Under what circumstances can you overtake from the left at an intersection while ensuring safety?

The traffic rules in New Zealand are established with a clear purpose, primarily to ensure the safety of all road users. This is especially critical at intersections, where situations become more complex and hazardous, making adherence to the rules essential. Overtaking on the left at intersections is a special circumstance that requires utmost caution.

The reason for selecting “4. The vehicle in front is preparing to turn right” as the correct answer is that in this scenario, the vehicle in front will decelerate and move closer to the center or right side of the intersection to make a right turn, thereby leaving space and opportunity on its left side for the following vehicle to overtake safely. This action is based on a pre-judgment of the behavior of the vehicle in front and an assessment of the safe space available. The formulation of this rule reflects the preventive principle in traffic safety management, aimed at reducing conflicts and the likelihood of accidents at intersections.

New Zealand's traffic rules emphasize that safety must be ensured when overtaking under any circumstances. This means that even in the aforementioned situation, drivers must ensure that they can safely complete the overtaking maneuver without affecting other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. Violating these rules may increase the risk of traffic accidents, thereby jeopardizing the safety of drivers and other road users. Therefore, understanding and adhering to these traffic rules is crucial for maintaining safety on New Zealand roads.