Law change - Daytime headlights and ban on handheld devices

[scumdog]

Crash at Invercargill last night at 6:30pm

Motorbike heading down road, car pulls out of driveway.

Only spots bike at last moment and stops.

Bike didn't.

Rider has leg injuries.

Bike did not have headlight on.

Maybe the lights-on law might have prevented this??

[peasea]

I feel it more they just don't care...

Possibly, although I'd be more inclined to think that they like to be seen to be doing something to justify their positions. If they pop their ugly wee heads above the smoke now and then and write up some rule/regulation or whatever they feel better about themselves and the dumb-arse populace thinks they are getting value for their tax dollar.

By 'they' and 'them' I mean the bureaucrats.

It doesn't matter which party is in power the bureaucrats will still be there, chipping away at rules and regulations without the need (more often than not) for any actual law changes or introductions. Muldoon was good at that.

[CookMySock]

It's more the way it was sneakily put through and the fact it's one more thing to be hassled over. Not to mention the fact I'd thought we'd left this sort of nanny state crap behind us with the change of government.

I guess if people feel sensitive to this, then it might be important. For myself, I do not care what the government has to say. I do as I choose, but with respect for others rights. I find this does me, and others, well.

Seems to me it might have been more effective to just make it a WOF requirement that the headlight is permanent on for bikes registered after a certain date ...

I almost said "please not another wof requirement" but I tend to agree with you.

Steve

[peasea]

Crash at Invercargill last night at 6:30pm

Motorbike heading down road, car pulls out of driveway.

Only spots bike at last moment and stops.

Bike didn't.

Rider has leg injuries.

Bike did not have headlight on.

Maybe the lights-on law might have prevented this??

If it was a 1909 Douglas with an acetelyne headlight, I doubt it.

We had a bunch of Meriden Triumphs come over from Wellington not so long ago and I was amazed that none of them rode with their h/l on! Mind you, the electrical systems on those older Trumpys were never really up the task, especially around town with lower rpm etc. However, those bikes are not used daily and are ridden by experienced people. Maybe the crash victim you mention wasn't paying attention. Who knows?

Todays bulbs are less demanding opf charging systems, so unless your ride is REALLY old there's no excuse but what's next? Hi Viz jackets for all? A minimum area of reflective clothing?

Don't think they won't get to a point where they can dictate what you can and can't wear; Michael Laws has just done that.

[p.dath]

What's the deal with hands free kits. Are they banned or allowed?

[p.dath]

Does the legislation only ban cell phones, or are two way radios also banned?

[MSTRS:Me]

To be honest I don't recall seeing any ad's, I was forwarded an email about it and a link to make submissions. I took the time to write a submission ...

As did I. I sent an email to info@nzta.govt.nz 20/908 when submissions were being called for. Of course I got no response...
Have a look here

[MSTRS:Me]

Exactly, could set up a template! And it is free postage!!!!

Look I'm not a professional, I just give it a crack. I've made two, and I rung a couple of people to make sure they were ok.

Anybody can make submissions!!!! It's all about having your say!

But when the 'ruling' goes against AND 'they' don't even bother to acknowledge receipt of your submission (effectively, you are ignored) is there any point?

[Genestho]

Funny, I agree with that, both my submissions - I was advised I would be consulted (not transport issues) and haven't been.

But with IID's, I am now liasing with someone in the right place, which makes things a bit easier, direct response and all that, and it is known I will publish what I'm told so I'm told what they want me to know! Or I'm asked to hold back until official announcements are made, which is fair enough in some cases.

Oh and I think you should be liasing with Ministry of Transport, not NZTA. And yes they do watch this site

[MSTRS:Me]

Oh and I think you should be liasing with Ministry of Transport, not NZTA. And yes they do watch this site

But it was NZTA that was asking for submissions on the headlights issue...

[Genestho]

But it was NZTA that was asking for submissions on the headlights issue...

As I understand it, it is Ministry of Transport (along side other agencies) that lead the reviews, and TBH I've never dealt with NZTA except with educational things, and that is minimal contact.

[MSTRS:Me]

So what you are saying is that (yet again) this govt dept misleads the public? Remember, NZTA is a merger of Transit and Land Transport. Transit looked after roads etc, and LT looked after the vehicle rules. Why would the MOT have authority in cases like this? When it is be their job to advise and enforce only.

[Ixion]

..but it would appear that my submission fell on deaf ears.

Most modern bikes can sustain a 'lights on' rule but many classics' electrical systems are not up to it. It's going to be interesting to see how they cope.

Hands up those who made submissions!!!!

Yep. Ignored, obviously.

[peasea]

But when the 'ruling' goes against AND 'they' don't even bother to acknowledge receipt of your submission (effectively, you are ignored) is there any point?

Your submission will be on record somewhere. I know how you feel but if we all did nothing all the time we would face even more legislation. Don't do nothing.

[peasea]

So what you are saying is that (yet again) this govt dept misleads the public?

It wouldn't do that, surely?

We can soon look forward to heavier/longer trucks on our roads too. Heavier loads means more Road User taxes = more cash in the coffers. Longer trucks means more speed required to overtake them safely = more tickets = more cash in the coffers.