Learner License speed limit

[carbacca]

now we all know that use learners/losers have a speed limit in place. i just picked up on a technicality here that i think i might be able to argue

LTSA website + road code states


You must not go faster than 70 km/h on the open road.

what i want to know is if say the motorways is defined as an "open road", cos as far as i know "open road" refers specifically to those roads out in the wops where theres two lanes of traffic going in opposite direction with no media barrier...

i m not sure how valid this is, anyone else have any thoughts??

[xwhatsit]

I thought this was going to be an OMG NOT THIS AGAIN thread but it's not, so that's good.

That technicality... I'm not sure, but I would be willing to bet that's one of the discrepancies between the road code and the actual law. The road code is not the law; it's sort of a colloquial-language representation of the actual road rules. So they occasionally use non-specific language. I'm pretty sure that the 70kph limit is global, and that seems to be supported by other rules relating to it (e.g. the one that says you can do 100kph in your restricted test while still on your learners).

EDIT: BDOTGNZA fan says: licence.

[Drum]

Open Road is anywhere the speed limit is >70 km/h, so no luck there I'm afraid.

Generally accepted rule (here at least) is to travel the same speed as the traffic around you.

[steved]

cos as far as i know "open road" refers specifically to those roads out in the wops where theres two lanes of traffic going in opposite direction with no media barrier...

i m not sure how valid this is, anyone else have any thoughts??
I agree with Drum. Open Road to me means anything that is not a closed or private road (track).

[Cynos]

Open Road is anywhere the speed limit is >70 km/h, so no luck there I'm afraid.

Generally accepted rule (here at least) is to travel the same speed as the traffic around you.
...Phew, I thought I'd made that one up myself. Of course, if I get stopped, I'm sure the policeman will tell me the intent of the speed limit is to keep us newbies off roads with speed limits > 70km/h.

At which point I'll ever laugh or cry, not sure which. Depends how much the fine is.

[MSTRS]

...Phew, I thought I'd made that one up myself. Of course, if I get stopped, I'm sure the policeman will tell me the intent of the speed limit is to keep us newbies off roads with speed limits > 70km/h.

At which point I'll ever laugh or cry, not sure which. Depends how much the fine is.

That was part of the original intent of the rule. Impractical of course, which is why we advise ignoring it. However, do that at your own risk - if the cop is feeling nasty, it'll cost you $400

[xwhatsit]

That was part of the original intent of the rule. Impractical of course, which is why we advise ignoring it. However, do that at your own risk - if the cop is feeling nasty, it'll cost you $400

I've never heard of anybody doing that, though. But now we're venturing into ZOMG REPOST! territory.

[MSTRS]

I've never heard of anybody doing that, though. But now we're venturing into ZOMG REPOST! territory.

Never heard...what? Breach of licence condition - quite common. Each one being $400. One guy here quite some time ago got pinged for something mild = $150 BUT 3 licence breaches totalling $1200 plus the $150.

[Pumba]

LTSA website + road code states


I think your question however an important issue to point out is that the two source of information mentioned above are NOT law and will NOT stand up in court if challenged.

[xwhatsit]

Never heard...what? Breach of licence condition - quite common. Each one being $400. One guy here quite some time ago got pinged for something mild = $150 BUT 3 licence breaches totalling $1200 plus the $150.

No, I meant the 70kph condition. On its own, at least.

I'm quite aware of the chances of being pinged on the other conditions, as I ride outside those conditions quite regularly and want to know how long I can get away with it.

[breakaway]

Just be sensible, travel with the flow of traffic. Surely a cop won't fine you for something this trivial?

Just go with the "TAILGATERS :dodge:" story. That's what I'd do if I ever got pulled over. Because, if you do go 70KM/h on 100KM/h road, cages will do dumb shit to get around you.

[phiretrojan]

now we all know that use learners/losers have a speed limit in place. i just picked up on a technicality here that i think i might be able to argue

LTSA website + road code states



what i want to know is if say the motorways is defined as an "open road", cos as far as i know "open road" refers specifically to those roads out in the wops where theres two lanes of traffic going in opposite direction with no media barrier...

i m not sure how valid this is, anyone else have any thoughts??


i was told open road are the country type side, like example if you are going to masterton from wellington and you have to ride on the rimutakas hill that is open road,

[ZeroIndex]

On any 100kph / open road area, it is safer to just travel at 100kph... As long as you're not causing any trouble, cops will not even look twice.

You're actually causing yourself to become a hazard travelling at 70kph on an open road, due to the fact that everyone else is wanting to travel 100kph, so they're gonna sit right up your ass, and it's not a safe feeling. Just use the whole 2-second rule (4-seconds in the wet) for following traffic in open road areas and you should be sweet

[delusionz]

I travel on motorways at 100kph and cars on both my left and my right constantly blaze past me!

[FROSTY]

The point is you are soposed to avoid the motorway.
I'll stand corrected but I don't know anywhere in NZ where you HAVE to use the motorway as a route from A to B
I'm not saying Im in agreement with the law --being so darn inconsistant compared to a car learner licence

[Beemer]

The point is you are soposed to avoid the motorway.
I'll stand corrected but I don't know anywhere in NZ where you HAVE to use the motorway as a route from A to B I'm not saying Im in agreement with the law --being so darn inconsistant compared to a car learner licence

Lower Hutt to Wellington! Whichever way you go - either from Petone directly to Wellington along the Hutt motorway or via Haywards Hill to Whitby and then along the motorway to Wellington, the only way to avoid it is to take the train!

Which made it a real bastard for me learning to ride in Wellington as I was fucked if I wanted to go anywhere other than on the side roads!

[cowboyz]

does it really say that?

Quote:
You must not go faster than 70 km/h on the open road.


I thought it simply said you must not exceed 70km/hr.

which means all roads. Including motoways, open roads, back roads, in 80km/hr areas the lot.

[babyblade250rr]

i think ride safe, ride fair, flow with the cages and on officer of the law shouldn't bother you. You do get the occasional officer on a power trip but generally i think (I SAID IIIIIIII THINK) they are pretty reasonable people:dodge:

[rideNroot]

$400 is a lot of money.. Has anyone been pulled over doing 100km/h on their learners? If so, what happened?

[Jeremy]

Found the damn thing.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/libraries/contents/om_isapi.dll?clientID=3005718876&infobase=pal_regs.nfo&jump=r2006-084%2fs.9&softpage=DOC

And it appears that while taking your restricted test they can make you do over 70KM/h.

[Drum]

...And it appears that while taking your restricted test they can make you do over 70KM/h.

Which would be riding outside the conditions of your license, and if you actually obeyed those conditions it would be the first time your rode over 70 km/h.

Very silly, and I remember someone posting on here regarding this very thing, being told off for riding 70 km/h in a 100 zone during the 6R test. Just plain ridiculous.

[cowboyz]

$400 is a lot of money.. Has anyone been pulled over doing 100km/h on their learners? If so, what happened?

I got caught doing 120ish. Got around $120 for the exceeding 100km/hr and then $400 for breach of licence conditions times 2 cause I didnt have an L plate on either. Not a good way to spend a grand.

Actually he booked me for 40odd K over the limit first and then I got a letter saying the ticket had been written out wrong and it was edited to show correct results.

[rwh]

Lower Hutt to Wellington! Whichever way you go - either from Petone directly to Wellington along the Hutt motorway or via Haywards Hill to Whitby and then along the motorway to Wellington, the only way to avoid it is to take the train!

SH2 from Ngauranga north is not motorway, and you can get off the main road at Ngauranga and go down the Old Hutt Road. And you can get from Whitby to Wellington without going on any 100km/h roads at all, even - through Whitby to Porirua East, over the Mungavin bridge, down through Tawa, back road to Johnsonville, Khandallah, Ngaio, Wadestown.

I agree that you can't do it without going on a 100km/h road, though.

The first time I went out to the Hutt, I decided to go at rush hour so that the traffic wasn't going faster than I was allowed anyway. Then I came home later at night when there was stuff all traffic. But I only stuck with the limit for another few weeks before I gave up on it.

Richard

[Toaster]

Open Road is anywhere the speed limit is >70 km/h, so no luck there I'm afraid.

Generally accepted rule (here at least) is to travel the same speed as the traffic around you.

Agreed. Open road is 100km/h and 'open road' speed zones (white with black stripe), so yeah Learners cannot exceed 70km/h.

But if they don't keep up with traffic flow in Auckland they just run the suckers over.... that is, once the traffic actually flows.....

[kazza_nz_05]

I have been searching the message boards around this learners speed thing. And i think I am going to abide with the law on this one. Got my Bright Yellow L plate on and from now on sticking with 70km. Really don't fancy a hefty fine at this stage.

[delusionz]

The guilt free fun starts when you have 6R, I think thats reasonable to keep a newbie under 70 for 6 months. Thats assuming you've never ridden before obtaining a learners license, otherwise its a drag

[FFS]

Lower Hutt to Wellington! Whichever way you go - either from Petone directly to Wellington along the Hutt motorway or via Haywards Hill to Whitby and then along the motorway to Wellington, the only way to avoid it is to take the train!

Which made it a real bastard for me learning to ride in Wellington as I was fucked if I wanted to go anywhere other than on the side roads!

Theres no way Im gonna keep to 70kph, thats just asking for cages to sit on your date, or worse yet, an innattentive driver hits you from behind.
The train is a no go as its just a big long urinal. (last time i caught it, it stank!)
But I agree there are not a lot of choices to get into welly without having to
hit a 100kph area. So I am taking my chances without the L plate (yellow becon for "hassle me please") and travelling at the same speed as the traffic around me.
Im hoping that by a) Riding a near new bike, b) Wearing good boots, jacket and pants, and c) not riding in such a way as to draw attention to myself will (fingers crossed) keep the law at bay.

[karmakillernz]

Im hoping that by a) Riding a near new bike, b) Wearing good boots, jacket and pants, and c) not riding in such a way as to draw attention to myself will (fingers crossed) keep the law at bay.
I completely agree with you about the 70k rule, but keep in mind if you do get pulled up, you'd be looking at $1200 in instant fines and up to 75 demerits (if you're unlucky)

That's $400 and 25 demerits for each of:

No L plate
Exceeding 70kmph
Riding a bike over 250cc

So keep your head down and stay safe. ;)

[FFS]

Youchies! 1200.00 would hurt!

[discotex]

I completely agree with you about the 70k rule, but keep in mind if you do get pulled up, you'd be looking at $1200 in instant fines and up to 75 demerits (if you're unlucky)

That's $400 and 25 demerits for each of:

No L plate
Exceeding 70kmph
Riding a bike over 250cc

So keep your head down and stay safe. ;)

Not to mention potential insurance hassles for all of the above.

They're always looking for an out and riding outside your licence condtions hands one to them on a plate. At least on a 250 with L plate they have to prove you were speeding if you bin. Of course if you're not insured and/or don't prang who cares :2thumbsup

[delusionz]

Jesus christ learner on a 650, hope this isnt you

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=56754

:laugh:

[ZeroIndex]

Jesus christ learner on a 650, hope this isnt you

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=56754

:laugh:
That vid was actually a stunted CBR929, so it woulda had at least a 54 or 60 tooth sprocket, so the gearing woulda been mad styles...

[delusionz]

thats alot of teeth.

[ZeroIndex]

thats alot of teeth.
The one on my FZR400 was a 54-tooth sprocket... dropped the top speed from 200kph down to 165kph, but boy did it accelerate quickly...
If you look at my profile picture, it's got two wheelies and a lame-ass stoppie... the wheelie in the middle is probably the best view of my 54-tooth sprocket

[BIKEGAL68]

Some times i wonder if my speedo is working as the others cars speeding pass me.
But i can say that 70km to start with for a learner is a safe speed if you have not riden before.

[breakaway]

Some times i wonder if my speedo is working as the others cars speeding pass me.
But i can say that 70km to start with for a learner is a safe speed if you have not riden before.

Yep, its safe right up until the time that dumbass cager tries to overtake you and knocks you off.

[gtr boy]

wow i didnt relise the fines were so over the top,ive been cruisen everywere with no L plate and on the open road to
ive got "sum" skills as been on and off bikes for sometime(not off literally).
i think ill keep it up and just go with the flow of traffic and see how it goes,
fark had my drivers licence for 20yrs so got some road commen sence....hehehe

[Deviant]

I've been commuting and tried to stick to 70, partly because I can't afford a fine, partly because I'm very cautious by nature, and partly because I want to live and don't have more than a couple of months experience.

I'll sometime push it up to 80, and often wonder about the "10kmph over the limit leeway" thing, where they wont do you if you're 10k's or less over the limit.

Does that apply to learners?

Also, in heavy traffic in the mornings, I'm regularly finding I have vehicles flying past at 120 or so while I'm doing 100 to try not to get run over.

It's scary stuff, I love the bike but I don't like the fact that everyone is speeding and kinda forcing me to do the same, at risk of my life and a large fine.

[discotex]

I've been commuting and tried to stick to 70, partly because I can't afford a fine, partly because I'm very cautious by nature, and partly because I want to live and don't have more than a couple of months experience.

...

It's scary stuff, I love the bike but I don't like the fact that everyone is speeding and kinda forcing me to do the same, at risk of my life and a large fine.

Totally understand not wanting to get stuck with the $400 fine...

Totally understand not wanting to die...

What I don't get is how you feel safer travelling at 70km/h with cars wizzing past.

I really think you're facing a bigger risk going slower than the traffic. The risk of having someone run into you from behind is just too high and if that happens you're going down hard.

Having finished the 6 months of L restrictions a month ago I really think you have nothing to fear from the :Police: when it comes to the 70km/h limit as long as you're not doing more than 100-110km/h.