Stuff article about road safety

[bigreddog]

Anyone else read this?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/64653498/high-road-toll-means-police-tactics-failed

And then did you have to read quote over and over to believe some one had actually said it?

Road-safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of The Dog and Lemon Guide, said :

The remaining 20 per cent of fatalities were caused by high-risk drivers who were "almost exclusively yobbos, impaired drivers or motorcyclists - all of whom are basically immune to road safety messages".

Am I reading this out of context and getting het up over nothing or is this blatant anti-bikerism?
:angry2:

[pritch]

Clive Mathew-Wilson is an idiot. He knows as much about road safety as most of the Police hierarchy, which is to say fuck all.

[Paul in NZ]

Plus along with the AA he is another long time motorcycle hater... meh... Idiot...

[bigreddog]

How the fk did he get that job!!!!!

[Tazz]

How the fk did he get that job!!!!!

I heard he has really soft hands.

[willytheekid]

Clive Matthew-Wilson :laugh::clap::killingme...never get sick of that joke!

http://laudafinem.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/screen-shot-2013-07-22-at-4-55-02-pm.png

...fugly motherfucker aint he :yes:

[mossy1200]

Clive Matthew-Wilson :laugh::clap::killingme...never get sick of that joke!



...fugly motherfucker aint he :yes:

Hates bikes because they don't make a helmet that would fit his cone head.

[Berries]

When I read it I thought well to be honest he isn't that far off the mark. Then you look at his figures and he is talking about "the remaining 20 percent" which works out at exactly 3.4 people so he hardly has much data to go on.

There's a summary of the 17 fatals at the bottom of this page - http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/329065/holiday-road-toll-17. Work out which ones are the 80 percent under the speed limit and you can work out who old buggerlugs is talking about. Just surprised that he didn't have a go at those 'fucking foreigners' while he was at it.

[sidecar bob]

Sadly one on the list is Hamilton motorcycle club president, classic racer, friend & all round good bugger Gary Wendt.

[gjm]

Unfortunately it matters not what we think, or know. The AA and (quite possibly) this idiot, CM-W, are "respected" in the news-listening community. As such, their word goes, and what they say is taken as literal and truth. They know this - the minority accused will know of the inaccuracies being quoted, but they are a minority. And only a minority of that minority will be sufficiently upset to even say something.

And those people could be described as the troublemakers being talked about in the first place.

That's the power of the media.

...


That Gary should have been a casualty over the New Year is very sad. I only met him once, but he seemed a really nice, genuine person.

[neels]

I think the general opinion of Clive Matthew Wilson has already been convered....

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/171964-Dog-and-Lemon-Guide-fuckwit-hates-motorcyclists

Second crack at motorcyclists in a short time, makes you wonder if he failed his basic handling test too many times.....

[gjm]

Interesting to hear the AA are suggesting the police review their current zero tolerance policy on speeding.
The police have said it is too early to tell if the policy has been effective.

[Scuba_Steve]

Interesting to hear the AA are suggesting the police review their current zero tolerance policy on speeding.
The police have said it is too early to tell if the policy has been effective.

Really:scratch: just a few months previous they were claiming it a "massive success & so would continue the policy as standard" [for holidays]

[mossy1200]

Just watched news.

Of 17 deaths they believe 11 were the result of alcohol/speed

Now fuck me sideways why are the 2 counted as one?
Does this mean 10 were drunk and unable to drive at reasonable speed due to impairment.

That's the most worthless stat ever.


I would like to announce that 99 out of 100 aircraft deaths are cause by explosions/ decompression/ lack of altitude.

[Big Dog]

Kind of like saying %100 are the result of a faulty vehicle or decision.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[haydes55]

I bet they classed the woman dying on the motorway at 6am after hitting a light post as speed related.... Empty motorway, straight section with barely a bend in the road, at that hour I bet there were barely any other cars. The crash was entirely alcohol related, regardless of speed, if you manage to crash there, at a speed below 240km/h it is not speed related.

I went through the same section of road a few months back, within 40km/h of the speed limit at near rush hour and didn't crash.

A common sense look at each crash will see, speed wasn't a factor in 99% of crashes they claim it to be. They just happened to be slightly over the limit when they fucked up, misjudged or fell asleep at the wheel.

[EJK]

Just watched news.

Of 17 deaths they believe 11 were the result of alcohol/speed



Wasn't Clive Matthew-Wilson the one said cheaper fuel prices were to blame?

[nzspokes]

It was reported that there were a lot of dangerous group riders in the vicinity of one motorcycle fatal crash but it was not stated if the rider was part of the group. I have said it before and will say it again that I believe that the pressure to keep up with the leader which many riders feel, is the killer in group rides plus they follow too close to each other so usually more than one ends up going down. For those who do not believe group riding can be dangerous just drive/ride between ChCh and Akaroa at the weekend.
So you can't keep up then?

[PrincessBandit]

So you can't keep up then?

While I'm sure that was meant, at least partly, in jest it does take confidence to say "ok, if you're going to ride at that speed [and I can't keep up], see ya later". I don't know if women riders feel the same (generalisation, generalisation) but a lot of guys seem to give the impression that keeping up with the faster riders is important in proving themselves to their peers. Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.

[nzspokes]

While I'm sure that was meant, at least partly, in jest it does take confidence to say "ok, if you're going to ride at that speed [and I can't keep up], see ya later". I don't know if women riders feel the same (generalisation, generalisation) but a lot of guys seem to give the impression that keeping up with the faster riders is important in proving themselves to their peers. Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.
Cassina is a female.

[RDJ]

I find riding after a group ride has through to be helpful. People both drivers and pedestrians are for a time more than usually aware of motorcycles; and the previous riders have usually attracted the attention of any +1km/hr blue-clad obsessive-compulsives. I feel no need to keep up with any other item than my own travel plans.

[RDJ]

In any large group it's likely that some riders will be excellently skilled, some mediocre and / or inexperienced, and the rest of us average. So why the need to suddenly try and foot it with the faster ones...? Also, the bike matters. My lightest bike is an '04 Sporty at 550 lb (dry weight), my heaviest a, '07 V8 bike is 1530 lb dry weight and closer to 1800 lb with gas, oil, luggage and me. No way am I going to enter a corner or ride a set of twisties at the same speed on different bikes even in the unlikely event everything else is equal (visibility, surface, etc).

[Big Dog]

That makes me a girl. I ride my own ride.

Doesn't worry me at all. It's not like being a woman is being a lesser person, just pissed none of you fuckers by my drinks at stops. Do I need to show more cleavage?

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[swbarnett]

Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.
I certainly do. This is a big part of why I mostly ride on my own or with my wife (I know she rides with the same attitude).

[nzspokes]

So riders who admit to not wanting to keep up in your book are girls? Better to keep up until death than be labelled a girl eh!!!

No your icon used to say your female then it disappeared.

[Edbear]

While I'm sure that was meant, at least partly, in jest it does take confidence to say "ok, if you're going to ride at that speed [and I can't keep up], see ya later". I don't know if women riders feel the same (generalisation, generalisation) but a lot of guys seem to give the impression that keeping up with the faster riders is important in proving themselves to their peers. Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.


I do not ride in a group and unlike you do not see risking death worth keeping up. In the news report I read it said guys trying to keep up in the group ride were seen riding the centre line of the road with cars coming the other way on the open road. Maybe you could explain why riding like that is worth the risk of death?

My limited experience with group rides, ie: Westpac Chopper and one KB ride, showed two very different styles. The Westpac Chopper rides were well organised and run at a good pace on the Motorways. Everyone seemed to ride at their own pace with most keeping up. The KB ride was with a very diverse group of bikes and riders and basically a lot slower than I would have preferred. However the group was considerate of the less experienced riders and tried to make them feel comfortable and encouraged. The comaraderie was evident.

[nzspokes]

While I'm sure that was meant, at least partly, in jest it does take confidence to say "ok, if you're going to ride at that speed [and I can't keep up], see ya later". I don't know if women riders feel the same (generalisation, generalisation) but a lot of guys seem to give the impression that keeping up with the faster riders is important in proving themselves to their peers. Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.

Ride your own ride, its called being an adult.

[RDJ]

I think the simple answer is those of us who prefer to ride our own ride, don't participate in group rides unless it is for a very special occasion such as a Toy Run. Maybe twice in 15 years I have been on a non-toy-run group ride and I was always looking out for what the others were doing and both times preferred to ride at the back of the pack. It is no coincidence that my assignment in both the club I joined while working in Asia, and the club I joined while working in America, I was assigned "Tailgunner". I always feel most comfortable there. Riding across country I much prefer to be solo. Both in New Zealand and elsewhere.

[caspernz]

While I'm sure that was meant, at least partly, in jest it does take confidence to say "ok, if you're going to ride at that speed [and I can't keep up], see ya later". I don't know if women riders feel the same (generalisation, generalisation) but a lot of guys seem to give the impression that keeping up with the faster riders is important in proving themselves to their peers. Hopefully there are just as many male riders who put safety ahead of matching others when they know their skills are not quite up to it.

Yep, I do my own speed. Hardly ever ride as part of a sizeable group, past experiences have created a "not for me thanks" attitude to group riding. Much more fun to go with one or two guys whose riding I trust, than to partake in a group race, err I mean group ride. If that makes me a girly rider...oh well :wings::rolleyes:

[awayatc]

Yep, I do my own speed. Hardly ever ride as part of a sizeable group, past experiences have created a "not for me thanks" attitude to group riding. Much more fun to go with one or two guys whose riding I trust, than to partake in a group race, err I mean group ride. If that makes me a girly rider...oh well :wings::rolleyes:


same here mate......
to many unknown quantities added to fucken worry about.....

been on a few large group rides in the past, but am giving it a permanent miss ...

Only few people I know I like to ride with, and feel safe around...
very few..

And no, I am no slouch...

[Swoop]

Interesting to hear the AA are suggesting the police review their current zero tolerance policy on speeding.
The police have said it is too early to tell if the policy has been effective.
Sadly, the police are their own worst enemy.
Keep repeating the same stuff and expecting different results... (Would they like the name of a good psychologist to visit?)

Driver training and road skills. Their problem becomes "how do we make money for the politicians from this".


Interesting to note the already "massaged" statistics which exclude two motor fatalities on beaches.

[PrincessBandit]

Cassina is a female.

Uh, yeah, and....?????

[PrincessBandit]

..... Where a women may feel the pressure would be perhaps in keeping up with her boyfriend.

Hopefully not! Any bloke who put pressure on his gf to keep up would have to be a dick, and any woman who couldn't say to her bf "hey do you mind riding to my speed, at least until I improve more" needs to speak up and lose him if he says "nah".

[nzspokes]

Uh, yeah, and....?????
You used a male reference. Just correcting you.

[Katman]

You used a male reference. Just correcting you.

Comprehension's not your strongpoint, is it?

[MrKiwi]

Anyone else read this?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/64653498/high-road-toll-means-police-tactics-failed

And then did you have to read quote over and over to believe some one had actually said it?

Road-safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of The Dog and Lemon Guide, said :

The remaining 20 per cent of fatalities were caused by high-risk drivers who were "almost exclusively yobbos, impaired drivers or motorcyclists - all of whom are basically immune to road safety messages".

Am I reading this out of context and getting het up over nothing or is this blatant anti-bikerism?
:angry2:


He is a self professed motoring safety expert who, in my opinion and that of many others, is exactly why is is not. His often opinionated views are based on a poor understanding of the data and arguably lots of prejudice.

I write a monthly column for a car trade publication and I had this to say about his comments...

Finally here is my snapshot of 2014 in review - Crawford’s Annual Brickbats and Bouquets.
"....
· A brickbat to Clive Mathew-Wilson who today described motorcycle riders as high risk drivers along with yobbos and impaired drivers (Come on Clive you know better than that. There are a few crazy drivers/riders in all categories of road users, but blanket statements about all motorcyclist can only be best described as being based on ignorance and prejudice)..."

[bigreddog]

He is a self professed motoring safety expert who, in my opinion and that of many others, is exactly why is is not. His often opinionated views are based on a poor understanding of the data and arguably lots of prejudice.

I write a monthly column for a car trade publication and I had this to say about his comments...

Finally here is my snapshot of 2014 in review - Crawford’s Annual Brickbats and Bouquets.
"....
· A brickbat to Clive Mathew-Wilson who today described motorcycle riders as high risk drivers along with yobbos and impaired drivers (Come on Clive you know better than that. There are a few crazy drivers/riders in all categories of road users, but blanket statements about all motorcyclist can only be best described as being based on ignorance and prejudice)..."

Great work MrKiwi...this ignoramus must not be allowed to get away with making these outrageous comments.
If it was any other minority the whole country would be up in arms...thank goodness we have people such as yourself that
are able to defend us in print.

[Berries]

I see that now he wants the speed limit to be shown in mph on the signs as well as km/h for those who are still imperial, overlooking the little known fact that the speedometer in cars over here is shown in km/h - douchebag. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/75805952/british-youtube-star-caught-going-141kmh-in-new-zealand)

[Ulsterkiwi]

I read about that pommie fella getting a discount on his ticket. Seems the cop who did it will be getting a quite word.
The whole "I didn't know" defence is less than pathetic, there are no shortage of signs on the roads and the speedos are all in kph. If people cannot work that out, should they be on the roads? Like the guy in Wellington who whinged about losing his licence for doing 100 on a 60 road because the last time he rode it the limit was 100. The signposts every km stating 60 might have been the clue there, says a lot about his observational skills.

With respect to the group riding thing any given weekend on our SH network one can usually see the various approaches to group riding

1. The SQUIDs as they race from one corner to the next demonstrating rubber band group riding and that is possible to exist without a brain.
2. The hard men who like to be in touching distance of one another while they ignore every other bugger on the road.
3. The summer weekend warriors whose chrome and open face helmets are so sparkly its like a scene from Excalibur and can't keep the bike straight at anything less than 20kph.
4. The precision spacing of a tightly marshalled group, are they really German tourists?
5. The group that is actually a series of individuals who have agreed a meeting point and ignore each other until there.
6. Some mates out for a ride together who have an understanding of each others skills and ride accordingly.

Have done the charity ride thing, am pretty selective now which ones I go to, some have been a lot of fun, some have been a survival exercise, thems the breaks. My general philosophy in life is, outside of work, I choose who I spend time with, that includes those I ride with. I choose not to ride with those who don't share my approach to riding. Doesn't make me right or better but I don't really care if you like that approach or not.

[RGVforme]

Anyone else read this?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/64653498/high-road-toll-means-police-tactics-failed

And then did you have to read quote over and over to believe some one had actually said it?

Road-safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of The Dog and Lemon Guide, said :

The remaining 20 per cent of fatalities were caused by high-risk drivers who were "almost exclusively yobbos, impaired drivers or motorcyclists - all of whom are basically immune to road safety messages".

Am I reading this out of context and getting het up over nothing or is this blatant anti-bikerism?
:angry2:

Clive Matthew Wilson.A bloke who still has to use a book of crap car stats he put out over 5 years ago after his name so people will know who he is.Enough said?

Its seems to me that he puts stats together then uses them to try and come across as knowing what hes on about like he has real world exp on the subject at hand also.

Hence the reason why he sounds so Anti biker atm.He is simply quoting the figures the ACC and Police have given him as his own re worded rant.

This comes to grief when he tries to apply his own solutions to the problem of road safety like "Lets put barriers down the middle and each side of the road on all state highways".

Im wondering if the AA PR role is coming up soon and hes plying for the job.

[RDJ]

I see that now he wants the speed limit to be shown in mph on the signs as well as km/h for those who are still imperial, overlooking the little known fact that the speedometer in cars over here is shown in km/h[/URL][/U]

That's just him being even weirder than usuul. My Yanqui-sourced bikes run mph speedos and even the OCD VINZ and WOF places haven't required me to put a km/hr face on them, or stickers... 50k is 30m and 100 is 60 and no need to think about it...

[Tazz]

Voicing the need of mph signs for peeps hooning along in rentals with kph speedos is beyond a brain fart comment. He's a fuckwit that continues to successfully advertise that fact.

[EJK]

Voicing the need mph signs for peeps hooning along in rentals with kph speedos is beyond a brain fart comment. He's a fuckwit that continues to successfully advertise that fact.

That whiny motherfucker who can't tell the difference between mph/ kph should just fuck right off.

[Tazz]

That whiny motherfucker who can't tell the difference between mph/ kph should just fuck right off.

You should write poetry man :laugh:

I'd say though. A dude advocating road safety that thinks there is a need for something as trivial as that shit is an embarrassment to the news agencies that seek his opinion. If someone can't read a sign a different sign isn't going to do shit. Some people are just a bit thick no matter what you do :drool:

Old Gertrude from Unit 2 at Drippynooks retirement village probably has more insight into road safety than that pompous fuck.

[Shoshoni]

I see that now he wants the speed limit to be shown in mph on the signs as well as km/h for those who are still imperial, overlooking the little known fact that the speedometer in cars over here is shown in km/h

What if you have Dyslexia then the signs would read 100 + 60 = 160 and the next problem would be is that mph or kmh, the DR650 can't handle those speeds. :killingme

[jasonu]

A lot of you cunts in NZ go on like you are the best drivers in the world. I have lived in several different countries and in my experience NZ drivers are far from the best. There is a lot of 'I own the road so get the hell out of my way' and 'everyone else on the road is an idiot'. Common courtesy is sorely lacking as is common sense. Every time I come back to NZ the general standard of driving looks to be worse.

[rastuscat]

Every time I come back to NZ the general standard of driving looks to be worse.

Looks like you just scored an own goal.

If your return makes the general standard of driving worse maybe you should stay away in the interests of road safety.

:whistle:

[swbarnett]

Common courtesy is sorely lacking...
To my mind this is our ONLY problem we have on the road. Engender a culture of courtesy and all other perceived problems will disappear.

[RDJ]

The police have said it is too early to tell if the policy has been effective.

I believe that's what they're still saying about the French Revolution and the Great Leap Forward...

[Tazz]

A lot of you cunts in NZ go on like you are the best drivers in the world. I have lived in several different countries and in my experience NZ drivers are far from the best. There is a lot of 'I own the road so get the hell out of my way' and 'everyone else on the road is an idiot'. Common courtesy is sorely lacking as is common sense. Every time I come back to NZ the general standard of driving looks to be worse.

We are. You are blessed that we let you 'other side' 'imperialistic' types be amongst our god like presence, yankee scum :bleh:

[pritch]

A lot of you cunts in NZ go on like you are the best drivers in the world. I have lived in several different countries and in my experience NZ drivers are far from the best. There is a lot of 'I own the road so get the hell out of my way' and 'everyone else on the road is an idiot'. Common courtesy is sorely lacking as is common sense. Every time I come back to NZ the general standard of driving looks to be worse.

You must have been reading different stuff to me. The impression I get is that while we on KB are paragons of road craft virtue, the car drivers are idiots or psychiatric patients.

At least in NZ we can discuss a minor shunt in a forthright manner without it turning into a gunfight. On the other hand that could be a powerful incentive to drive and otherwise conduct yourself in a coureous manner?

[Clunge Bucket]

A lot of you cunts in NZ go on like you are the best drivers in the world. I have lived in several different countries and in my experience NZ drivers are far from the best. There is a lot of 'I own the road so get the hell out of my way' and 'everyone else on the road is an idiot'. Common courtesy is sorely lacking as is common sense. Every time I come back to NZ the general standard of driving looks to be worse.

I lived in Oregon for 3 years. All the drivers there were on the wrong side of the road so you have no right to criticize the drivers of the United States of New Zealand

[RDJ]

Personally, I'm a fan of the theory of relativity. It's all relative.

If one rides or even drive in e.g. Ethiopia, the Congo (doesn't matter whether it's the Democratic or the Undemocratic one), any of the Trashcanistans, South American mountain highways, Chinese rural lowways; and also on New York City streets, or trying to stay alive on the freeways with Angelenos during rush hours after dark and before first light... practically makes one want to kiss the ground when landing in Mangere to pick up the bike to ride south in the company again of NZ drivers. Even those who normally stay north of the Bombay Hills...

That said, there is a more consistent degree of courtesy better than what we see at home, displayed by most road users especially outside the cities in places like the Carolinas, Texas, Kansas, the Dakotas and Montana etc that is really nice to be in the midst of.

[RDJ]

I lived in Oregon for 3 years. All the drivers there were on the wrong side of the road so you have no right to criticize the drivers of the United States of New Zealand

On this year's road trip with The Bride we drove through Oregon for two days. Great place and people would love to go back on two wheels and spend more time there.

Anyway, we don't have a United States of New Zealand - just a fractious bunch of enclaves with screwed up local and regional troughing politicians pandering to an increasing number of unproductive people with overdeveloped senses of entitlement being paid for by a shrinking minority of taxpayers.

Oops sorry, I should move over to the rant thread...

[jasonu]

On this year's road trip with The Bride we drove through Oregon for two days. Great place and people would love to go back on two wheels and spend more time there.

...

Feel free to drop Jason's B&B (beer and bed that is) a line if you return.

[Tazz]

Good to be fair and consistent eh :facepalm:

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11575205

Bet they had a better command of their vehicle than some egg that can't even work out if his speedo is in kph or mph.


An Auckland man's licence and car was confiscated after he was caught speeding on the Waikato Expressway.

An unnamed Waikato road policing officer posted about the bust on the district's Facebook page just after midnight yesterday, lamenting the driver's actions after he was caught driving at 143km/h - 43km/h over the speed limit.

"Yes, this is way, way too fast and yes, it is a long walk back to Auckland! Welcome to the Waikato? Please don't come again if you are going to endanger everyone in your car and other road users!!"

Because of his speed the man has an immediate 28-day loss of licence as well as having his vehicle impounded.

It was the second high-speed bust by the district's policing team this weekend after a man was caught driving 132km/h in an 80km/h zone along Hamilton's Wairere Drive with three passengers in the car late on Friday night.

After losing his licence and car, the man's first port of call was his mother to come and pick them all up.

[gjm]

Good to be fair and consistent eh :facepalm:

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11575205

Bet they had a better command of their vehicle than some egg that can't even work out if his speedo is in kph or mph.

That's less than 90mph, on a likely empty two lane carriageway with clear visibility in all directions. In the UK, with far higher motoring density, that's a quite usual speed to travel at.

Yes - the driver was breaking the law, and the law has been applied as laid down. But it does suggest the law is an ass, and that the total lack of discretion exercised on the part of some police officers (although I'm not aware of any discretion being exercised anywhere) is ridiculous.

[Tazz]

That's less than 90mph, on a likely empty two lane carriageway with clear visibility in all directions. In the UK, with far higher motoring density, that's a quite usual speed to travel at.

Yes - the driver was breaking the law, and the law has been applied as laid down. But it does suggest the law is an ass, and that the total lack of discretion exercised on the part of some police officers (although I'm not aware of any discretion being exercised anywhere) is ridiculous.

People can harp on and blindly follow all they like about the 'law', right off a cliff even, but the law is written by man, and as it turns out a lot of men are fuckin idiots...sheeple (or not) through life with that in mind I say.

/rant

[RDJ]

That's less than 90mph, on a likely empty two lane carriageway with clear visibility in all directions. In the UK, with far higher motoring density, that's a quite usual speed to travel at.

Yes - the driver was breaking the law, and the law has been applied as laid down. But it does suggest the law is an ass, and that the total lack of discretion exercised on the part of some police officers (although I'm not aware of any discretion being exercised anywhere) is ridiculous.

In my admittedly anecdotal experience, some police officers are very experienced at exercising discretion.

Young, sober, well-behaved teenage daughter assaulted in broad daylight on the main street; interviewed by phone, medical report supplied, but discretion exercised, "nothing we can do".

Repeated burglaries (times three in five years); discretion exercised, "report it to your insurance company" (subtext: don't expect us to do anything about it, and don't bother us again).

Reg and WOF stolen from bike; discretion exercised, "don't bother us, just replace them".

Number plate mounted vertically instead of horizontally (having passed two years worth of WOFs... no significant discretion exercised, "get off the road until you replace it with a legal-plate-orientation, and don't let me see you on the road again until that's done".

And so it goes.

[TheDemonLord]

In my admittedly anecdotal experience, some police officers are very experienced at exercising discretion.

Young, sober, well-behaved teenage daughter assaulted in broad daylight on the main street; interviewed by phone, medical report supplied, but discretion exercised, "nothing we can do".

Repeated burglaries (times three in five years); discretion exercised, "report it to your insurance company" (subtext: don't expect us to do anything about it, and don't bother us again).

Reg and WOF stolen from bike; discretion exercised, "don't bother us, just replace them".

Number plate mounted vertically instead of horizontally (having passed two years worth of WOFs... no significant discretion exercised, "get off the road until you replace it with a legal-plate-orientation, and don't let me see you on the road again until that's done".

And so it goes.

And yet, if your Daughter had a set of Knuckle Dusters on her, or you had killed the Cretins who burgled your house/stole your bike, it would be an entirely different story...

[RDJ]

And yet, if your Daughter had a set of Knuckle Dusters on her, or you had killed the Cretins who burgled your house/stole your bike, it would be an entirely different story...

Oh yes. Government and its agencies very much value their monopoly on force...