Tourists driving in the South Island

[madbikeboy]

Just cut and pasted this from Stuff.co.nz, originally reported in the Southland Times. Clearly, these fuckers all deserve a bullet...


Article.
A Chinese tourist thought he could overtake on blind corners because there were no yellow lines and said he did not know to stop for police using flashing lights.

Zhiang Ding, 29, of Chongqing, was one of four tourists - including one whose keys were removed from his rental vehicle by a member of public - to appear before Judge Christina Cook in Queenstown District Court this morning.

Ding was fined $1000 and disqualified for six months for dangerous driving on State Highway 6 on Sunday.

A member of the public called police when Ding repeatedly crossed the centre line and tried overtaking on blind corners, in Garston, at Athol, Kingston and along the Devil's staircase.

He reached a speed of 134kmh and failed to stop for police using flashing lights. He was eventually stopped when he reached a traffic queue at Frankton.

Lawyer Sonia Vidal said Ding believed overtaking was permitted anywhere if there were no yellow lines and he claimed he did not know flashing police lights meant he should stop.

Judge Cook said she was concerned Ding continued crossing double-yellow lines on the Devils staircase, a stretch of road with multiple blind corners.

"This is a prolonged piece of dangerous driving," she said.

"Whatever the practice is in China, it's common sense you would not overtake a vehicle on a corner where you cannot see the other cars. You should not be driving the roads in New Zealand if you are not familiar or competent to drive in a safe way."

Chinese citizens Yusi Yang, 30, of Chongqing, and Qian Li, 34, of Hangzhou, and Indian national Pratik Shah, 24, of Mumbai, also appeared.

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Yang, a Communist Party member, was fined $900 and disqualified for seven months for dangerous driving on the Cardrona Valley Rd, also on Sunday.

He was in a queue of traffic approaching the Cardrona ski field turnoff, pulled out and overtook six cars on double yellow lines while approaching a blind corner.

He stopped after the manoeuvre and member of the public also stopped and removed the keys from Yang's rental car.

Lawyer Liam Collins said Yang had made the effort of reading the New Zealand road code before going on honeymoon. During the manoeuvre other vehicles had failed to allow Yang back into the left lane, he said.

Li's case was adjourned until this afternoon for victim impact reports and reparation reports. She is charged with three counts of careless driving causing injury after a head-on crash in Gibbston on Saturday.

Two British tourists in the oncoming car were seriously injured.

Shah, on honeymoon in New Zealand, was fined $750 and disqualified for six months for dangerous driving on the Te Anau-Mossburn Rd, on Sunday.

He overtook a tourist bus returning from Milford Sound on a straight but failed to see an oncoming car, forcing the bus to brake hard and the oncoming car to take evasive action.

Sergeant Rob Mills said a bus-load of 16 American tourists were adamant it was a very close call and Shah appeared to have no appreciation of the potential consequences.

Brazilian national Juliana Oliveira Machado, 28, of Fernhill, also appeared charged with dangerous driving after an incident on her first day behind the wheel in New Zealand.

She was fined $700 and disqualified for six months for dangerous driving on Coronet Peak Rd, on December 16.

She drove on the wrong side of the road and an oncoming vehicle and Machado were forced to stop to avoid a crash. She told police she thought she was driving slowly to be safe and she had no explanation for driving on the wrong side.

- The Southland Times

[EJK]

Bloody asians!

[willytheekid]

Bad fucking joke aint it <_<

I believe the stats show over 20% of serious accidents in the south involve a foreign driver :facepalm:...but lets just keep hammering the speed issue, and treating the average kiwi like they are criminal scum for going 5k over or such BS!

...just how many more dead Kiwis will it take before tthe Gov't & cops FINALLY step up to address the glaring problem. (There still thinking of ways to make a profit from such an exercise Im guessing<_<)


But HUGE!! props to the folks taking keys off these potential killers!:niceone: (...if they resist?...are you allowed to beat the ignorance out of them?:confused:)

[madbikeboy]

Bloody asians!

Cheeky sod, must be your Asian sense of humour. :)

[madbikeboy]

Bad fucking joke aint it <_<

I believe the stats show over 20% of serious accidents in the south involve a foreign driver :facepalm:...but lets just keep hammering the speed issue, and treating the average kiwi like they are criminal scum for going 5k over or such BS!

...just how many more dead Kiwis will it take before tthe Gov't & cops FINALLY step up to address the glaring problem. (There still thinking of ways to make a profit from such an exercise Im guessing<_<)


But HUGE!! props to the folks taking keys off these potential killers!:niceone: (...if they resist?...are you allowed to beat the ignorance out of them?:confused:)

We're not the only country to have an issue with foreign drivers, but it's telling that this is a single morning in the court...

[mada]

Sssssshhh guys, according to the PM John Key, theres absolutely nothing we can do to prevent terrorists, I mean tourists, who are killing and maiming in our country and backyard and pose a high threat on the roads. Training them wont work.

Meanwhile, it would be shocking to sit back and do nothing about preventing terrorists living half way around the world who pose no threat to us, are low risk to us. But training their corrupt just as blood thirsty cousins will work.

:niceone:

[willytheekid]

We're not the only country to have an issue with foreign drivers, but it's telling that this is a single morning in the court...

Very true!...but are we now the ONLY country in the world world with 20% of recorded accidents being attributed to tourists?? (Regarding the south island figures)

Its a friggin HUGE percentage when you consider how many road users are local compared to Foreign...yet its 20%!!:crazy:
Makes ya wonder if we are truly are a "learn as ya go" nation (Just look at our JOKE license issuing/testing...no training!, just pass basic parking, speed control and bingo!..you can drive!....you can learn the rest as ya go:msn-wink:)



...so bloody sad to be constantly reading about innocent drivers involved in such avoidable & fatal accidents.

[mada]

The funny thing about China is we can't actually drive on their roads with our licences. I looked into before heading away on my last trip there.

Yet, they can here despite the conditions being significantly fucking different, for example:

a) In China give way rules dont apply - you just pull out into the traffic and make a gap. Other drivers generally allow this and will let you in, but there are very few if any "give way or stop signs".

b) Pretty much the only thing that drivers follow the instructions of are traffic lights, even then they have green turning lights while pedestrians can cross and the cars will pull in and honk - so the peds need to move the fuck out of the way. Motorbikes and cyclists often go down the wrong way on streets. Pedestrians walk and pull their carts on highways and motorways. Vehicles, especially buses and taxis do not stick to lanes, and weaving in between traffic as fast as possible is pretty much a national sport.


c) When the lazy arsed police are not sitting around smoking cigs on the side pavement, they can be found sleeping in their cars. Practically all Chinese emergency services drive around with their lights flashing, ambulances, cop cars, you name it. Despite going to no emergencies. In China it's about "crime" aka dissent, prevention - with the lights warning people "we're here and watching". Drivers generally pay no attention to the emergency services unless their horns are blaring and their is a massive convoy or road block.

* Hong Kong and Taiwan are not as bad as the Mainland, but still have elements of what I mentioned above - such as emergency vehicles often driving around with flashing lights, and a bit of a "pull out, they'll give way" mentality.


It's absolutely retarded to allow people to come from such a different culture of driving onto our roads and think it will be all good with no form of assessment or training and that we cant do anything in the interests of saving a couple of bucks. :mad::mad::brick::brick:

[Edbear]

We're not the only country to have an issue with foreign drivers, but it's telling that this is a single morning in the court...


Bad fucking joke aint it <_<

I believe the stats show over 20% of serious accidents in the south involve a foreign driver :facepalm:...but lets just keep hammering the speed issue, and treating the average kiwi like they are criminal scum for going 5k over or such BS!

...just how many more dead Kiwis will it take before tthe Gov't & cops FINALLY step up to address the glaring problem. (There still thinking of ways to make a profit from such an exercise Im guessing<_<)


But HUGE!! props to the folks taking keys off these potential killers!:niceone: (...if they resist?...are you allowed to beat the ignorance out of them?:confused:)

I think the fact that so many are coming before the courts is evidence that the Police are taking the problem seriously. It only appears that speed is the priority because that's what the media keep harping on about.

You see, speeding is a controversial topic and the media love to feed controversy - good for ratings. It's about time they focussed on the other issues and publicised those to the same extent.

[JimO]

The funny thing about China is we can't actually drive on their roads with our licences. I looked into before heading away on my last trip there.

Yet, they can here despite the conditions being significantly fucking different, for example:

a) In China give way rules dont apply - you just pull out into the traffic and make a gap. Other drivers generally allow this and will let you in, but there are very few if any "give way or stop signs".

b) Pretty much the only thing that drivers follow the instructions of are traffic lights, even then they have green turning lights while pedestrians can cross and the cars will pull in and honk - so the peds need to move the fuck out of the way. Motorbikes and cyclists often go down the wrong way on streets. Pedestrians walk and pull their carts on highways and motorways. Vehicles, especially buses and taxis do not stick to lanes, and weaving in between traffic as fast as possible is pretty much a national sport.


c) When the lazy arsed police are not sitting around smoking cigs on the side pavement, they can be found sleeping in their cars. Practically all Chinese emergency services drive around with their lights flashing, ambulances, cop cars, you name it. Despite going to no emergencies. In China it's about "crime" aka dissent, prevention - with the lights warning people "we're here and watching". Drivers generally pay no attention to the emergency services unless their horns are blaring and their is a massive convoy or road block.

* Hong Kong and Taiwan are not as bad as the Mainland, but still have elements of what I mentioned above - such as emergency vehicles often driving around with flashing lights, and a bit of a "pull out, they'll give way" mentality.


It's absolutely retarded to allow people to come from such a different culture of driving onto our roads and think it will be all good with no form of assessment or training and that we cant do anything in the interests of saving a couple of bucks. :mad::mad::brick::brick:
exactly we were there for a month at the end of last year and the standard of driving is abismal, on one occasion a guy ran across the motorway and jumped the barrier and plowed into the side of the bus were in, he bounced off and lay on the side of the road, the bus kept going and a police car that was behind us drove straight past him as well

[mada]

exactly we were there for a month at the end of last year and the standard of driving is abismal, on one occasion a guy ran across the motorway and jumped the barrier and plowed into the side of the bus were in, he bounced off and lay on the side of the road, the bus kept going and a police car that was behind us drove straight past him as well

Yeh mate, life is very cheap there. The amount of near misses we had in taxis and on motorbikes :laugh: with buses and trucks inches away from our faces. Everyone is in a hurry to make their next buck to survive. If I was to have a business in China I would make brake pads, they must go thru a hell of a lot of em.

We often think our Police in NZ are incompetent but Mainland Chinese Police are so shit they don't even deserve the title "Police" more like "Poo Lice".

Another difference in driving - 4) Horn's are usually used to warn people that you're coming or going to pass them on highways - so you get massive as trucks and buses tooting you as they approach and pass

or in the city to hurry up and drive through the pedestrians in front of the queue, rather than after someone cuts you off or is dangerous. Staying in the cities near main streets you can hear a car horn every 5 or so seconds. So if such drivers are here and hear horns they're most likely to not respond in the same manner that we would.:confused:

[Kickaha]

...just how many more dead Kiwis will it take before tthe Gov't & cops FINALLY step up to address the glaring problem. (There still thinking of ways to make a profit from such an exercise Im guessing<_<)

It's less of a problem than the locals killing themselves

[Swoop]

This is the whole problem with "Tourist season".

Where do you apply for a licence to hunt the bastards?:ar15:

[caspernz]

It's less of a problem than the locals killing themselves

That's kinda my take on this subject as well, but then I don't spend a lot of time on South Island routes popular with tourists...

[Grumph]

That's kinda my take on this subject as well, but then I don't spend a lot of time on South Island routes popular with tourists...

i live on one...and yes, frequently see last minute dives for the correct side of the road. During tourist season (and yes, i'd like to take out a licence please ) one of our problems in inland canty is bloody cycle tourists. bastards are always in the wrong place. At points of scenic interest like the gorge bridges the parked cars should be ticketed and the pedestrians too....I'm surprised there haven't been fatalities already.

But then in the off season, we have to deal with unlit farm machinery on the road going very slowly after dark....Lets see tourists deal with that.

[AllanB]

I tell you, it ain't safe on the open road down here.:facepalm:

[Berries]

I tell you, it ain't safe on the open road down here.:facepalm:
You're not wrong. Luckily, statistically speaking, the more tourists who drive down here the safer we become because on average they are better than the fuckwit locals. But that doesn't make the headlines in the ODT or Southland Times. Twenty percent of crashes is fuck all when probably a third of drivers are from overseas on some of the tourist routes down here.

Having said that, the Chinese should not be allowed to drive here because they are shit drivers, have a totally different outlook on road rules and whatever you are told do not follow the "reciprocal arrangements" set out in the UN convention.

[bgd]

Having said that, the Chinese should not be allowed to drive here because they are shit drivers, have a totally different outlook on road rules and whatever you are told do not follow the "reciprocal arrangements" set out in the UN convention.

That will never happen, need those tourist $$ :msn-wink:

Apparently more Singaporeans kill themselves on NZ roads than anywhere else, apart from Sg of course. It's to do with the fact that they have to drive for more than half an hour and don't have buildings around them to give them the perspective they need to stay on the road. :facepalm:

[pete376403]

Germany is supposed to have pretty high standards of driving but that wasn't apparent today http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/govt-refuses-test-tourist-drivers-despite-latest-fatality-6239967

[gammaguy]

That will never happen, need those tourist $$ :msn-wink:

Apparently more Singaporeans kill themselves on NZ roads than anywhere else, apart from Sg of course. It's to do with the fact that they have to drive for more than half an hour and don't have buildings around them to give them the perspective they need to stay on the road. :facepalm:

I choose not to drive here

Most singers are driving at 5kmh updating their facebook status in their 7 series beemer that never gets out of third gear.

When the time comes for more speed such as on the expressway many are found sadly wanting,motorway pile ups are sadly common here,then there are the trucks driven in from Malaysia with drivers high on anti sleep drugs and loads secured(if at all)with a dried noodle.

I will take the subway here thanks,and do my riding in enzed.....while avoiding the asian tourists....from Singapore

[Waihou Thumper]

I was following a stream of vehicles approx 10 from the turn off to Hanmer Springs.
This car was doing 100 kph then slowed down for no apparent reason. I was lucky enough to pass them all and as I got to the front car looked at the driver...
He was doing 50kph with a cell phone in his hand taking photos of the ranges and river down below.
So was the passenger!
Unbelieveable. It is now wonder we have these sort of needless deaths.

AND to make matters worse, it is usually the unsuspecting motorist/cyclist/pedestrian that dies as a result!

[Mo NZ]

I saw the same thing on the Milford road. Camera out the drivers window.
I thought of riding up beside him and snatching the camera then riding ahead of him and throwing it on the road.
But he stopped filming just before I got up beside him and I couldn't reach it.

But I am sure he got the message I delivered.

[Asher]

The Akaroa highway is my stomping ground and I do a huge amount of kms around Canterbury for work so I get to experience crap tourist driving daily. Don't get me wrong, when I'm on the bike if often the tourists who move over and indicate to let me pass (I'm guessing they are from Euro countries) while many locals actively make it difficult to pass.
Apart from tourist driving on the wrong side of the road ( which I have yet to come across thankfully) the things I find the most dangerous is:
They are so unpridictable, I have developed a pretty good spidey sense where I can predict when someone is going to do something stupid but some tourists just do things that make absolutely no sense.
The other one is giving tourists the keys to massive campers, if someone can't keep on their side of the road in a little Corolla think how much more they are over in a much wider camper

[caspernz]

Germany is supposed to have pretty high standards of driving but that wasn't apparent today http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/govt-refuses-test-tourist-drivers-despite-latest-fatality-6239967

Part of the problem is the European driver who expects the same roading standards in NZ as in their own home country. The way NZ places a Stop or Giveway sign with often zero warning on an open road stretch, takes some getting used to.

Maybe humour is the answer to this problem. I'm picturing someone with the Billy T James approach to how we "supposedly" deal with foreign drivers who misbehave on our roads? One 30 second clip leaked in the right manner, showing roadside education would have more impact than anything official we've seen to date. How interesting the method of education is depends on your own interpretation :ar15:

[Tazz]

Part of the problem is the European driver who expects the same roading standards in NZ as in their own home country. The way NZ places a Stop or Giveway sign with often zero warning on an open road stretch, takes some getting used to.

Maybe humour is the answer to this problem. I'm picturing someone with the Billy T James approach to how we "supposedly" deal with foreign drivers who misbehave on our roads? One 30 second clip leaked in the right manner, showing roadside education would have more impact than anything official we've seen to date. How interesting the method of education is depends on your own interpretation :ar15:

Uhhh, ever driven in Europe? The road signs here are fine for the most part. A lot of country road intersections overseas have NO signs, and even worse no reflectors which makes driving in fog a right bloody chore. I'm 99.9% sure EVERY intersection in that area has a 200m warning sign and she would have crossed a bunch of other intersections before she got to that one. If she was too thick to work out what STOP means or was busy yakking away to passengers it's no fault of the road...

Someone fucked up and caused a crash, it happens.

Personally I think this tourist lynch mob gathering over their driving is bullshit and NZ drivers need to look in the mirror well before trying to pick out the inadequacies of tourists. In my experience when a camper cuts a corner on a narrow road (Queen Charlotte Drive for example) it is because the road is narrow and they are inept at swinging wide to stop it from happening. When a local cuts the corner it is every fucking one and at speed because they think they are Schumacher and because they drive it all the time they think they have some sort of ownership claim. They are the people that will kill you, it just won't make the news.

[caspernz]

Uhhh, ever driven in Europe? The road signs here are fine for the most part. A lot of country road intersections overseas have NO signs, and even worse no reflectors which makes driving in fog a right bloody chore. I'm 99.9% sure EVERY intersection in that area has a 200m warning sign and she would have crossed a bunch of other intersections before she got to that one. If she was too thick to work out what STOP means or was busy yakking away to passengers it's no fault of the road...

Someone fucked up and caused a crash, it happens.

Personally I think this tourist lynch mob gathering over their driving is bullshit and NZ drivers need to look in the mirror well before trying to pick out the inadequacies of tourists. In my experience when a camper cuts a corner on a narrow road (Queen Charlotte Drive for example) it is because the road is narrow and they are inept at swinging wide to stop it from happening. When a local cuts the corner it is every fucking one and at speed because they think they are Schumacher and because they drive it all the time they think they have some sort of ownership claim. They are the people that will kill you, it just won't make the news.

Yep, I grew up in Europe. Not saying it's the cause, but in my view NZ road signage is woeful, not to mention inconsistent. Even the latest signs on the motorways in Auckland are a laugh, and for a first time visitor, unnecessarily confusing. Now if one lived in a main centre in Europe and hopped off a plane in NZ, the potential for harm is real. Can't argue with the rest of your statement.

[Tazz]

Yep, I grew up in Europe. Not saying it's the cause, but in my view NZ road signage is woeful, not to mention inconsistent. Even the latest signs on the motorways in Auckland are a laugh, and for a first time visitor, unnecessarily confusing. Now if one lived in a main centre in Europe and hopped off a plane in NZ, the potential for harm is real. Can't argue with the rest of your statement.

Noice, the high population areas in Central Europe are better for sure. A 'country' road in some of those denser areas is like our SH1 :laugh: After seeing for myself a lot of their roads I wasn't really that unimpressed, or impressed, when compared to our roads in general. Signage here is way better than Ireland though which is where I've done most of my offshore blats :D And don't even think about asking for directions, they're even worse!

The likes of the Autobahn that people harp on about is only one small section of a very large Europe.

[Reckless]

Its spreading North.
More hurt Kiwi's and a lovely Vintage gone this time to.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/66865557/us-driver-takes-out-elderly-car-couple?cid=facebook.post.66865557

[James Deuce]

There's nothing spreading anywhere. Just the misinformation that Tourists are more dangerous on NZ roads than the local crowd of clowns. I see the same stuff from Kiwis every time I drive or ride. It's unremarkable and completely accepted. The current tourist driver bashing is just racist socially acceptable violence that will have the effect of having our current rights to drive in other countries removed in response to our terrible driving standards and vigilante attitude.

The vast majority of road deaths and injuries are caused by your Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother, Cousin, Granddad and yourself. Tourists are the least of my worries statistically. I more scared of the giant cluster of idiots in the middle of the bell curve who live here and all think they are excellent drivers and riders.

[Murray]

And they still report and highlight the French visitor that died when colliding with a truck north of Tauranga. He swerved to miss a port-a-loo coming off the back of another truck. And interesting today http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11410814 2 trucks manage to collide with each other on the same road.

Whats with all the trucks being involved in so many accidents???

[oldrider]

There's nothing spreading anywhere. Just the misinformation that Tourists are more dangerous on NZ roads than the local crowd of clowns. I see the same stuff from Kiwis every time I drive or ride. It's unremarkable and completely accepted. The current tourist driver bashing is just racist socially acceptable violence that will have the effect of having our current rights to drive in other countries removed in response to our terrible driving standards and vigilante attitude.

The vast majority of road deaths and injuries are caused by your Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother, Cousin, Granddad and yourself. Tourists are the least of my worries statistically. I more scared of the giant cluster of idiots in the middle of the bell curve who live here and all think they are excellent drivers and riders.

Well JD we are so on the same page on this one! :yes:

[Tazz]

There's nothing spreading anywhere. Just the misinformation that Tourists are more dangerous on NZ roads than the local crowd of clowns. I see the same stuff from Kiwis every time I drive or ride. It's unremarkable and completely accepted. The current tourist driver bashing is just racist socially acceptable violence that will have the effect of having our current rights to drive in other countries removed in response to our terrible driving standards and vigilante attitude.

The vast majority of road deaths and injuries are caused by your Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother, Cousin, Granddad and yourself. Tourists are the least of my worries statistically. I more scared of the giant cluster of idiots in the middle of the bell curve who live here and all think they are excellent drivers and riders.

Well said. Where are the daily updates on all the accidents caused by us locals? I just saw a close call on the pedestrian crossing outside involving a local businesses sign written car. Driver might only be first generation NZ. Front page material?

Good to see another article where half of the content is there for the word count/pay cheque. Consistency and all that.

[Tazz]

Whats with all the trucks being involved in so many accidents???

The drivers are shit, not equipped to deal with our road conditions with 55+ tons on the back and need more license retests (1 a year?) to prove they are up to driving to our conditions :niceone:
Look at how they made a whole section of road in Kaikoura 80 because truckies were dumb enough to keep on driving off the road. Don't know how all those inept tourists were making it through fine....

If it is expected of all tourists and the tests are brought in I hope they do the same for the rest of us. I don't disagree completely that some tourists from particular countries are pretty rough on the driving skills, but still don't really want that to happen. We'd be better off for it though (so long as the testing is thorough) and I bet a plenty of those jumping on this bandwagon wouldn't make the cut.

[James Deuce]

We'd be better off for it though (so long as the testing is thorough) and I bet a plenty of those jumping on this bandwagon wouldn't make the cut.

Started the cycling education for the kids and am surprised at how rusty I am at the road code stuff. It is a good refresher.

[Paul in NZ]

Started the cycling education for the kids and am surprised at how rusty I am at the road code stuff. It is a good refresher.

No education required - buy them some lycra and teach them to scream and swear and pull the fingers at everyone, job done...

[Reckless]

Here's another one that might upset James :calm:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/66864433/taking-tourist-drivers-keys-a-public-service?cid=facebook.post.66864433

[James Deuce]

Why would I be "upset"?

He should be charged with assault and potentially conversion.

[oldrider]

Why would I be "upset"?

He should be charged with assault and potentially conversion.

Same page again JD!

[Reckless]

Why would I be "upset"?

He should be charged with assault and potentially conversion.

Just pullin your chain mate :P Don't agree what he did in that situation either.

My personal opinion is tourists should be encouraged to this country not discouraged.
But I don't quite buy into this if we test them they have to test us thing.
Our roads are different and arent we trying to protect them as much as us??

Depends what you mean by "test"
I cant see why there can't be a paper test? A practical is OTT and would just deter visitors, start a revenue stream for the testers and should have been done in their country.
A simple multiple choice where they can study and pick the answers would suffice.
This should be done at Licence issue and in NZ?
As I have stated before my missus had a foreign student homestay who got a full NZ licence and admitted she had never ever driven a car.
She only had what she called "a Japanese paper licence" that shit also has to stop??

What does a stop sign look like?
What side of the road do we travel on?
Where do you stop on the open road before making a right hand turn?
NZTA should have the stats on what has been causing the accidents to set the test up.

If other countries do it in return its probably only going to be shit we should have known before we get behind the wheel over there anyway.

Keep it simple, quick and to the point.

I know it wont stop the brain fade but at least they have checked out the signage, be aware of the basic's and be thinking of what they learned while driving?

[Virago]

This one must be an awesome driver to be able to drive that fast. Perhaps there was a different reason his father was shitting his pants.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/26496646/foregin-driver-caught-speeding-at-178kmh/

[James Deuce]

This one must be an awesome driver to be able to drive that fast. Perhaps there was a different reason his father was shitting his pants.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/26496646/foregin-driver-caught-speeding-at-178kmh/

Saw that and thought, "Must try harder".

[MD]

The media talked up how bad the driving was by the Franz Josef Asian driver who had his keys seized. When I watched the so called incriminating dash cam footage it was more like annoying driving. Far from horrific, death to all within a hundred mile radius dangerous driving. His right wheels were 1 to 3 ft at worse over the centre line, and although on bends, they were mild curves, not the sharp blind curves that give less than 2 seconds head on warning. Don't get me wrong, I'm not apologising for him, I curse all who cross the centreline.

What did annoy me about that driver was each time he saw cars coming head on at him, instead of instantly correcting his mistake [like a normal courteous person would] he just took his merry time and slowly meandered back to the left side. For that display of inconsiderate arrogance and being a lazy prick I say seize his keys.

However, the picture on Stuff today (03/03/15) of the white car and Asian man and woman taking photos on a narrow Otago road justifies vigilantism. Again, not so much that it looks like a dangerous spot to stop. It actually looks a reasonable straight bit of road i.e. good visibility. What PISSES me off is that the driver, yet again an arrogant Asian, is too stupid and/or lazy to position his car as far left as possible and try and display an ounce of courtesy to other road users. He just stops in the middle of the lane, no effort to pull over what so ever! The arrogance to assume everyone else using the road can just bloody well stop and wait until he's good and ready to recommence his journey. To make matters worse his drop kick Missus is standing in the other lane blocking anyone coming the other way or trying to go around his stupidly parked car! We are tourists and therefore everyone can grind to a halt, cease all activity on this road until we take some pretty pictures.

What ever happened to good manners and courtesy? It's a lack of these attributes that leads to dangerous driving. I blame the digital era for making people so self absorbed.

[Tazz]

Just pullin your chain mate :P Don't agree what he did in that situation either.

My personal opinion is tourists should be encouraged to this country not discouraged.
But I don't quite buy into this if we test them they have to test us thing.
Our roads are different and arent we trying to protect them as much as us??

Depends what you mean by "test"
I cant see why there can't be a paper test? A practical is OTT and would just deter visitors, start a revenue stream for the testers and should have been done in their country.
A simple multiple choice where they can study and pick the answers would suffice.
This should be done at Licence issue and in NZ?
As I have stated before my missus had a foreign student homestay who got a full NZ licence and admitted she had never ever driven a car.
She only had what she called "a Japanese paper licence" that shit also has to stop??

What does a stop sign look like?
What side of the road do we travel on?
Where do you stop on the open road before making a right hand turn?
NZTA should have the stats on what has been causing the accidents to set the test up.

If other countries do it in return its probably only going to be shit we should have known before we get behind the wheel over there anyway.

Keep it simple, quick and to the point.

I know it wont stop the brain fade but at least they have checked out the signage, be aware of the basic's and be thinking of what they learned while driving?


http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/stop-signs-icon-set-showing-different-languages-english-french-spanish-german-41101031.jpg
http://patriotupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/spanish-stop-sign.jpg
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/gifs/OctagonStopSign.jpg
http://www.friedmanarchives.com/China/Web/Chapter23/Stop%20Sign%204x6%2072%20dpi.jpg
https://beijingolympicsblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/china-stop-sign.jpg
http://dsdtglobal.com/sitebuilder/images/image-aHR0cDovL2JsdWJlZGJ1aWEwMTo4My9pLzczL0U3NUNCQTcyND JCRjM4QTA5QzREOUFDMjEzMzFGRi5qcGc_1_-294x189.jpg

They're really quite universal. The lines in the intersection below are also quite universal. The fact it is an intersection (duh) and has a sign is a dead ringer for a potential stopping situation for any driver you'd hope, but some people are thick or make a mistake. Just so happens if they are here and on holiday it will make the paper. Even my dad who has been in NZ for 40+ years blew through one the day due to inattention. Luckily it didn't result in an accident although he did receive some minor bruising from the passenger :laugh: and was a massive wake up call. Unfortunately he is one of the locals who probably thinks he is much better behind the wheel than he is and doesn't like tourists either due to all the hype.

The 'paper' licenses are BS. They need to be stopped but I'm sure things will be in motion. Politicians, law makers and the fuzz are clamping down on more and more each year to keep busy ;)

Remember the massive uproar about how (before the loophole was closed) we could get a license in Raro and transfer it straight to a full bike one here in NZ?
Yeah, me either, funny that :laugh:

[Moi]

OK, the driver of the white car on the Otago peninsula had not parked as well as he could have, so what? It is not clear from the photograph in the media if there is a wide shoulder beyond the fog line and so it may not have been possible to pullover any further. There are many NZ drivers who couldn't parked any better than that! The driver who took his keys - why was he unable to slowly drive pass the parked car? OK, the other driver's partner/wife was standing in the opposing lane, but surely she'd have moved aside if he had approached at a slow and sensible speed?

Is that road any narrower than some round the hill suburbs of Wellington? I doubt if it is and Wellingtonians seem to be able to drive round those roads quite well and pass parked cars as well.

I have just completed 2000km riding round the western side of the North Island and in that distance the drivers who gave us - mate and myself - the greatest grief on the road were locals! How do I know they were locals? - how many tourists rent 5+ year old Falcons with towbars? = he tailgated less than two car length behind at about 95km/h and then overtook at speed well over 30km/h in a 30km/h temporary zone. How many tourists drive cars with local and national company names signwritten along the sides? - again tailgating and unable to overtake by moving to the opposing lane, no just push past half in our lane or overtake and then brake to turn at the next road. How many tourists drive 4x4 utes with trailers = tailgating and cutting across the centre line on curves where visibility was reduced and a prudent rider/driver would be over to the left on right-handers as far as practical to maximise view ahead.

I'd suggest that some of these drivers who are taking keys from "bad foreign drivers" are possibly looking for their 15 minutes of fame and the media is certainly assisting them or they should seriously look at their own driving standards and abilities - something about throwing stones and glasshouses. Having just watched the report on the news of the Otago incident - the NZ driver said he'd come round the corner and could only just stop in time - admittedly it is a road with a maximum speed of 80km/h [perhaps that needs to be addressed?] - but what about being able to stop in half the clear distance ahead? Perhaps he needs to think about his own driving.

Just my tuppence worth...

[Virago]

The Otago Peninsula is a mecca for tourists. Locals know that there is going to be a road-maggot around every (countless) corner. Both the lower road (Portobello Road) and high road (Highcliff Road) are narrow and twisty, with stunning views. In particular, Highcliiff Rd is very challenging.

Understandably, these roads are also a mecca for local bikers, and every local rider has their own stories of near misses. I myself have been forced to within a few cm of a deep ditch by Asians in a campervan, driving serenely straight down the middle on the road, with no intention of moving left. I almost shat myself.

My father-in-law was a victim of some middle-of-the-road photo takers in Central Otago. Driving over a blind brow (with double yellow lines), he came upon a car parked smack in the middle of the lane, all four doors open, with the overseas occupants all 50 metres away taking photos of the Clutha River. With oncoming traffic there was no way round the car, so my father-in-law attempted to go down the left side. Emergency braking did not quite stop him (a trailer on the back didn't help), and he clipped the left rear of the car. The real pisser is that father-in-law was held liable for the accident (failing to stop short blah blah).

I know of only two accidents my father-in-law had in the 35 years I knew him. Both were caused by overseas tourists.

They are out there, and it's getting worse.

[Berries]

They are out there, and it's getting worse.
Is it really getting worse? Two lads roll a Subaru off the road near Outram on Saturday night, one paragraph in the ODT. Dude drives in to power pole on Friday afternoon closing the road for hours, couple of paragraphs. A head on on the northern motorway last week only just made the ODT. Now if they had been from overseas they would have been front page, regardless of whether they were at fault or not.

The media are driving this, leading to incidents like the one on the top road that was in the papers. The guy is an arse if he couldn't pass there but he has been whipped up in to a frenzy by all the other stories and now thinks he has the power. I hope he gets punched in the face next time he tries it.

I suspect it is getting worse just because more Chinese are driving and they are shit. But the media are making it far far worse than it really is and I hate to think what the conclusion will be, a campervan being shunted off the road in to a gorge somewhere or a rental car driving off with a vigilante being dragged along the road by a panicked driver.

[Murray]

The media are driving this, leading to incidents like the one on the top road that was in the papers. The guy is an arse if he couldn't pass there

Yep totally agree. the guy stopped on side of road - bit silly - but hey he held up 7 cars?? picture looks like there plenty of room to pass a stopped car. And then he drove at 20 km for a while well HELLO speed kills so was he not driving safe?? Then huge media stories.. Whip de fucking do - get real, What about the truck that dropped a port a loo that caused a french visitor to die (RIP). medias total focus on him being a foreigner.

sorry cannot give you more bling

[neels]

Current subject matter for sensationalist journalism

I've rolled off a plane in the morning in europe, jumped in a rental car and driven a couple of hundred k's to where I'm going without any issues, no problem on the road but pretty sure I'd fail a written road code test after a long haul flight. Just like I'd probably fail a test here after a week of working nights and too much other shit going on, not an accurate measure of ability to drive.

I've been scared shitless being in the car with people overseas, and had to constantly remind them what side of the road they should be on, the same people scare me shitless when they drive here and I find any excuse to not let them.

There is a percentage of drivers in any population that are crap, whether they are in their own country or another one, still doesn't justify the media beat up and associated vigilante shit from people who are (of course) awesome drivers themselves.

[unstuck]

Our roads are full of people with crappy attitudes, and sweet fa driving skills. All the more reason to take responsibility for our safety out there, kinda makes me more aware of who is around me or coming towards me when I'm out. So there is a positive side to the problem.:devil2:

[Murray]

The more I look at the picture of the guy on the Otago Peninsula it occurs to me that the tourist is pulled 1/2 over to the side on a reasonably straight bit of road - yet Mr do gooder is stopped bang smack in the middle of the lane while going to give some words of advice.

So much has been made of 7-8 cars stuck behind the tourist when actually its more likely they would have been stuck behind Mr do gooder

[Bikemad]

All the more reason to take responsibility for our safety out there

WTF......can i reefer :innocent: you back to the truck driver shortage thread........

[Moi]

So much has been made of 7-8 cars stuck behind the tourist when actually its more likely they would have been stuck behind Mr do gooder

Only 7 to 8 cars behind him? Where does this man live that there's so little traffic? Walk to the top of our street and stand on the footpath of a main arterial and the traffic is a continuous stream in both directions...

On a serious note, Berries made a good point about all the other crashes and so little media attention but this one gets national news! If the others were treated the same as this then perhaps people might realise that driving standards in this country are not that brilliant. And don't say we have special character roads! Our roads are what we have and we have to ride/drive on them and ride/drive to the conditions.

My penny-ha'penny's worth...

[unstuck]

WTF......can i reefer :innocent: you back to the truck driver shortage thread........

Any particular post, or would you like me to read the whole thread? :msn-wink:

[Paul in NZ]

Despite the passing of the years the average slack jawed yokel still loves a good old fashioned witch hunt... Turns out its more fun in real life than on line too...

[JimO]

Only 7 to 8 cars behind him? Where does this man live that there's so little traffic? Walk to the top of our street and stand on the footpath of a main arterial and the traffic is a continuous stream in both directions...
.the road in question is the top road over the peninsular which is a tight twisting road with banks on one side and drops on the other, lots of tourist traffic going to Lanarks Castle and to the Albatross colony, last time i was up there on the bike i almost got taken out by a campervan coming around a blind corner in the middle of the road. luckily i was hugging the inside of the corner, i wont be using that road again

[jasonu]

I suspect it is getting worse just because more Chinese are driving and they are shit..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWO7CMF5otY

[jasonu]

.

So much has been made of 7-8 cars stuck behind the tourist when actually its more likely they would have been stuck behind Mr do gooder

Dead right mate. I have been in a line of more than 7-8 cars stuck behind some cunt pulling a caravan and it didn't make the news. No one took the drivers keys away either.

[Moi]

the road in question is the top road over the peninsular which is a tight twisting road with banks on one side and drops on the other, lots of tourist traffic going to Lanarks Castle and to the Albatross colony, last time i was up there on the bike i almost got taken out by a campervan coming around a blind corner in the middle of the road. luckily i was hugging the inside of the corner, i wont be using that road again

If you had been driving that campervan could you have been further to the left on that particular corner? I am assuming it was a right hand corner for the campervan...

Have driven both of those roads in the past - do wonder if they were in fact narrower then than now, that is they have been improved over the years - and would suggest that there are other roads round the country that are as narrow as the top road, such as the Akatarawa Road between Upper Hutt and Waikanae.

Also wonder if there is a slight case of "we are locals and these people should not be on our road" and "how dare they want to drive carefully on a road they have never driven on before"? Wonder if there would be the same reaction to someone who is obviously a New Zealander who is driving slowly?

My penny's worth...

[JimO]

the road is pretty much as it was years ago, i would have been keeping left on all the corners if i was driving the camper, they had room to move over

[caspernz]

Dunno about the South Island and tourists, but up here around Jafa town it's much of a muchness. Some days I wonder how to tell the tourists and the locals apart...but then I drive a truck on a 24/7 routine and I get the ahem, pleasure, of observing all manner of goofiness.

Tourists must drive trucks too, for the degree of fuckwittery observed from some of our so-called truck drivers makes a campervan over the centreline on a tourist track seem like a walk in the park.

Tourists might also be tradesmen, for ditching all manner of tools/ladders/parts on the road seems to be a specialty for this group.

Tourists might also be the daily commuters, for is there any other group of motorists around that seems hell bent on a life or death experience to get to that job they seem to hate with a passion?

Nah, it's mostly a media beat-up in my view...

[Swoop]

And don't say we have special character roads! Our roads are what we have and we have to ride/drive on them and ride/drive to the conditions.
Sadly the idiots in our national media paper (the Harold) spouted forth that "the problem" was our roads. :rolleyes:

Can someone please order up a tactical nuclear device to be delivered to their offices?

[Berries]

Now the opposing PR machine starts to spin.

We love the Chinese now. (http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/335386/11m-boost-otago-economy)

[Reckless]

Saw am item on 7 sharp the stats say tourist accidents are 5%, always been about 5%, and are still about 5% of all accidents.
Them are the facts chaps.

[oldrider]

Interesting point when talking to tourists of mixed nationalities is their reliance upon GPS and their unshakable belief that there is nobody else here!

Just follow that GPS! :shit: :dodge:

A German friend made the observation that tourists think that nobody lives here because majority of them are normally surrounded by people all the time!

Out here they don't see another vehicle for mile after mile so they forget that they are not the only people on the planet! - Food for thought I spose! :rolleyes:

[pete376403]

Replacing white lines with double yellows - sure, thats going to stop them.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/66972384/new-rumble-strips-yellow-lines-for-south-island-roads

[Berries]

Replacing white lines with double yellows - sure, thats going to stop them.
The problem is that a lot of uninformed visitors and pig shit locals appear to think that if there are no yellow lines it is ok to pass when in many cases it clearly isn't. Why NZ doesn't follow the rest of the world and mark no overtaking lines on horizontal curves is beyond me, but that is what is now going to happen - where there is insufficient visibility to pass they will mark yellow lines to cater for the complete aresholes we share the road with.

The problem for us riders is the visibility is based on a drivers eye height and car overtaking speed. There will be countless places where it is safe enough to pull out on a bike, wazz past and pull back in without risking a head on crash but unfortunately once again everything has to be dumbed down for the idiots out there.

[oldrider]

Replacing white lines with double yellows - sure, thats going to stop them.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/66972384/new-rumble-strips-yellow-lines-for-south-island-roads

New Zealand will soon consist of a tourist attraction called "The Yellow Brick Road" - Double yellow lines for Africa all over the country FFS! :rolleyes:

[unstuck]

New Zealand will soon consist of a tourist attraction called "The Yellow Brick Road" - Double yellow lines for Africa all over the country FFS! :rolleyes:

We can still pass the fuckers on the gravel though.:Punk::Punk:

[Swoop]

New Zealand will soon consist of a tourist attraction called "The Yellow Brick Road" - Double yellow lines for Africa all over the country FFS! :rolleyes:
Sadly that has already happened in the Waikato. The "Yellow Paint Monster" has left a deadly trail of its yellow slime across many roads in the region where it isn't required.

[scumdog]

The problem is that a lot of uninformed visitors and pig shit locals appear to think that if there are no yellow lines it is ok to pass when in many cases it clearly isn't. Why NZ doesn't follow the rest of the world and mark no overtaking lines on horizontal curves is beyond me,.


Sadly yeah, we share roads with idiots and cretins who 'think' "No yellow lines? Sweet, safe to pass!!!"

The same sort think "I can't see any danger, must be OK to overtake" as they approach a blind crest or bend.":facepalm:

(True, I've been to fatals where the offending driver explained his idiocy with that phrase)

But we do have 'horizontal curves' marked with yellow lines.

[FJRider]

New Zealand will soon consist of a tourist attraction called "The Yellow Brick Road" - Double yellow lines for Africa all over the country FFS! :rolleyes:

The "Double Yella's" don't stop them now. More of the same wont change that.


Maybe ... WRB's down the middle of EVERY road. Think how much yellow paint would be saved ... :lol:

[FJRider]

Saw am item on 7 sharp the stats say tourist accidents are 5%, always been about 5%, and are still about 5% of all accidents.
Them are the facts chaps.

And cause 5% of the road deaths ... ???


Have any of YOUR friends or family been part of that 5% ... ???

[Berries]

But we do have 'horizontal curves' marked with yellow lines.
Not in the same way as you will in a couple of weeks. I might have to go for a last blat through the Manuka Gorge before it is ruined.

[DMNTD]

Saw am item on 7 sharp the stats say tourist accidents are 5%, always been about 5%, and are still about 5% of all accidents.
Them are the facts chaps.

Indeed they are the facts. 5% of accidents caused within how many kms?

[Reckless]

And cause 5% of the road deaths ... ???

Have any of YOUR friends or family been part of that 5% ... ???


Indeed they are the facts. 5% of accidents caused within how many kms?

I only repeated their what they said? I dont bloody know if it 5% of the deaths or in how many k's. But they said 5% of all accidents.

Don't shoot the freakin messenger lads :ar15:

[jasonu]

Saw am item on 7 sharp the stats say tourist accidents are 5%, always been about 5%, and are still about 5% of all accidents.
Them are the facts chaps.


And cause 5% of the road deaths ... ???


Have any of YOUR friends or family been part of that 5% ... ???


Indeed they are the facts. 5% of accidents caused within how many kms?

I think what Reckless is saying is nothing has changed. But now the shit NZ media is highlighting every tourist road incident and stubbed toe on the front page and that is stirring up the easily led locals.

[James Deuce]

I think what Reckless is saying is nothing has changed. But now the media is highlighting every tourist road incident and stubbed toe on the front page and that is stirring up the easily led locals.

I done reckon you is right.

[Berries]

Why not have big signs on the top of rental cars that say CHINK, PAKI, OZZY, JAFA or whatever to let everyone know where the bastards come from?

We can then give them as much room as we think they need or, just thinking like your typical xenophobic New Zealand redneck here, shoot them up a bit like the roadsigns?

[Swoop]

Why not have big signs on the top of rental cars that say CHINK, PAKI, OZZY, JAFA or whatever to let everyone know where the bastards come from?

We can then give them as much room as we think they need or, just thinking like your typical xenophobic New Zealand redneck here, shoot them up a bit like the roadsigns?

Just do what Hawaii did. All numberplates beginning with a "T" = tourist.
Locals know to steer clear or be watchful.

[scumdog]

Why not have big signs on the top of rental cars that say CHINK, PAKI, OZZY, JAFA or whatever to let everyone know where the bastards come from?

We can then give them as much room as we think they need or, just thinking like your typical xenophobic New Zealand redneck here, shoot them up a bit like the roadsigns?

A big seller would be DUMBARSEKIWI...:niceone:

[caspernz]

A big seller would be DUMBARSEKIWI...:niceone:

Already sold out, waiting list into four digits by now surely?

[FJRider]

I think what Reckless is saying is nothing has changed. But now the shit NZ media is highlighting every tourist road incident and stubbed toe on the front page and that is stirring up the easily led locals.

So ... you think nothing has ever changed much ???

But if a 5/10 year old cute kids get killed ... or you yourself (or friends or family) ... it's nationwide news as a "Real" problem.


Until then ...nobody gave a fuck if a tourist killed themselves.

[Berries]

You are far more likely to be killed on the road by a New Zealander, even where you live.

[awayatc]

just thinking like your typical xenophobic New Zealand redneck here, shoot them up a bit like the roadsigns?

You appear to be full of love and praise for the locals....

you sure you moved to the right place....?

[jasonu]

So ... you think nothing has ever changed much ???

But if a 5/10 year old cute kids get killed ... or you yourself (or friends or family) ... it's nationwide news as a "Real" problem.


Until then ...nobody gave a fuck if a tourist killed themselves.

That is not necessarily what I think but it sounds about right.

[Berries]

You appear to be full of love and praise for the locals....

you sure you moved to the right place....?
Most definitely. But on a daily basis I see the results of shit driving by New Zealanders and feel that the focus on these bloody foreigners is somewhat misplaced. Yes, some of them need help to avoid becoming a statistic and ruining their holiday of a lifetime, but it takes the focus off the real issue which is your local fuck ups who don't even have the excuse that they are from a different country.

[Swoop]

I wonder what will happen if ISIS come over here for a holiday?

Answers on the back of a postcard:
1:.............................................
2:.............................................
3:.............................................

[Banditbandit]

I wonder what will happen if ISIS come over here for a holiday?

Answers on the back of a postcard:
1:.............................................
2:.............................................
3:.............................................

We give them one of our religious ceremonies .. drop them down a live volcano ..

[FJRider]

You are far more likely to be killed on the road by a New Zealander, even where you live.

THIS I am well aware of. But it IS nice to be able to blame somebody else ... More KIWI's are killed (on the roads) in the area I live in by kiwis ... than overseas visitors.


I myself believe ... the enhanced reporting of "Visitor Accidents" in all the media is more a ploy to gain ratings/public support ... than being a REAL problem.


If the tourists killed more pedophiles and rapists ... not to mention the odd recidivist drunk driver ... we'd be THANKING them ..... go figure ... :weird:

[TheDemonLord]

THIS I am well aware of. But it IS nice to be able to blame somebody else ... More KIWI's are killed (on the roads) in the area I live in by kiwis ... than overseas visitors.


I myself believe ... the enhanced reporting of "Visitor Accidents" in all the media is more a ploy to gain ratings/public support ... than being a REAL problem.


If the tourists killed more pedophiles and rapists ... not to mention the odd recidivist drunk driver ... we'd be THANKING them ..... go figure ... :weird:

There is something to be said about Tourist drivers - unlike most other places, where as a Tourist you can say take a Train across a country and then only hire a car for small, short distance day trips at your location of choice, we don't have that option in NZ.

We don't even have a Rail link from our biggest international Airport.....

[FJRider]

..... We don't even have a Rail link from our biggest international Airport.....

I should care ... BECAUSE ... ???? :rolleyes:


Why don't they take a taxi or a bus. :scratch:







Oh wait .... they DO ... :blank:

[awa355]

They aren't all bad. I was riding from Te Anga to Waitomo this morning, unmarked road due to re sealing, wet road, light rain, got behind a campervan. He was keeping well to the left and it wasn't long before he pulled over and waved me through. I acknowledged him as I passed, got a slope eyed toofy asian wave back.

At least he was a damn sight more observant than the cow cocky back on Waitere road driving his tractor and silage trailer.

[Reckless]

I saw the vid on this one too and also imagined the car completely on the wrong side of the road giving just cause for key snatching. It wasnt.
There's lots of kiwi's drive like this, I must confess, me included at times when I have clear vision round the entire corner.

Had a friend who was a cop outa Hastings, she used to spend a bit of time in the gorge doing people for not staying in their own lane.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11413597

[jasonu]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11414550

[caspernz]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11414550

No worries bro, I'm sending him a "pot/kettle" T-shirt this morning :facepalm:

[jasonu]

No worries bro, I'm sending him a "pot/kettle" T-shirt this morning :facepalm:

309778

10characters

[TheDemonLord]

I should care ... BECAUSE ... ???? :rolleyes:
Why don't they take a taxi or a bus. :scratch:
Oh wait .... they DO ... :blank:

Every other major international airport has a Rail link direct to the Airport - most then connect to the a Rail network that enables the traveller to go to the other major cities.

Would you fly into Auckland and take a Taxi to say Taupo or Tauranga?

[FJRider]

Every other major international airport has a Rail link direct to the Airport - most then connect to the a Rail network that enables the traveller to go to the other major cities.

Would you fly into Auckland and take a Taxi to say Taupo or Tauranga?

Queenstown is a "Major International airport ... and NO rail links to anywhere.

Aucklands location means ... a direct link required from the airport to either Taupo (which has NO RAIL access) or Tauranga (which is hardly a tourist must see destination) ... will never have the numbers (from the Airport) required to implement such.

Would I fly into Auckland ... NO. I do my best to avoid the place ... lately I've succeeded.

[Brett]

I have driven a lot around the world...NZ drivers are definitely some of the worst. No manners, poor road craft...don't get me started. Bad look for NZ tourism too when locals become vigilante's running around pulling keys out of ignitions. Perhaps the NZ Police could focus a little more of this sort of concern and a little less on the "speed kills" propaganda.

#nearlyblewuptonightdoing110kphin100kpharea.

[jasonu]

Queenstown is a "Major International airport ... and NO rail links to anywhere.

.

I think 'major' is a but of a stretch. Plus most major international airports don't close at 9pm...

[jasonu]

I have driven a lot around the world...NZ drivers are definitely some of the worst. No manners, poor road craft...don't get me started. .

Plus most NZ drivers apparently own the fucking road and everyone else is an idiot!

[TheDemonLord]

Queenstown is a "Major International airport ... and NO rail links to anywhere.

No it isn't 'Major' by any stretch of the imagination:

Queenstown: The airport handled 1,248,878 airline scheduled passengers for the year ending June 2014,

Auckland: with 15,231,802 (8,294,538 international and 7,016,977 domestic) passengers in the year ended November 2014


Aucklands location means ... a direct link required from the airport to either Taupo (which has NO RAIL access) or Tauranga (which is hardly a tourist must see destination) ... will never have the numbers (from the Airport) required to implement such.

I can, from almost any other international airport get on a train and be at a major population centre (City or otherwise) - regardless of its Tourist status or not.

in NZ, the only option is either to Drive (on unfamiliar roads, different road rules, Kiwi drivers and jetlag) or to try and catch a Domestic flight, but that isn't particularly appealing - especially if you want to see the Country


Would I fly into Auckland ... NO. I do my best to avoid the place ... lately I've succeeded.

Well, unless you are coming from Aus, you might be shit out of luck as most international flights to NZ come in via Auckland

[FJRider]

No it isn't 'Major' by any stretch of the imagination:

Queenstown: The airport handled 1,248,878 airline scheduled passengers for the year ending June 2014,

Auckland: with 15,231,802 (8,294,538 international and 7,016,977 domestic) passengers in the year ended November 2014

Queenstown (NZ's premier tourist center) also has more landings and take-off's than any other NZ airport. (statistics eh .. ;)


I can, from almost any other international airport get on a train and be at a major population centre (City or otherwise) - regardless of its Tourist status or not.

Almost any other .. only a couple then .. ??? :lol:

Neither Taupo or Tauranga (which YOU gave as an example) I would describe as a ... "Major population area" ... ??? A rail link to Aucker's airport is one thing ... but to Taupo as well ... :scratch: Only Katman and a few of his friends live/exist there. (Life but not as we know it)


in NZ, the only option is either to Drive (on unfamiliar roads, different road rules, Kiwi drivers and jetlag) or to try and catch a Domestic flight, but that isn't particularly appealing - especially if you want to see the Country

The best veiw of Aucker's is from 12,000 ft. Anything seen from below that ... could be depressing ... :zzzz:


Is this a ploy/intention of your's ... to get a few overseas tourists OFF our fine well maintained highways ... and stop killing our cute kids ... ?? :rolleyes:


Well, unless you are coming from Aus, you might be shit out of luck as most international flights to NZ come in via Auckland

MOST ... ??? Most of the overseas visitors I've spoken to down here WISH they didn't have to go via Aucker's. By the way .... neither Christchurch or Wellington (Our Nations Capital city)
has a rail link to their Airports. Why the priority for JAFFA central to have one .. ??? :beer:

The only way a rail link could be put to Aucker's airport is underground. I can't see the Aucker's Ratepayers liking the rate increase to fund that ... :whistle:

[FJRider]

I think 'major' is a but of a stretch. Plus most major international airports don't close at 9pm...

Most "International" airports have Runway lights ... Do you want to come down and hold the torch .. ??? :bleh:

[FJRider]

Plus most NZ drivers apparently own the fucking road and everyone else is an idiot!

A few don't OWN the road ... but just make regular contributions to the Government coffers ... for their upkeep (and to give those on a Benefit Financial Security) ... :niceone:

[caspernz]

Queenstown is a "Major International airport ... and NO rail links to anywhere.

Aahhh, now I may be wrong here, but I can't find a single airport in NZ that matches the description of Major...

The only thing International about Aucklands' airport is the price of the food.

But thanks for the laugh :innocent:

[FJRider]

Aahhh, now I may be wrong here, but I can't find a single airport in NZ that matches the description of Major...

I don't believe you are wrong.


The only thing International about Aucklands' airport is the price of the food.

I can not argue this point ... as I would need to visit it to confirm or deny your statement. And ... as I have already stated ... I'm trying to avoid the place.


But thanks for the laugh :innocent:

To amuse is my intention ... :innocent:

[Grumph]

I laughed at the thought of ChCh airport having a rail link. It should have been done years ago.

In the 1950's and '60's the local black joke was that Memorial Avenue which is the road coming in to the city from the airport, was named as a memorial to the large numbers of Operation Deep Freeze servicemen who wrote themselves off on it.

[TheDemonLord]

Queenstown (NZ's premier tourist center) also has more landings and take-off's than any other NZ airport. (statistics eh .. ;)

Yes - of Domestic flights. Its not a Major international airport


Almost any other .. only a couple then .. ??? :lol:

Neither Taupo or Tauranga (which YOU gave as an example) I would describe as a ... "Major population area" ... ??? A rail link to Aucker's airport is one thing ... but to Taupo as well ... :scratch: Only Katman and a few of his friends live/exist there. (Life but not as we know it)

If you use a definition that matches the phrase 'Major International Airport' - then yes, almost all Major International airports have rail links

Can I ask - have you ever been to NZ as a Tourist? I have - Tauranga I used as an example as a big city (by NZ standards) that the only way to access is by Car, by Bus or by Domestic flights - As someone who has been a Tourist I want to see the country or I might have a large amount of luggage (since International baggage limits are typically more generous than Domestic limits), so that rules out a flight. Tourist buses can be popular - but I find them cramped, restrictive and subject to traffic or I hire a car and drive. but as a Tourist in every other part of the world I have the option of a Train - I still get to see the countryside, I get more space than a tourist bus and I am not stuck in traffic.


The best veiw of Aucker's is from 12,000 ft. Anything seen from below that ... could be depressing ... :zzzz:

Agreed, but it doesn't look that great at 36,000 ft



Is this a ploy/intention of your's ... to get a few overseas tourists OFF our fine well maintained highways ... and stop killing our cute kids ... ?? :rolleyes:

No this is simply a statement of the differences between NZ and other popular tourist destinations - in NZ the only option is to drive. Would we have the same issues with tourists if they took a train on the long distance trips around the country - only driving on short trips in 50 kph zones?


MOST ... ??? Most of the overseas visitors I've spoken to down here WISH they didn't have to go via Aucker's. By the way .... neither Christchurch or Wellington (Our Nations Capital city)
has a rail link to their Airports. Why the priority for JAFFA central to have one .. ??? :beer:

Oh I dunno - maybe cause its the 4th busiest airport in Australasia? you must talk to different Tourists - all the ones I spoke to (and I have been one) love Auckland Airport. Wellington airport's runway is a joke (can't even handle a 747, a 787, an A330 or the A380) - Christchurch is a viable option, except that it isn't in the North Island - and even then, it should also have a Rail Link.

Why the priority - well as the gateway to which MOST of our tourists enter the country - having a Rail link connecting it to the rest of the country so that tourists aren't solely reliant on the Hire Car.


The only way a rail link could be put to Aucker's airport is underground. I can't see the Aucker's Ratepayers liking the rate increase to fund that ... :whistle:

Or if the Council was to grow a pair and take all the NIMBYS shoot them.

[FJRider]

Yes - of Domestic flights. Its not a Major international airport

You don't live here ... I DO. It IS Major to those that rely on it as a basis/source for their livelihood ... :mad:


If you use a definition that matches the phrase 'Major International Airport' - then yes, almost all Major International airports have rail links

I checked ... no match found ... :killingme


Can I ask - have you ever been to NZ as a Tourist?

I FUCKING LIVE HERE. Born here even .... are you on drugs .. ???


If you love the tourist scene elsewhere ... go fucking live there ... and we WON'T miss you ... :oi-grr:


Agreed, but it doesn't look that great at 36,000 ft

It looks better at night ... :pinch:


No this is simply a statement of the differences between NZ and other popular tourist destinations - in NZ the only option is to drive. Would we have the same issues with tourists if they took a train on the long distance trips around the country - only driving on short trips in 50 kph zones?

So .... Queenstown ISN'T popular .... you learn something new each day ... :lol:


Oh I dunno - maybe cause its the 4th busiest airport in Australasia? you must talk to different Tourists - all the ones I spoke to (and I have been one) love Auckland Airport.

They DID say Queenstown (where they want to visit) IS a long way from Auckland.


Wellington airport's runway is a joke (can't even handle a 747, a 787, an A330 or the A380) - Christchurch is a viable option, except that it isn't in the North Island - and even then, it should also have a Rail Link.

Actually ... the short version of the 747 (747SP) can get in there ... and was regularly scheduled as such.

Perhaps ... if more people flew into Christchurch ... any importance Auckland might have ... might diminish. Or is THAT what you're scared of ... ?? ;)


Why the priority - well as the gateway to which MOST of our tourists enter the country - having a Rail link connecting it to the rest of the country so that tourists aren't solely reliant on the Hire Car.

Existing gateway. With little choice on their part. Things might change ... maybe ... :whistle:


Or if the Council was to grow a pair and take all the NIMBYS shoot them.

We are still talking about the Auckland City council right ... and as I recall ... the Mayor DOES put his balls to his best advantage ... :Oops:

[TheDemonLord]

You don't live here ... I DO. It IS Major to those that rely on it as a basis/source for their livelihood ... :mad:

Its an important Domestic airport - I certainly agree - but it isn't a Major international Airport - despite the reliance that those who live in the region may have on it.


I checked ... no match found ... :killingme

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/may/04/world-top-100-airports

I can see AKL on there - can't see Queenstown, Christchuch OR Wellington.... Funny that (cause they aren't Major International Airports)


I FUCKING LIVE HERE. Born here even .... are you on drugs .. ???

As I suspected - you have never visited NZ as a tourist, with no prior preference/bias towards Auckland (which seems to be an intrinsic part of NZ Culture, unless you live in Auckland)


If you love the tourist scene elsewhere ... go fucking live there ... and we WON'T miss you ... :oi-grr:

I seem to have hit a nerve - I do live in Auckland, after visiting it as a Tourist. The point here is that as much as you might like to argue - 70% of tourists come in via Auckland International - it is NZ's only MAJOR international airport - if you combine the passenger numbers from all the other International airports in NZ, they don't equal what Auckland does.


It looks better at night ... :pinch:

most big cities are


So .... Queenstown ISN'T popular .... you learn something new each day ... :lol:

I have never said that - and your retort has nothing to do with my comment.


They DID say Queenstown (where they want to visit) IS a long way from Auckland.

you could say that about many places, If the demand was big enough, then there would be more scheduled flights into Queenstown


Actually ... the short version of the 747 (747SP) can get in there ... and was regularly scheduled as such.

I am aware that a specific version of the 747 could land there, but I think there are only 3 of these in service by Airlines - and the 747SP is not the common 747 as still used by many Airlines (747-400)


Perhaps ... if more people flew into Christchurch ... any importance Auckland might have ... might diminish. Or is THAT what you're scared of ... ?? ;)

If there was a Rail link, maybe more people would - but with the exception of the lower south island, Kaikora - there really isn't much in the vicinity of Christchurch - whereas Auckland is in the North Island where a vast amount of Tourist attractions are located


Existing gateway. With little choice on their part. Things might change ... maybe ... :whistle:

And why is it the preferred existing gateway? because it has the best facilities and has the most conveniant (by NZ standards) access to the rest of NZ's tourist hotspots



We are still talking about the Auckland City council right ... and as I recall ... the Mayor DOES put his balls to his best advantage ... :Oops:

Well, a Hot PA isn't investing in key infrastructure.....

[FJRider]

Its an important Domestic airport - I certainly agree - but it isn't a Major international Airport - despite the reliance that those who live in the region may have on it.

I can see AKL on there - can't see Queenstown, Christchuch OR Wellington.... Funny that (cause they aren't Major International Airports){/QUOTE]

I can't see Auckland from here ... so it can't be important to ME.


As I suspected - you have never visited NZ as a tourist, with no prior preference/bias towards Auckland (which seems to be an intrinsic part of NZ Culture, unless you live in Auckland)

In my the 58 years my life ... in my traveling ... I have NEVER required a rail link from ANY international airport I've visited.


I seem to have hit a nerve - I do live in Auckland

You have my sympathy ...


most big cities are

So ... you admit .. I AM right ... :laugh: but the ENTRY point to NZ is NOT always the tourist's choice.


I have never said that - and your retort has nothing to do with my comment.

Stop using logic ... it's not the KB way ... :bleh:


you could say that about many places, If the demand was big enough, then there would be more scheduled flights into Queenstown

Daylight hours and a lack of runway lights (not to mention resource consent) limit flight schedules .... We do it differently ... but it is NOT AUCKLAND. Nor do we attempt to imitate their bad habits.

Airports do NOT rule our lives, nor will we allow them too ..


I am aware that a specific version of the 747 could land there, but I think there are only 3 of these in service by Airlines - and the 747SP is not the common 747 as still used by many Airlines (747-400)

I care little for Auckland's issues ... less so for Wellington's issues.


If there was a Rail link, maybe more people would - but with the exception of the lower south island, Kaikora - there really isn't much in the vicinity of Christchurch - whereas Auckland is in the North Island where a vast amount of Tourist attractions are located

Newsflash ... Kaikoura is UPPER south Island.

Newsflash ... Queenstown is the premier tourist visitor attraction in NZ. Get over it ....


And why is it the preferred existing gateway? because it has the best facilities and has the most conveniant (by NZ standards) access to the rest of NZ's tourist hotspots

It's called choice of the visitors ... but they don't HAVE any ... the Airlines make the choice FOR them.


Well, a Hot PA isn't investing in key infrastructure.....

Perhaps ... SHE can accommodate the depth of his interests .... but she will be investing in her OWN key "Future Infrastructure" ... is she still in his employ .. ???

[Tazz]

As I suspected - you have never visited NZ as a tourist, with no prior preference/bias towards Auckland (which seems to be an intrinsic part of NZ Culture, unless you live in Auckland)

WTF are you talking about man? It's a fucking hole, backed up by the fact that is in the top 10 (or even top 5) of the BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD to live in. I mean, besides the numerous positive factors these lists are even put together by people who have traveled extensively. WTF would they know.

Get real. :nya:

By local standards, yes, it is a shit hole, but by international it is a paradise and is loved (not by all mind) by sheeet loads of visitors, so much so I'm pretty sure it has a bit of a yeast infection at the minute.

And yeah, Kiwis can be small minded when it comes to trains (and plenty of other things apparently...), probably because they've never been anywhere that has a decent rail setup. Shits all over buses, and often planes even.

[Berries]

Here we go again. Cyclist riding on the footpath knocks over a pedestrian breaking their hip which is nasty. Might normally make a paragraph or two in the local rag but hang on, the dude is a foreigner. And a fucking French one at that.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67260365/french-cyclist-admits-crash-into-pedestrian

Now if only they had a train link to the Chch international airport.............

[James Deuce]

Congratulations. The NZ media is presenting an image of xenophobic vigilantism, because that's what public opinion supports. See why public opinion is ignored? Unless public opinion is in synchronicity with a particular policy goal.

[Voltaire]

WTF are you talking about man? It's a fucking hole, backed up by the fact that is in the top 10 (or even top 5) of the BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD to live in. I mean, besides the numerous positive factors these lists are even put together by people who have traveled extensively. WTF would they know.

Get real. :nya:

By local standards, yes, it is a shit hole, but by international it is a paradise and is loved (not by all mind) by sheeet loads of visitors, so much so I'm pretty sure it has a bit of a yeast infection at the minute.

And yeah, Kiwis can be small minded when it comes to trains (and plenty of other things apparently...), probably because they've never been anywhere that has a decent rail setup. Shits all over buses, and often planes even.

I caught the train into central Auckland the other day, a rare trip on public transport, took me 10 minutes to get to the station, 5 minutes to get a ticket out of the machine :facepalm:, new electric trains are very nice, yet to be vandalised.
Much better than the Northern line that I caught to work for a few years.:laugh:
They need to get a better recording for the announcements.
Calling Auckland a shithole is not very nice, I used to live in Nelson ( 20 years ago) and I'd never say things like , cliquey, old boys owned, nosy, closed shop, crap wages, anti Auckland, backward sort of place.
I found London to be a shithole when I was out of work....when on 500-1000 quid a week it was awesome :niceone:

[Swoop]

I think 'major' is a but of a stretch. Plus most major international airports don't close at 9pm...
Or require an anchor at the rear of the aircraft to assist with stopping on the runway!
Can 747's use QT yet?



The best veiw of Aucker's is from 12,000 ft.
ESPECIALLY on a clear night!
Fooken' superb view!

[Tazz]

I caught the train into central Auckland the other day, a rare trip on public transport, took me 10 minutes to get to the station, 5 minutes to get a ticket out of the machine :facepalm:, new electric trains are very nice, yet to be vandalised.
Much better than the Northern line that I caught to work for a few years.:laugh:
They need to get a better recording for the announcements.
Calling Auckland a shithole is not very nice, I used to live in Nelson ( 20 years ago) and I'd never say things like , cliquey, old boys owned, nosy, closed shop, crap wages, anti Auckland, backward sort of place.
I found London to be a shithole when I was out of work....when on 500-1000 quid a week it was awesome :niceone:

After living and working here for years yourself I'd confidently put money down that if you had to pick your dream NZ location, it would not be Auckland. Shit hole by comparison I'll stand by :laugh:

If you think the outdoor access metropolis that is Nelson is bad for cliquey old boys and businesses that keep odd hours, don't try Canterbury or Blenheim.
Have to say for a smaller place Picton doesn't suffer from as much of that as anticipated.

[Voltaire]

After living and working here for years yourself I'd confidently put money down that if you had to pick your dream NZ location, it would not be Auckland. Shit hole by comparison I'll stand by :laugh:

If you think the outdoor access metropolis that is Nelson is bad for cliquey old boys and businesses that keep odd hours, don't try Canterbury or Blenheim.
Have to say for a smaller place Picton doesn't suffer from as much of that as anticipated.

North Waikato is close to it, reasonably priced houses on huge sections with large sheds.:Punk:

Yeah, the joke about ChCH is they wanted to know what school you went to at a job interview....:violin:

[Tazz]

North Waikato is close to it, reasonably priced houses on huge sections with large sheds.:Punk:

Yeah, the joke about ChCH is they wanted to know what school you went to at a job interview....:violin:

haha, yeah that sounds spot on! I went to Lincoln so I'm forever tainted with the presumption of knowing how to roll a good joint, ideal stock to pasture ratios and having ill heavy machinery skills in Chch.

[swarfie]

North Waikato is close to it, reasonably priced houses on huge sections with large sheds.:Punk:


Don't forget the roads. There's WAY better roads :niceone:

[Reckless]

Biker this time :(

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/67420445/campervan-in-crash-on-wrong-side-of-road

[MD]

Best wishes to the rider for a full recovery.

That's scary to look at. I do that road every year and by the looks of the picture no rider would have stood a chance of avoiding that dumb bitch.

They must have hit hard, he's blown the van's front tyre.

[ellipsis]

...just a small point to note here...just arrived back from a city, not that big on a world scale, that has more people living in it than our entire country and it was easy enough to get to and from the airport without needing a train...not sure they even have a train link...and even more importantly, I could ask my wife to pull over on the 'major road', and have a piss on the side of the road, less than a k from our International Airport...get your priorities right...

[Kickaha]

Coming off the boat in Picton Monday

Tourist 1, drives with his indicator signally right turn from Picton to just before Blenheim
Tourist 2, uses the left turn lane at both Blenheim roundabouts to go straight through (I passed him on the inside on roundabout 2, I figured seeing as I was in a big white van people would think I was a tourist to)
Tourist 3, varied their speed between 70-90 km for about 25-30km before finally indicating to pull left and let us through but pretty much just parked in the road instead

[Berries]

Riding to work so far this week.

Local 1 runs a red light as I am about to turn right in front of him
Local 2 fails to check over their shoulder to change lanes as I am passing and nearly knocks me off
Local 3 riding through town with his indicator signalling a right turn past a lot of intersections all the way
Local 4 holding up all the traffic doing a solid 80km/h
Local 5 runs a red light by some amount but then going downhill at 70 in a 50 in a truck he was never going to stop
Local 6 doesn't even think of giving way to me when pulling out from a side road.

And it is only Tuesday.

I think some times you need to stand back and have a bit of perspective and not contribute to the BS hysteria that is going on.

[JimO]

Riding to work so far this week.

Local 1 runs a red light as I am about to turn right in front of him
Local 2 fails to check over their shoulder to change lanes as I am passing and nearly knocks me off
Local 3 riding through town with his indicator signalling a right turn past a lot of intersections all the way
Local 4 holding up all the traffic doing a solid 80km/h
Local 5 runs a red light by some amount but then going downhill at 70 in a 50 in a truck he was never going to stop
Local 6 doesn't even think of giving way to me when pulling out from a side road.

And it is only Tuesday.

I think some times you need to stand back and have a bit of perspective and not contribute to the BS hysteria that is going on.
sorry about that i will try harder next time

[buggerit]

Riding to work so far this week.

Local 1 runs a red light as I am about to turn right in front of him
Local 2 fails to check over their shoulder to change lanes as I am passing and nearly knocks me off
Local 3 riding through town with his indicator signalling a right turn past a lot of intersections all the way
Local 4 holding up all the traffic doing a solid 80km/h
Local 5 runs a red light by some amount but then going downhill at 70 in a 50 in a truck he was never going to stop
Local 6 doesn't even think of giving way to me when pulling out from a side road.

And it is only Tuesday.

I think some times you need to stand back and have a bit of perspective and not contribute to the BS hysteria that is going on.

too bloody right ya whingers, can someone tell the guy on the bike? (sniveller):scratch:

[Berries]

sorry about that i will try harder next time
It's your Thai wife that concerns me more.

[JimO]

It's your Thai wife that concerns me more.
as long as my kiwi wife doesnt know about her its ok

[Moi]

Good to see locals now featuring in the paper...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11419101

[willytheekid]

I think some times you need to stand back and have a bit of perspective and not contribute to the BS hysteria that is going on.

You may wanna stand back and take a good hard look at the fraudulant IDP licenses the Chinese are "legally" using in NZ.<_<

As china is NOT a signed party to the group that ACTUALLY ISSUES these licenses, how the fuck can they hold one...or use it over here?? - ILLEGAL!!

And yet the popo & Gov't green stamped the things :shit:

FACT!!!- CHINA DOES NOT HAVE A LEGAL INTERNATIONAL LICENSE!!. (yeah...google THAT SHIT!)

- yet the Govt, media & police have kept this fact VERY quiet from the public...because they LEGALLY should not be driving in NZ without passsing a NZ license test...not handing over a KNOWN fraudulent document and getting behind the wheel.

And the rest of the world is also facing the same problem -
http://www.richmond-news.com/news/thousands-of-illegal-chinese-motorists-could-be-driving-in-richmond-1.947451

But there Police and Govt are aware of the issue and are actively trying to do something about it....not selling there country out for a quick buck while watching these fuckers kill innocent kiwis through stupidity, ignorance and blatant fraud!!

Please...investigate the licenses that chinese visitors use...if its a IDP - it IS a fraudulent document.- FACT!!

"Test them before they drive":yes: (And charge em!!...make some income for OUR country!)

POSTED FOR SEAN!...R.I.P Grant Roberts

[Berries]

You may wanna stand back and take a good hard look at the fraudulant IDP licenses the Chinese are "legally" using in NZ
The Chinese do seem to be unique, with driving rules totally at odds with our own, read some of this blog. (http://chinagriffith.com/journal/?p=236)

The question I ask is could I rock up to some town in China and rent a car? From everything I have seen the answer is no, unless I speak the language fluently and feel au fait with the world of bribery. So based on the "reciprocal arrangements" we always hear about they should not be allowed to drive here without an extensive test that includes open road driving.

Obviously this still leaves the Indians, Australians, Brazilians, Germans, Dutch, French, Canadians and Yanks, Taiwanese, Swedes, Brits, South Africans, Aucklanders, Sudanese and all the other associated wops and wogs from around the world who visit. And the Arabs. And the locals obviously. But it's a start.

[neels]

Well, after a trip south last weekend I can see some of what the problem is.

There is a comparison that can be made between bad local drivers and bad tourist drivers, and that would be that the tourists are a shitload more dangerous.

Sure, there were some locals driving in a retarded fashion, the best example being the idiot in a bighorn who was crossing the centreline and cutting corners in the shingle while going as fast as possible on the straights so I couldn't pass after I'd caught up to him in my terrano (sad, I know), the usual pigheaded kiwi arrogance of not wanting to be overtaken.

But the tourists were doing dangerous shit. Passing on blind corners, pulling out in front of cars on 100k roads so oncoming traffic had to hit the picks to not clean them up, stopping in the middle of the road to get out and take photos.

So from my observation, local drivers are ignorant and are likely to piss you off, tourist drivers are oblivious of other traffic and more likely to kill you. Not sure what the answer is, we want them here and we want their money, as above perhaps an education campaign that in this country you can't just bribe your way out of things would be a good start to having people obey the road rules.

[madbikeboy]

The Chinese do seem to be unique, with driving rules totally at odds with our own, read some of this blog. (http://chinagriffith.com/journal/?p=236)

The question I ask is could I rock up to some town in China and rent a car? From everything I have seen the answer is no, unless I speak the language fluently and feel au fait with the world of bribery. So based on the "reciprocal arrangements" we always hear about they should not be allowed to drive here without an extensive test that includes open road driving.

Obviously this still leaves the Indians, Australians, Brazilians, Germans, Dutch, French, Canadians and Yanks, Taiwanese, Swedes, Brits, South Africans, Aucklanders, Sudanese and all the other associated wops and wogs from around the world who visit. And the Arabs. And the locals obviously. But it's a start.

Yes, you can rock up and rent a car, bike, woman, goat, or horse in China. Driving in China sucks. Almost as bad as India. India is crazy. Italy is crazy, but at least all the Italian women are hot (except any Italian women over the age of 23, they've got hairy lips and more chins than a Chinese phone book). The Netherlands is a good place to drive. Germany too (except for the fucking Polizi). France rocks because they love bikers. Canada is nice to drive in, because Canadians are really nice. You can die of boredom and old age driving across the flat bits. Sweden sucks to drive in (they're all called Sven and they all drive Volvos at 3 kph under the speed limit). The US is awesome to drive in. I used to set my cruise control in the Exploder at 99 miles an hour, and I got stopped basically never. Aside from one time where I was drifting in the snow, and a sheriff had a chat with me. I convinced him that it snows 11 months of the year in Auckland, and we need to prove drifting skills to avoid all the sheep which roam wild.

Worst place ever to drive? India. Them's fuckers are cray cray.

[Swoop]

...we need to prove drifting skills to avoid all the sheep which roam wild.

Especially when those fuckers are white and blend in with the snowy background... especially hard to see. Even more so on Queen St.:cool::rolleyes:

[scumdog]

Aside from one time where I was drifting in the snow, and a sheriff had a chat with me. I convinced him that it snows 11 months of the year in Auckland, and we need to prove drifting skills to avoid all the sheep which roam wild.



I convinced a Canadian cop that as my Caddy speedo was in miles-an-hour in Canada had kilometres which we didn't have in NZ I had not idea how fast 80mph was.:innocent:

[madbikeboy]

Especially when those fuckers are white and blend in with the snowy background... especially hard to see. Even more so on Queen St.:cool::rolleyes:

Holy Fuck! That's such a good point, I should have thought to bring up the point of the camouflaged sheep. 10 points and some bling headed your way.

[madbikeboy]

I convinced a Canadian cop that as my Caddy speedo was in miles-an-hour in Canada had kilometres which we didn't have in NZ I had not idea how fast 80mph was.:innocent:

I was riding a Hayabusa on the 5 in LA, it was owned by a guy who liked spending money on go faster bits - anyhow, I was riding the fucking thing, giving it death, thinking, "this isn't so fast, my thou is much faster to 160". Then I twigged that the speedo was in MPH. Oops. Point is, that speedo thing works both ways.

Did you explain that you were the Sheriff of Nottingham/South Island, and once you did the secret cop handshake, did he let you off?

[Metastable]

Ya man dunno what to tell you guys. It would be a PIA if I had to take a test just to drive in New Zealand. I think that would alienate a lot of visitors. Having said that, I did see a lot of tourists doing stupid $#!T. Most of the locals seemed to be pretty decent drivers.... my only pet peeve were the ones who didn't understand lane discipline on multi lane highways. However there aren't many of those to begin with..... and the same thing happens in Canada.

To be honest there isn't a short flight to get to New Zealand from anywhere. I do think they should run a mandatory driving INFO session.... while on the plane. Before I went there I read up on Kiwi rules of the road, road signs and even came in here and asked questions.... like what is the typical speed people travel at if you're posted at 100kph. I figure you might as well try to do what the locals do..... that's the safest way to go. Furthermore, before heading to NZ I was fortunate enough to drive a fair bit in South Africa and the Cayman Islands, which also drive on the left. Having said that, I highly doubt many visitors think about this too much.

I'd venture to guess the biggest problem with North American drivers would be: Road Signs, Traffic Circles (especially signalling), and Road Markings.... not to mention ghost driving on the wrong side of the road.... oh and for many, they aren't use to corners either.

Drivers from China and India..... dunno where to start, but they seem to have difficulty around these parts too. As mentioned... it is SO different, that it just becomes dangerous. We were at Yellowstone last year. They give out all sorts of material saying DO NOT GET CLOSE TO THE ELK AND BUFFALO, many people are seriously injured. There are signs everywhere and meanwhile you see tourists taking pictures about 10m away!!! :blink: Dunno - it isn't just common sense while driving... maybe some tourists just don't have common sense.

Anyway - loved my visit to NZ and enjoyed driving on both the North and South Islands. Maybe going during the southern hemisphere winter helped reduce my encounter with other tourists. :D

[Metastable]

Yes, you can rock up and rent a car, bike, woman, goat, or horse in China. Driving in China sucks. Almost as bad as India. India is crazy. Italy is crazy, but at least all the Italian women are hot (except any Italian women over the age of 23, they've got hairy lips and more chins than a Chinese phone book). The Netherlands is a good place to drive. Germany too (except for the fucking Polizi). France rocks because they love bikers. Canada is nice to drive in, because Canadians are really nice. You can die of boredom and old age driving across the flat bits. Sweden sucks to drive in (they're all called Sven and they all drive Volvos at 3 kph under the speed limit). The US is awesome to drive in. I used to set my cruise control in the Exploder at 99 miles an hour, and I got stopped basically never. Aside from one time where I was drifting in the snow, and a sheriff had a chat with me. I convinced him that it snows 11 months of the year in Auckland, and we need to prove drifting skills to avoid all the sheep which roam wild.

Worst place ever to drive? India. Them's fuckers are cray cray.

Dang that's pretty accurate! I didn't find Italy too bad, especially if you get out of the city areas. Brazil is like Italy but a bit more aggressive and you see some crazy stuff there like a dude standing up on the back of a ute holding up a fridge with no tie down straps, while the ute is going 100kph down the highway. The French do love motorcycles.... they move over and give you tons of room to pass when you are on a bike. It is almost to the point of absurdity..... but riding in France is tops (at least it was in Southern France near the Spanish border). The speed limits in the western US are typically very reasonable.... especially Montana, Idaho (now 80mph), Utah (also has 80mph stretches), Texas even has 85mph in one section...etc. The best drivers however IMO are around the North Carolina, Georgia area.... the worst in Ohio, Michigan, New York and other states towards the North/East. Best drivers in Canada are in Quebec... they tend to be the most aggressive too, but they pay attention.... the worst are probably in British Columbia ... maybe because they are a bit.... :doobey::doobey::doobey:

[Murray]

But theres been a truck accident, fire, rolled everyday for the past 7 days - wheres the media on this (2 deaths I think)?

[madbikeboy]

Dang that's pretty accurate! I didn't find Italy too bad, especially if you get out of the city areas. Brazil is like Italy but a bit more aggressive and you see some crazy stuff there like a dude standing up on the back of a ute holding up a fridge with no tie down straps, while the ute is going 100kph down the highway. The French do love motorcycles.... they move over and give you tons of room to pass when you are on a bike. It is almost to the point of absurdity..... but riding in France is tops (at least it was in Southern France near the Spanish border). The speed limits in the western US are typically very reasonable.... especially Montana, Idaho (now 80mph), Utah (also has 80mph stretches), Texas even has 85mph in one section...etc. The best drivers however IMO are around the North Carolina, Georgia area.... the worst in Ohio, Michigan, New York and other states towards the North/East. Best drivers in Canada are in Quebec... they tend to be the most aggressive too, but they pay attention.... the worst are probably in British Columbia ... maybe because they are a bit.... :doobey::doobey::doobey:

Utah rocks. (That was a play on Moab's rocks in case you missed it). Texas is pretty fucking big, you could drive for a lifetime at 85 and still not get across it.

Italy was fun. I drafted an M5 wagon in my diesel Mito on the Autostrada, the local cops were well impressed with the effort. They gave me the thumbs up and not a ticket (which would have been a big ticket). While the drivers in BC are a bit average - I met a very accommodating group of women in Whistler. I loved Whistler.

[gammaguy]

You guys all crack me up

The Chinese do not GET their license,they PAY for them,with money,favors or both.

Driving skills dont have a dam thing to do with it.

Then our stupid government lets them over here to kill whoever is unlucky enough to get in their way.while they are on the road to buy some property so they can dump grandma in it while they fuck off back to china to run their polluting corrupted business.
Just saying...

[awayatc]

You guys all crack me up

The Chinese do not GET their license,they PAY for them,with money,favors or both.

Driving skills dont have a dam thing to do with it.

Then our stupid government lets them over here to kill whoever is unlucky enough to get in their way.while they are on the road to buy some property so they can dump grandma in it while they fuck off back to china to run their polluting corrupted business.
Just saying...

Ok, but what is the problem....?

[Shaun Harris]

You guys all crack me up

The Chinese do not GET their license,they PAY for them,with money,favors or both.

Driving skills dont have a dam thing to do with it.

Then our stupid government lets them over here to kill whoever is unlucky enough to get in their way.while they are on the road to buy some property so they can dump grandma in it while they fuck off back to china to run their polluting corrupted business.
Just saying...



OK now you have fixed the issues with the tourists here, how are you going to fix the 80% of the other crashes by NZ people

Just saying

[Grumph]

OK now you have fixed the issues with the tourists here, how are you going to fix the 80% of the other crashes by NZ people

Just saying

Well this government is pricing everything out of the reach of everyone but the Chinese - So I'd assume their answer is that soon there will only be Chinese tourists on the roads. And of course the truckers as their parliamentary lobby is very powerful (and rich)

[Ocean1]

Well this government is pricing everything out of the reach of everyone but the Chinese - So I'd assume their answer is that soon there will only be Chinese tourists on the roads. And of course the truckers as their parliamentary lobby is very powerful (and rich)

If you can't afford to drive/ride here then don't bother trying in most of the rest of the western world.

But maybe we need ACC to review the risk associated with rental vehicle use. I'm sure it varies from the rest of the national fleet sufficiently to warrant a different licencing category.

[TheDemonLord]

Well this government is pricing everything out of the reach of everyone but the Chinese - So I'd assume their answer is that soon there will only be Chinese tourists on the roads. And of course the truckers as their parliamentary lobby is very powerful (and rich)

The free market economy isn't the Government - just saying

[caspernz]

Maybe it's because the topic is front of mind, but in the past few days have observed some odd driving from campervans in and around Auckland. Traffic lights where folks think red means go, and off ramps to motorways looking like on ramps to them...

But yep like Murray commented, plenty of my fellow truckers have had interesting times as well, with a lot less media coverage...them blokes can't all be tourists too??!!

[cynna]

You guys all crack me up

The Chinese do not GET their license,they PAY for them,with money,favors or both.

Driving skills dont have a dam thing to do with it.

Then our stupid government lets them over here to kill whoever is unlucky enough to get in their way.while they are on the road to buy some property so they can dump grandma in it while they fuck off back to china to run their polluting corrupted business.
Just saying...

i have to drive past the chinese christian church on greers rd (chch) every sunday........ its like playing chicken

[Berries]

Egg Fried or Foo Yung?

[willytheekid]

police & Govt..."no problem here NZ...no problem at ALL!, your just over reacting and making shit up :laugh:"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/67496386/crash-data-shows-danger-level-of-foreign-drivers

:blink:
Yup!...no problem here :facepalm:


-really tho...whos surprised?

[MD]

I saw on Stuff the Court ordered the female van driver to pay the Rider the cost of his wrecked bike, $13,700 from memory. A quick hearing!

She is returning home (Europe) but promised to make the payments- good luck with that.