to Regulation 49 of the Traffic Regulations 1976, and by way of a delegation from the Director of Land Transport Safety dated 3 May 1999, I, Donald Norman Hutchinson, Senior Engineer, Safer Roads, hereby approve the operation of stinger steer vehicles as defined in the First Schedule of this notice contrary to the provisions of Regulations 48B (1) (j) (ii), 48B (1) (j) (iii) and 48B (1) (t) but subject to compliance with the conditions set out in the Second Schedule.

This notice comes into force on the date of its publication in the New Zealand Gazette.

First Schedule

Definition
For the purposes of this notice, a stinger steer vehicle is a vehicle combination comprising a towing vehicle and one semi-trailer or one simple trailer where the coupling point is more than 0.3 metres behind the rearmost axle of the towing vehicle, but excludes an articulated bus.

Second Schedule

Operating Conditions

1. The overall length must not exceed 20.0 metres.

2. The point of attachment of the trailer must not be further rearward from the rear axis of the towing vehicle than a measurement which is not more than 50 percent of the distance between the foremost axle to the rear axis of the towing vehicle.

3. The weight on the front axle set or twin steer set of the towing vehicle must at all times be at least 20 percent of the sum of the axle weights of the towing vehicle.

4. The weight on the trailer axle set must not at any time exceed 1.5 times the sum of the axle weights of the towing vehicle.

5. The gross weight of the entire vehicle combination must not exceed 32,000 kilograms.

Signed at Wellington this 17th day of November 2000.

D. N. HUTCHINSON, Senior Engineer, Safer Roads.

(RT 21/4)

Explanatory Note:
This notice allows stinger steer vehicles to have an overall length of 20 metres and to not be restricted to carrying light motor vehicles. Note that an operator who breaches any of the conditions in the Second Schedule loses entitlement to the 20.0 metre length exemption. Consequently, a police officer may remove the vehicle from service until it does comply with the conditions in the Second Schedule and may issue an offence notice for exceeding Traffic Regulations 48B (1) (j) (ii) or 48B (1) (j) (iii).

m8673

Approval for Motor Homes and Rubbish Collection Vehicles to Have Greater Rear Overhang

Pursuant to Regulation 49 of the Traffic Regulations 1976, and by way of a delegation from the Director of Land Transport Safety dated 3 May 1999, I, Donald Norman Hutchinson, Senior Engineer, Safer Roads, hereby approve the operation of mobile homes and rubbish collection vehicles as defined in the First Schedule of this notice.