Speed, enforcement & driver behaviour

[Smifffy]

Ok, I must be getting old, tired, broke or all three.

I'd like to note that the road toll is significantly lower than it was in 1974. Strangely speeds have gone up, and I believe that the reduction in toll has more to do with safer cars and safer roads than speed. I believe that those are the initiatives that should be pursued, as well as the people that travel at warp speed.

Anyway, since I am old and tired, in the cage, I tend to set the cruise control for the limit, hang my arm out the winda and crank up the classic rock.

On two recent trips from the Tron I have been doing this, staying in the left lane of the passing lanes, and everyone and their unrestrained toddler blaze by me in their clapped out smoking jap import. This doesn't worry me in the slightest, as long as they maintain a reasonable open road speed. During these trips however, more than twice, as we approach the end of the passing lane, Mr Popo approaches in his clearly marked car from the other direction.

The shitter then hits the picks and forces his way back into my lane, this seems to happen when his rear passenger door is about even with my wing mirror.

Each time I take evasive action and run the very real risk of the arse biscuit in the cage behind me running up my own backside.

I believe that if Popo wasn't there, said japper would brush by at 110-120 km/h and there would be no danger to either of us.

I know that Popo didn't cause the guys to speed, or require them to overtake.

I can usually guess with a high degree of certainty that SH1 between here & there is heavily patrolled, I don't even slow down when I see the patrol car, because I know I'm good. (Unless the disco lights are on, perhaps indicating a road hazard ahead)

Other than the obvious health/safety and insurance headaches, what is the legal position if I am unable to take evasive action soon enough and the japper either hits me and pushes me off the road, or hits oncoming traffic and possibly even the disco wagon?

Surely the jappa is passing me and is required to complete the entire manoeuvre safely? Surely the Popo will have seen all of this unfold and will be able to vouch for my safe and sensible drivings?

Surely there should be some guidelines available as to whether it is more or less dangerous to complete the passing manoeuvre or to cut off traffic at 100km/hr?

One of the jappas had an oncoming Kenworth sitting immediately behind the disco wagon, and if I wasn't so quick off the mark in evading him it would not have ended well for any of us. I'm sure the Jappa driver is completely oblivious to the risk he put any of us to, and congratulated himself on his quick reactions at avoiding a speeding ticket.

I think he should have got a ticket anyway.

I'd love to hear from Pro Popo peeps and maybe the bush lawyers too.

What is best done about this? Letters to the Waikato Popo? Letters to the gummint? More airbags and a steady nerve?

The safest thing to be done IMO is to cruise along at 110-120 and not let Jappa anywhere near me, but I'm redeemed from that kind of behaviour now.

Cool story, eh?

[mashman]

next time, take the fucker out before he takes you out and claim self defence

[steve_t]

*555 the unsafe driver

[Edbear]

*555 the unsafe driver

Always! :yes: Unless the police get enough complaints they won't be specifically targetting such drivers and are more likely to let it go.

I set my cruise at about 103/4 on the GPS and always chuckle at the cars that slow down every time they see a camera van or Police car regardless of their speed at the time! I've often overtaken Police cars which invariably tend to cruise at aound 95 nif they aren't in a hurry. Never been pulled over and usually give them a brief wave as I cruise on by. (No not THAT wave..)

[SMOKEU]

The government needs to focus more on idiot drivers than speeding. It's surprising to see how many people can't even follow basic road rules such as indicating or merging properly.

[Sable]

Failing to indicate fucks me off badly. A lot of car drivers seem to view it as an optional extra.

[FJRider]

... usually give them a brief wave as I cruise on by. (No not THAT wave..)

Another waving thread huh ... :facepalm:

[blackdog]

All this talk about jappas, I bet you drive a Toyota to go with your Suzuki.

[Smifffy]

All this talk about jappas, I bet you drive a Toyota to go with your Suzuki.

When I'm in the nissan I can only manage 95 km/h.

But it *is* invariably the clapped out jap import that is most guilty of it.

[Smifffy]

*555 the unsafe driver


Using the phone while driving is inherently dangerous - to the extent that there is even a law against it :gob:

My phone is complicated enough with all of the swiping etc required to use it, even after finding it, that I do actually feel that that would put me at even more risk.

Besides which:

a. There is a Popo wagon right there to see it happen, esp since the Popo inderectly caused it in the first place
b. Aforementioned Popo is then just as likely to pull me over and demand to know wtf I think I'm doing talking on the phone whilst driving since there is a law against it.

I don't need those kind of hassles.

My preference is to either
a. allow some leeway for vehicles to exceed the limit to complete passing at the end of a passing lane
b. Nail the fuckers who cut off traffic in left lane at end of passing lane

[Scuba_Steve]

yes the speed scam has been inforced to the point it is now detrimental to safety, & yes if there was an accident you get the fun job of proving it was not your fault due to the "you car hitting his rear end" result but in saying that the law does say things like he must not make you take evasive action etc

[scumdog]

yes the speed scam has been inforced to the point it is now detrimental to safety, & yes if there was an accident you get the fun job of proving it was not your fault due to the "you car hitting his rear end" result but in saying that the law does say things like he must not make you take evasive action etc

Chuck a full-stop or two and add another comma or here and there and I might bother to read that post....:blink:

[BigAl]

Chuck a full-stop or two and add another comma or here and there and I might bother to read that post....:blink:

How do you know they were missing unless you read it ;)

[Berries]

What is best done about this? Letters to the Waikato Popo? Letters to the gummint? More airbags and a steady nerve?
Get a bike.

[scumdog]

How do you know they were missing unless you read it ;)

Did it not seem like a grey blurr to you too???

[FJRider]

... yes if there was an accident you get the fun job of proving it was not your fault due to the "you car hitting his rear end" result but in saying that the law does say things like he must not make you take evasive action etc

I can't recall the LAW saying that ... however .. if you follow another vehicle too closely to brake in time to avoid an accident, it is YOUR fault. If you dont NOTICE he has braked ... you are driving without due care and attention ... YOUR fault ...

[Oleg]

When back in 2006 someone did cut me off the same way as described above , and in about 20seconds after that Popo gave me the ticket for not keeping the distance, i gave up on being nice and considerate driver. These days if I see a ricer who tries to overtake just a few meters before the passing lane runs out, i simply move to the middle of the road, hence getting few fingers in my rear view mirror. But couldn't care less for that....

[Scuba_Steve]

I can't recall the LAW saying that ... however .. if you follow another vehicle too closely to brake in time to avoid an accident, it is YOUR fault. If you dont NOTICE he has braked ... you are driving without due care and attention ... YOUR fault ...

They were in sperate lanes to start before the driver forced his way back into smifffy's lane. That wording might have been from road-code or NZTA site but when someone pulls infront of you it wasn't YOU following to close, it was THEM doing dangerous manoeuvre's

Laws in Smifffy's favour IMO
Driver of vehicle changing lanes or turning fails to give way to vehicle not changing lanes or turning
Fail to drive within lane
Unsafe manoeuvre from lane

[Smifffy]

This. This is what worries me, and all thanks to some other asshat who is determined to speed but will avoid being caught speeding at any cost.


When back in 2006 someone did cut me off the same way as described above , and in about 20seconds after that Popo gave me the ticket for not keeping the distance, i gave up on being nice and considerate driver. These days if I see a ricer who tries to overtake just a few meters before the passing lane runs out, i simply move to the middle of the road, hence getting few fingers in my rear view mirror. But couldn't care less for that....

[Oleg]

This. This is what worries me, and all thanks to some other asshat who is determined to speed but will avoid being caught speeding at any cost.

I'm fully aware that this is not the correct way, but have other plans apart from:
1. Being pulled over because of someone else.
2. Being pushed of the road, if mr suby-station-wagon-on-20-inch-chromes decided to cut just a bit earlier.
3. 2 baby seats at the back of the car will have to be dried.


on top of everything - I just love trolling ricers.

[spinergy]

On a similar but different note, people who drive along at 90 till they hit a passing lane then dial up 110 need to be taken out back and shot.
We need a speed limit of 90 if you're in the left hand of a passing lane so that people who do want to pass you can do so at a reasonable click and not worry about getting pinged.

[Ender EnZed]

We need a speed limit of 90 if you're in the left hand of a passing lane so that people who do want to pass you can do so at a reasonable click and not worry about getting pinged.

And then you'll slow down to 90 at the next passing lane (because you have nothing to overtake) and be overtaken by the same car at 100?

[Oleg]

And then you'll slow down to 90 at the next passing lane (because you have nothing to overtake) and be overtaken by the same car at 100?

^^^^This.

No signs or restrictions will replace common sense. Better driving education should be in place. Can do with many examples.

[scumdog]

When back in 2006 someone did cut me off the same way as described above , and in about 20seconds after that Popo gave me the ticket for not keeping the distance, ....

So...lemme get this right, 20 seconds after the car passed you and cut you off you still were unable to 'drop back' to give a good safe distance between you and the car that cut you off???:confused:

Was it standing on the brakes hard-as or something?

[Oleg]

So...lemme get this right, 20 seconds after the car passed you and cut you off you still were unable to 'drop back' to give a good safe distance between you and the car that cut you off???:confused:

Was it standing on the brakes hard-as or something?

Road from New Plymouth to Te Kuiti. There is one very cunty uphill passing lane. strait after that 50km/h zone just around the corner as the lanes merge back in one. I was following some one on pretty short distance. We didn't pass anyone, clear road. just as we got to the end of the passing lane, the wanker got in between me and the car in the front. and because there is 50km zone the front car started slowing down (from 100 down to 50), the ricer braked hard (120-50). I didn't hit the breaks full on, just not to wake up my better half. split second later cop came around that corner, so me being right up against ricers ass, span around and there i was on the side of the road $150 poorer.