A month ago I watched a riding buddy die on the side of the road

[The Stranger:Me]

Don't take it personally Noel.

You're starting to sound like Mom, yungatart and chanceyy.

If one can honestly say that something doesn't apply to them, then it probably doesn't apply to them.

What a relief that it doesn't apply to me.
I thought he was referring to antics like when I overtook that group of trumpet riders that was (literally) wobbling along SH22 on Saturday and hooned off at a smidgen over the speed limit.
But hey, that's all good.
So who was he referring to?

[george formby]

On going training for the life of the road user. A re-test every 5 years perhaps in/on a basic simulator which will simulate gravel, opening car doors, kid's running out, low sun glare etc. Road users being forced to confont hazards & being educated in the areas where they perform badly would make drivers/ riders far safer & more aware when they hit road. If you can learn to fly a jumbo jet on a simulator, it cannot be to hard to have a few vehicle simulators in the local REAP office.
Expensive I know but what value life & quality of life?

[Katman]

So who was he referring to?

Not me neither.

[Little Smurf]

I hate to say it but the aussies have one up on us, they have been making the general public aware of motorcyclists for over 20yrs.

I have to agree here, lived in Oz for 7 years and yes they are good drivers/riders very considerate.

I just read today about a Harley rider named Horse who got taken out by a tourist on the wrong side of the road

I think it's all too easy for tourists to come into our country and hire a car/van/campervan whotut some kind of test/pratical driving course. The accidents where bikes and other vehicles have been hit cause the other driver is on the opposite side of the road all if not the majority could have been prevented.

The tourist has been charged and passport taken off him until his next court appearnace and as it should.

James (Horse) the lad who would give me shit when growing up for liking jap bikes ...... you are going to be missed ..... RIP lad

Here is the write up http://www.waitomonews.co.nz/issues/...0.01.12.WN.pdf

[Motu]

I think it's all too easy for tourists to come into our country and hire a car/van/campervan whotut some kind of test/pratical driving course. The accidents where bikes and other vehicles have been hit cause the other driver is on the opposite side of the road all if not the majority could have been prevented.

I used to hire out cars and motorcycles to tourists - we didn't care what sort of license they had,so long as it was a license.99.9% of damage to our vehicles was caused by Kiwi's.I don't remember any foreiners having an accident in the 3 years I was there....but the .1% is there just incase.

[FJRider]

and it happened because he wasn't paying attention and then messed up his braking

No amount of Goverment input, rider training, or the wearing of all the "right" safety gear, is going to be worth anything ... if the rider is not paying attention to where they are.

The assumption that ALL OTHER MOTORIST'S will stay on the bit of road they are supposed to be on, or not doing anything "you did not expect them to" ... can (and usually does) lead to much grief.

[p.dath]

On going training for the life of the road user. A re-test every 5 years perhaps in/on a basic simulator which will simulate gravel, opening car doors, kid's running out, low sun glare etc. Road users being forced to confont hazards & being educated in the areas where they perform badly would make drivers/ riders far safer & more aware when they hit road. If you can learn to fly a jumbo jet on a simulator, it cannot be to hard to have a few vehicle simulators in the local REAP office.
Expensive I know but what value life & quality of life?

Would you be prepapred to pay $1000 to re-sit your licence every five years in a multi-million dollar simulator?

Make no mistake, if it is expensive, you'll be paying for it.

[Ixion]

What is the point of retests every n years, if the standard required in the test is that of the present licence test - ie trivial.

And if the tests are to be tougher, whether initial licence tests or retests, then you break on the rock of finding testers (and instructers).

I do not have extensive experience of licence testers (I am talking generally here not specifically motorcycle). But such as I have seen, I do not have any confidence in their ability to judge the capabilities of applicants. If the tester is not competent , how can any faith be placed in his pass or fail. Bear in mind, that motorcycle testers do not even have to have a motorcycle licence, and may never have ridden a bike. What credibility can they have?

And by and large , instructors are no better. Some of them should not be trusted on the road themselves , let alone be instructing others (bike instructors are probably a bit of a different story, they usually seem to be enthusiasts )

[Motu]

Would having to sit another more stringent test make me a better rider? I think not.Would having a more elaborate wedding with more meaningful vows make me a better husband and father? No again.The training is in the doing....the learning is in the absorbing.We need to make more absorbent sponges.....

[marty]

So it's OK on the Coro Loop then? That's A to A.....

[The Stranger:Me]

I have told no one how to ride,how to think or behave.

"Grow up, get some responsibility, some humility and an apprecaition..."
Certainly sounds like it to me.

[Tink]

typing is now a effort after reading the article about such a cool enthusiatic couple... I won't give up after such a huge effort to start riding.... simple just to keep the thoughts of such wonderful people in my heart... I only hope that the recovery and life of one so loved as Jacqui is one day complete.. its about living like they did... life could be simple... but evolution justifies its not... a friend told me once don't join kiwibiker it will bring to much heartache and grief... he was right... but its also bought friends and focus, ambition, and thought, education... and willingness to teach my girls how to be good riders one day.

[Berries]

I think it's all too easy for tourists to come into our country and hire a car/van/campervan whotut some kind of test/pratical driving course. The accidents where bikes and other vehicles have been hit cause the other driver is on the opposite side of the road all if not the majority could have been prevented.

No disrespect to your mate Horse, but if you allow tourists to drive here it doesn't matter what training you give them you will always have cases of them reverting back to instinct and driving on the wrong side of the road. It is not necessarily a sign that they are poor drivers, it is just a fact of life in these days of international travel and tourism. The only way to prevent this kind of thing happening is to ban foreign drivers, which will never happen.

[YellowDog]

On going training for the life of the road user. A re-test every 5 years perhaps in/on a basic simulator which will simulate gravel, opening car doors, kid's running out, low sun glare etc. Road users being forced to confont hazards & being educated in the areas where they perform badly would make drivers/ riders far safer & more aware when they hit road. If you can learn to fly a jumbo jet on a simulator, it cannot be to hard to have a few vehicle simulators in the local REAP office.
Expensive I know but what value life & quality of life?

That sounds like a pretty good and inexpensive solution.

[Little Smurf]

No disrespect to your mate Horse, but if you allow tourists to drive here it doesn't matter what training you give them you will always have cases of them reverting back to instinct and driving on the wrong side of the road. It is not necessarily a sign that they are poor drivers, it is just a fact of life in these days of international travel and tourism. The only way to prevent this kind of thing happening is to ban foreign drivers, which will never happen.

No it's all good dude your comment is fair.......when something as close to home as this happens we always take the negetive route and blame (as in this case) Mr Tourist, it was wrong place at the wrong time if it was a milli second later or sooner it may never have happened, All fair comments above people don't mind me just venting