Law change will require drivers to give way to buses

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Bus drivers will no longer need to rely on the courtesy of other motorists to merge back into traffic when a new law is introduced later this year.

At the risk of a $50 fine, people driving at speeds of 60 km/h or less will soon be legally required to give way to buses which are indicating to leave a bus stop.

According to documents released by the Ministry of Transport, officials recognised that enforcement would be a lower priority to police than riskier behaviours like speeding. However the new law was backed by public transport authorities and industry representatives who said unclear rules caused inconsistent and unsafe behaviours.

Stephen McKeefry, chief operating officer of New Zealand’s largest bus operator Kinetic, said having a clear rule would improve both safety and consistency in the public transport network.

“Even short delays at bus stops can have a flow-on effect for passengers further along the route, so reducing that uncertainty supports more reliable services,” he said.

“It also has the potential to create a smoother journey for passengers. If a driver must brake suddenly after pulling away because another vehicle hasn't allowed the bus to merge, passengers, particularly those who are standing, can be put at risk. More predictable interactions help reduce those situations.”

“Importantly, the new rule doesn't change our drivers' responsibility to make sure it's safe before merging. That judgement always sits with the driver, and it always will,” he said.

Government officials recommended that bus drivers should clearly indicate to merge with traffic for three seconds before a driver is required to stop to let them in.

Stewart Gibbon, head of public transport at Environment Canterbury, said merging troubles typically occurred during peak hours on busy road corridors.

He said it was not practical for routes to change to avoid heavy traffic, as they were designed to maximise access to households and those roads were most suitable for public transport.

“With public transport patronage growing, it means buses are stopping more frequently and in peak times for longer periods while passengers get on and off the bus. The combination of bus lanes and the new law change helps improve overall performance,” he said.

The new law, which has not got a start date but Transport Minister Chris Bishop has said will come into effect before the end of the year, is part of a suite of lane use changes which include allowing children to ride their bikes on footpaths and allowing e-scooters to be driven in cycle lanes.

The give-way rule was supported by 61% of submitters during public consultation. Some opposed felt it was unnecessary, but officials said the current approach which relied on courtesy only resulted in drivers giving way between 15% and 50% of the time.

It could cost around $1 million to implement the new rule, but the cost was highly variable, officials said in the released documents.

To ensure commuters knew about the new rule, buses were likely to get a sticker informing motorists of the requirement, rather than expensive LED signs which would likely cost upwards of $5.2m.