Is your team ready for the road rule changes?
If your team drives for work, now is a good time to put road safety on the agenda. New Zealand’s lane-use rule changes come into effect on 1 October 2026, covering passing distances, buses leaving stops, children cycling on footpaths and e-scooters using cycle lanes.
We’ve covered the changes in our lane-use update. For employers and professional drivers, the next step is thinking about how they apply to the roads you use every day. A short conversation before the next shift can help your team prepare. Here are four practical points to bring into your next driver briefing.
Plan the whole passing manoeuvre
The new passing requirement introduces a minimum gap of 1.5 metres, where practical, when passing vulnerable road users such as cyclists and horse riders.
For someone driving a truck, the space needed to pass safely deserves careful thought. Consider the width and length of the vehicle, any trailer, the road ahead and how much room is available throughout the manoeuvre. Our advice is to slow down early and wait if you cannot pass safely. Getting the cab past a cyclist is only part of the job. You need enough room to complete the pass safely too.
Ask your team: Where on our regular routes is overtaking difficult, and how can we plan for those spots?
Look ahead around bus stops
Drivers will need to give way to buses leaving bus stops on roads with speed limits of 60 km/h or less.
For drivers making deliveries or travelling through town, this is a reminder to scan further ahead. Notice stopped buses early, watch for indicators and leave yourself time to respond smoothly. Trying to squeeze past before a bus moves can turn an ordinary journey into an unnecessary risk. Planning ahead gives you more time to make a safe decision.
Ask your team: Which bus stops do we regularly pass, and are we allowing enough time and space to respond?
Check cycle lanes before turning
E-scooters will be allowed in cycle lanes under the updated rules.
When turning across a cycle lane or entering a driveway, expect both cyclists and scooter riders. Make careful observations using your mirrors and appropriate blind-spot checks, and keep checking as you approach the turn. For heavy vehicle drivers, it’s worth discussing how the vehicle’s blind spots affect what you can see. A check made several seconds earlier may not reflect what is beside you now.
Ask your team: Where do our routes cross cycle lanes, and what can be difficult to see from the driver’s seat?
Look at your workplace entrance
Children aged 12 and under will be allowed to cycle on footpaths, with an older rider permitted to accompany them for safety.
Think about the entrances to your depot, yard or delivery sites. Can drivers clearly see along the footpath in both directions? Are parked vehicles, signs or vegetation blocking the view? As a practical safety check, review these entrances with your team and raise any visibility concerns. Take extra care where people using the footpath may be hidden from view.
Ask your team: Can we see people approaching our entrances in time, and is there anything we need to address?
Turn the update into everyday practice
You don’t need a lengthy presentation to get the conversation started. Pick a familiar route, talk through the situations your drivers encounter and give everyone a chance to flag concerns. It’s also worth checking whether delivery schedules leave room for drivers to wait, slow down and respond safely. Knowing the rules helps, but drivers need the time and support to put them into practice.
For team members progressing their heavy vehicle licences, AllTrain offers Class 2, Class 4 and Class 5 Truck Licence training. Our Class 2 course includes hazard identification, risk reduction and practical driving across urban, rural and highway conditions.
Planning your team’s next training step? Call 021 650 817 or email office@alltrain.co.nz to talk through the options.
