Dangerous driving/riding comes in all forms

[MSTRS]

Hi all - as a recent returnee to the wonderful world of 2 wheels, it is great to see so many people out there who are passionate about the subject. I note that there is a lot of discussion about speeding & tickets/demerit points :Police: :no: I thought I'd see if there was just as much anger over the dorks out there who insist on doing 70k :wait: :headbang: on the open road. Most people I've talked to locally, including driving instructors, think it's high time that our beloved police :puke: should be spending more effort here, which would reduce driver frustration & dodgy overtaking manouvres. After all, I ride a big, fast one & it's soooo tempting............

[Sniper]

Hi all - as a recent returnee to the wonderful world of 2 wheels, it is great to see so many people out there who are passionate about the subject. I note that there is a lot of discussion about speeding & tickets/demerit points :Police: :no: I thought I'd see if there was just as much anger over the dorks out there who insist on doing 70k :wait: :headbang: on the open road. Most people I've talked to locally, including driving instructors, think it's high time that our beloved police :puke: should be spending more effort here, which would reduce driver frustration & dodgy overtaking manouvres. After all, I ride a big, fast one & it's soooo tempting............

Thats very true, after all the talks and tv talk about how police are targeting drivers doing 80kph and below and wont pull over for traffic.

Prime example was yesterday on the way home I got caught up in a wee bit of traffic. Some plonker was doing 75kph down SH1 of the South Island. He had about 12 cars behind him by the time I caught up and that included 3 police cars, one directly behind him. When we eventually got to Blenheim, there was a total of about 20+ cars stuck and the cops didnt do anything, yet when a car went to over take one cop, perfectly fine and it didnt even look like he went over 100kph, the cops pulled him up. I mean whats the story with that? :spudwhat: :gob:

I dont know what the story is behind it, maybe the cops were escorting him but they seemed too spaced out between so I dont get it. Could someone shed some light on the subject?? Maybe its me :spudwhat:

[MSTRS]

OH didn't you know? Helen was demonstrating what really :killingme happened.

[vifferman]

Nah, they don't bother me so much, as they're usually easy to get past; it's the ones who drive at 90 or so, then speed up to 110 in the passing lanes that piss me off.

But my personal bugbear is people who run red lights and stop signs. I'd rather see the police hammer this sort of thing than speed, be it slow or high. I'd also like to see campaigns by the police, LTSA, advertisers etc. addressing the appallingly bad standard of driving and disregard for other motorists' safety exhibited by too many drivers (including most D'Auckland drivers).

[Ms Piggy]

But my personal bugbear is people who run red lights and stop signs. I'd rather see the police hammer this sort of thing than speed, be it slow or high. I'd also like to see campaigns by the police, LTSA, advertisers etc. addressing the appallingly bad standard of driving and disregard for other motorists' safety exhibited by too many drivers (including most D'Auckland drivers).
That's my pet hate too! It happens all the time in Wgtn and the stupid part of that is that I usually catch up to them at the next set of lights - all they gain is a few seconds, maybe a minute - woo hoo! Is that worth endangering other traffic for?? I think not!

But, getting back to the original subject - I recall once coming back from Queenstown (we were in a car) and there was a van at the front of a loooooooong queue of traffic going about 70km/hr, a cop actually pulled out of the traffic and pulled the van over - bloody inconsiderate and ignorant - that and tail gaters. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

[MSTRS]

Yeah to all that - but perhaps all the crazy stunts that drivers/riders pull are differing examples of frustration with the slow dorks. I live in Napier & work takes me to Hastings quite a bit - there are 4 100k roads between the two cities & the prats are on ALL of them :crybaby:

[MSTRS]

Brings to mind the old lament "Lord, I don't mind all the prats being on the road, but do they have to be on the same bit as me?"

[riffer]

There was a case recently in my home town, Upper Hutt, where a Taxi Shuttlebus driver was successfully prosecuted and convicted for careless driving for doing 75 (or thereabouts) km/hr on River Road, where there is a 100km/hr restriction.

In this case, there was a large tailback of cars behind him, and the :Police: quite rightly concluded that he was causing an obstruction to traffic and stopped him.

He decided to defend it, he lost. Game Over.

It all comes under failing to drive/ride appropriately to the conditions.

[sels1]

I'd see if there was just as much anger over the dorks out there who insist on doing 70k :wait: :headbang: on the open road............

And what about those camper vans - do they have engine governers on or something? I dont dont think I've every followed one doing more than 80K
(and I've followed quite a few...)

[riffer]

And what about those camper vans - do they have engine governers on or something? I dont dont think I've every followed one doing more than 80K
(and I've followed quite a few...)

They don't have engine governors on them.

I've driven one.

They are gutless. And when you go over 75 the front wheels start to wobble in a way that makes you want to slow down real quick-like

[Slingshot]

The Police in Wgtn often target people running reds or not stopping at stop signs. Two classic examples of where this happens often is the intersection of Cuba & Able Smith Streets, it's one of those intersections where there's stop signs on all four sides. The other is the intersection of Vivian & Taranaki Streets. Often in the morning rush hour, they'll have a cop just around the corner on Vivian St, he spots the bad people that run a red as they're turning left on to Vivian and then communicates that to his henchmen that are standing up the street a little (normally by the lock shop), they just wander out in front of the traffic and pull the offender over.

I do agree that more focus should be put on poor driving habits.

I believe that being licensed to drive is a privilege, not a right!

[spudchucka]

There was a case recently in my home town, Upper Hutt, where a Taxi Shuttlebus driver was successfully prosecuted and convicted for careless driving for doing 75 (or thereabouts) km/hr on River Road, where there is a 100km/hr restriction.

In this case, there was a large tailback of cars behind him, and the :Police: quite rightly concluded that he was causing an obstruction to traffic and stopped him.

He decided to defend it, he lost. Game Over.

It all comes under failing to drive/ride appropriately to the conditions.
He was probably charged with inconsiderate driving, which comes under the same section of the LTA as careless driving.


8.Drivers not to be careless or inconsiderate—

A person may not operate a vehicle on a road carelessly or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road.

[MSTRS]

There was a case recently in my home town, Upper Hutt, where a Taxi Shuttlebus driver was successfully prosecuted and convicted for careless driving for doing 75 (or thereabouts) km/hr on River Road, where there is a 100km/hr restriction.

In this case, there was a large tailback of cars behind him, and the :Police: quite rightly concluded that he was causing an obstruction to traffic and stopped him.

He decided to defend it, he lost. Game Over.

It all comes under failing to drive/ride appropriately to the conditions.
Can we have that :Police:man here pretty please

[vifferman]

They [camper vans] don't have engine governors on them.

I've driven one.

They are gutless. And when you go over 75 the front wheels start to wobble in a way that makes you want to slow down real quick-likeThat's a de facto engine governor, innit? :spudwhat: :killingme

[MSTRS]

Re campers - lot's of visitors to our fair shores use them & probably think that we still use mph, besides they are now in the southern hemisphere & you fall off the world here don't you? :blah:

[riffer]

He was probably charged with inconsiderate driving, which comes under the same section of the LTA as careless driving.

Quote:
8.Drivers not to be careless or inconsiderate—

A person may not operate a vehicle on a road carelessly or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road.


Is this an officers disretion thing?

If so, could you use it to rid the road of people using cellphones when driving, one of my pet hates?

[Yokai]

Oh man - Up here in D'auckland we should have like 5 :Police: :Police: every 2 meters or so... Just the first few things that come to mind that P me off...

1 - Busses that wander around in the middle of the road and get into the right hand lane for the 20m between traffic light and bus stop!
2 - The ubiquitous cell + makeup / cigarette / food combination
3 - USE THE F***ING indicator ... I had a great one of those a couple weeks back. Pulling into my driveway (indicator on, coming past a line of parked cars) twit in the car pulls out and almost into me. I stop the bike, and very calmly say "Hey mate, your indicator isn't working..." He gets out of the car and says "what?" I say "your blinker isn't working..." so he gets in the car, turns on the indicator and has a look - guess what?! It's working... he says "Yes it bloody is" to which I reply "WELL WHY DIDN'T YOU FUCKING USE IT YOU TOSSER!" :eek:

re: Slow drivers - in some areas there are minimum speed limits - there should be a national recommended minimum speed - say 15k below the limit, or 10k below what you are allowed to travel at on a higher speed road: e.g.

1) Learner bike - allowed to travel on a 100kmh road, but can't do more than 70 - minimum recommended speed - 60k...
2) old biddy in car with full licence, same road - min recommended speed - 85k.

Has to be recommended speed, because sometimes there are things that you can't avoid, like limping a car home that only has 2 gears - 3rd and reverse (had to do that)....

Just my 2c

[Storm]

Time to start lobbying for law changes then is it?

[MSTRS]

Time to start lobbying for law changes then is it?
nah - just be more evenhanded with the one's we got without all this goddam revenue gathering & propaganda over speed.

[rodgerd]

Nah, they don't bother me so much, as they're usually easy to get past; it's the ones who drive at 90 or so, then speed up to 110 in the passing lanes that piss me off.


Oh, yes. And the "charge down the lane I don't want to be in, and ram my way into the one I do."


But my personal bugbear is people who run red lights and stop signs.Red light cameras at various intersections around town would make me a happy man...

[kerryg]

Oh, yes. And the "charge down the lane I don't want to be in, and ram my way into the one I do."



That would be the single most irritating thing that characterises Auckland drivers IMHO. I honestly can say, with my hand on my heart, though I'm a dorklander born and bred, I don't do it. I get in the correct lane (inevitably the one with a longest queue of cars in it) and patiently wait. It makes me so mad that others will try to jump the queue (99.9% of the time successfully, 'cos people let them in rather than make an issue of it). Dunno what you do about it but it it's just bloody queue jumping and if you did it in a shop or at the taxi stand someone would abuse you..but people do it on the road as though it's normal and OK.

[sAsLEX]

next time dont let them in, used to love doing this to taxis etc when in the cage as they would make the funniest faces and angry motions when you just followed a few feet behind the car in front and gave them no room to sneak in!

[MSTRS]

That would be the single most irritating thing that characterises Auckland drivers IMHO. I honestly can say, with my hand on my heart, though I'm a dorklander born and bred, I don't do it. I get in the correct lane (inevitably the one with a longest queue of cars in it) and patiently wait. It makes me so mad that others will try to jump the queue (99.9% of the time successfully, 'cos people let them in rather than make an issue of it). Dunno what you do about it but it it's just bloody queue jumping and if you did it in a shop or at the taxi stand someone would abuse you..but people do it on the road as though it's normal and OK.
Hey at least they seem to know what lanes are for - & they did say 'excuse me' first didn't they? Must be the helmet - can't hear - aarrgghh

[spudchucka]

Is this an officers disretion thing?

If so, could you use it to rid the road of people using cellphones when driving, one of my pet hates?
I think before long you might find a new offence intoduced for that very annoyance.

Cell phone usage alone doeas not equal inconsiderate driving, however crashing whilst blabbing on the phone would amout to careless driving.

[MSTRS]

I think before long you might find a new offence intoduced for that very annoyance.

Cell phone usage alone doeas not equal inconsiderate driving, however crashing whilst blabbing on the phone would amout to careless driving.
I hear something about smoking in cars too or is that just the paranoia talking? Sometimes I have trouble with the voices.... :eek:

[spudchucka]

I hear something about smoking in cars too or is that just the paranoia talking? Sometimes I have trouble with the voices.... :eek:
I've not heard anything about that one. But have you seen the news from Victoria where the cops are doing roadside test for other smoked substances??

[MSTRS]

I've not heard anything about that one. But have you seen the news from Victoria where the cops are doing roadside test for other smoked substances??
Wouldn't bother me - I'm not in Victoria

[MSTRS]

No seriously, I am of the opinion that a m/c is enough of a mind altering substance without the 'would you like fries with that'

[marty]

waikato TAG are driving that in NZ spud. my old *boss* is setting it up.

[Wellyman]

I have seen plenty of cars and bikes been pulled over for going too fast to pass the grandma's in there shopping carts. There is one good straight down near New Plymoth that we watched as bikers passed slow cars in a big group. i'm sure i saw the pigs hiding on the side of the road there too.

[Wenier]

And what about those camper vans - do they have engine governers on or something? I dont dont think I've every followed one doing more than 80K
(and I've followed quite a few...)

Youd believe that most of em do, BUT i have followed one from nelson heading for blenheim which was doin 130k (absolutely cannin it, i couldnt believe it was possible guy must of been a nutter) and he only got slowed down when we reached the twisty hill round to perlorus (cant spell).

[marty]

i guess they're on holiday and are just taking their time. maybe the 130k dude was late for ferry/crap/connection?

[Wenier]

1) Learner bike - allowed to travel on a 100kmh road, but can't do more than 70 - minimum recommended speed - 60k...


i think it should b let them go 100k or not go on the motorway at all, as it cause a huge disturbance in traffic on the motorway. i have been drivin on the motorway and seen all the traffic in the left lane come up behind the learner bike slam the brakes and then doin the lane change, which all look pretty unsafe. I dont think we can blame the cagers for flyin up behind a bike and slamin on the brakes like that cause i bet none of them no bout the 70k restriction imposed on the motorcyclist.

[MSTRS]

I've discovered the answer - Wednesday evening in Hawkes Bay - no prats (home in bed ?) Just had to find out if I still like the bike Yep

[Slim]

You'd believe that most of em do, BUT i have followed one from nelson heading for blenheim which was doin 130k (absolutely cannin it, i couldnt believe it was possible guy must of been a nutter) and he only got slowed down when we reached the twisty hill round to perlorus (cant spell).
That was probably my Dad! <_< Last time they were touring the South Island, they got a grunty Merc motorhome & Dad was well impressed. :cool2:

You should check out all the retirees between Te Puke & The Mount - I don't know if they just miss the 100kph sign and think they're still meant to be doing 80kph or what, but there's nothing you can do about it, and the traffic density is so high on that stretch of SH2 that there's no point getting aggravated about it.

I must add that when I'm on the bike on that stretch of road, most of the traffic calmly pulls to the left to let me past. :niceone:

[MSTRS]

This campervan thing is all very well, but my gripe isn't with those that can't help being slow on the roads, it's with those prats :moon: that can & won't move over. I just don't see anything being done about them. My wife has actually *555'd about one doing 60k on the open road only to be told, and I quote, "As long as the speed limit is not being broken, the driver of that car is entitled to drive at whatever speed they like". The 20-car tailback was of no interest to the person at the other end of the phone. :gob: :headbang:

[Devil]

Speaking from the point of view of someone that occasionally drives a campervan (on a Canter truck chassis), yes they are slow (ours will do about 120km/h max, but anything over 90 and the fuel consumption turns to the ridiculous.
I move over for people whereever possible, but sometimes you end up on a road where it may be safe for a car to pull off, but theres no way you'd try it in the truck, no-where near the stability/control on the gravel as a car, its just dangerous. Some people in thier cages do not realise this. Im not stomping off into the scenery if its going to mean a brown trouser moment.

As for people thanking you for moving over? 1 in 10 maybe. Wankers.

[MSTRS]

As for people thanking you for moving over? 1 in 10 maybe. Wankers.
True - try towing a boat on a narrow road, with few wide spots. Show some appreciation? I think not. :mad: A little courtesy on both sides would go a long way reduce the frustrations out there

[kerryg]

next time dont let them in, used to love doing this to taxis etc when in the cage as they would make the funniest faces and angry motions when you just followed a few feet behind the car in front and gave them no room to sneak in!


Mostly I just mutter curses under my breath and let them in, especially if they indicate properly and don't actually try to force their way in. Every now and then if I'm having a bad day and some wanker in a Range Rover is being a totally inconsiderate prick I just look straight ahead :whistle: and keep a speed which matches theirs (so that they can't duck in front of me or behind) ...that tends to make them mad though and can bring on all kinds of aggro and stupid driving and puts me at risk of driving too close to the car in front and/or too fast or erratically or provoking Range Rover guy to do something homicidal so it's really just simpler to let them in however much it cheeses me off.

I bus to work sometimes and the bus drivers in Auckland deserve a medal. The shit they deal with is unbelievable.

[Yokai]

I bus to work sometimes and the bus drivers in Auckland deserve a medal. The shit they deal with is unbelievable.

I agree that the shite that they deal with is HUGE ... but there are those that just have NO FSCKING clue ... The Midtown busses are great, but when I used to get the long bus in along Williamson Ave - those drivers were pricks by the time they got to town.

I think it depends on the route.

[Motoracer]

Our work uses "campervans"... minus the kitchen sink, and we get em up to a decent speed :whistle:
The American chevy ones with a 5.7l V8 sound horney! :love:

[sAsLEX]

I bus to work sometimes and the bus drivers in Auckland deserve a medal. The shit they deal with is unbelievable.

that they may do, but i never read in the road code that all vehicles must give way to buses and be able to read the mind of the drivers as buses have no need to use their indicators! had a bad day with buses pulling out on me :no:

[sels1]

Our work uses "campervans"... minus the kitchen sink, and we get em up to a decent speed :whistle:

Rode in the back of one of those once......not caused by a bike thankfully

[inlinefour]

Hi all - as a recent returnee to the wonderful world of 2 wheels, it is great to see so many people out there who are passionate about the subject. I note that there is a lot of discussion about speeding & tickets/demerit points :Police: :no: I thought I'd see if there was just as much anger over the dorks out there who insist on doing 70k :wait: :headbang: on the open road. Most people I've talked to locally, including driving instructors, think it's high time that our beloved police :puke: should be spending more effort here, which would reduce driver frustration & dodgy overtaking manouvres. After all, I ride a big, fast one & it's soooo tempting............

The law does say if you are going to be a slow poke then allow everyone else to pass. I travelled the AKL motorway over the weekend and I'm sure most were going at about 80km/h, was pretty frustrating as I was on a bigger bike than I'm normally used to :crybaby:

[MSTRS]

The law does say if you are going to be a slow poke then allow everyone else to pass. I travelled the AKL motorway over the weekend and I'm sure most were going at about 80km/h, was pretty frustrating as I was on a bigger bike than I'm normally used to :crybaby:
My point exactly. You have used a positive force & applied it to the blunt end of a pointy metal object