Morons on Grays Road, Pauatahanui yesterday

[Beemer]

Driving the Vette back from a barbecue in Upper Hutt yesterday afternoon we were overtaken by two riders at the end of the passing lane at the bottom of Haywards Hill. One plate started with 24, the other had (I think) UNA or INA at the end. No problem there, although one rider (the 24 plate) got a real wobble on as he went around the last corner at high speed.

We get to the shops just before Grays Road and both riders are stopped outside the petrol station. I assumed they would head over the Paekakariki Hill Road, but both roared past us along Grays Road and I wasn't impressed. The first rider went past us in a relatively safe spot, on a short straight. The second (again, the 24 plate) acted like a total tosser, pulling out to overtake us at high speed on double yellow lines on a windy section, with limited visibility and oncoming vehicles. He just managed to get back in in time, but again he got a real wobble on and we were positive he was going to come off right in front of us. We were behind him for a short distance and he got the wobbles on every corner as well as on some of the straights. He then overtook other vehicles and disappeared.

Even my husband, who is a far more experienced rider than I am, said he was sure the guy was going to come off as he was riding like a total tosser. So if anyone knows Mr 24, tell him he's a plonker. It's idiots like these two who give motorcyclists a bad name. There was a lot of traffic heading in both directions, it's a section of road with double yellow lines and a speed limit of 80kms and we were travelling at that speed when they overtook us. The first rider could at least handle his bike but the second rider either needs new tyres or a bit of a wake-up call. If I'd got the rest of his plate number, I would have reported his idiotic riding behaviour.

[gwigs]

Bloody Mormons ,they should stick to push bikes I reckon...wish they would stop trying to convert me...them and the J.W.s...
Oops you meant Morons ,silly me.

[Beemer]

Ha ha! If they had been Mormons, I would have knocked them off their bikes you silly boy!

[Insanity_rules]

Any idea what types bike they had?

[Nasty]

I really think that they have not taken a lot of notice of anything those riders, at least one death in the past few months on a bike and multiple car accidents ... these are well documented through the press ... can't really see how they missed it. Overall, if you don't know how to ride ... ride like a prick is not a great way to learn .. let alone to learn control of a bike.

[huff3r]

I really think that they have not taken a lot of notice of anything those riders, at least one death in the past few months on a bike and multiple car accidents ... these are well documented through the press ... can't really see how they missed it. Overall, if you don't know how to ride ... ride like a prick is not a great way to learn .. let alone to learn control of a bike.

Yep, they certainly arent helping it lose its title of NZ's most dangerous road!

[Str8 Jacket]

Yep, they certainly arent helping it lose its title of NZ's most dangerous road!

A road cannot be classed as dangerous on its own....

[Beemer]

Any idea what types bike they had?

Large, late model sports bikes. Didn't get much chance to see makes or models as they were behind the shrubs by the petrol station when stopped and then not in our vision for long when they went past. Both riders wearing dark cordura clothing. Couldn't believe where one overtook us - would have been a dumb spot even if there weren't any cars coming towards him. I was amazed he managed to stay on the bike as the back was twitching like crazy. We thought he was a goner in the passing lanes but that obviously didn't give him a fright as he carried on the same way. Think he had an M and a G in his plate too.

Agree that the road isn't dangerous, it's the idiots who use it who are! These two certainly weren't showing it the respect it deserves though.

[Fatjim]

I'm gonna say this again.

PERSPECTIVE

What looks dangerous from 30 feet away looks totally safe from right there. this is even more pronounced when sitting about two feet lower in a car.

BTW, did the road wind back on forth, or was it blowing a gail?

[Cloggy]

Well there you go. I didn't know Grays Road was classed as a dangerous road. I certainly have never felt it was dangerous or a difficult piece of road.
TV3 news did a story on it complete with a bit of a video. http://www.3news.co.nz/The-most-dang...3/Default.aspx

[huff3r]

Well there you go. I didn't know Grays Road was classed as a dangerous road. I certainly have never felt it was dangerous or a difficult piece of road.
TV3 news did a story on it complete with a bit of a video.

Yeah, it's a bit crazy isn't it? I drive that road frequently, and the other side of the inlet i drive everyday, and it's amazing how many people travel like idiots over it.

I guess being so used to it, i don't see how daunting it is for a first timer, but so many people travel ridiculously slow around there, and at the same time so many people travel at dangerously fast speeds! The speed limit seems pretty much spot on with what should be the maximum speed, any faster is dangerous, but it is still reasonably easy to travel the limit most of the way, only slowing out of respect for the numbered corners...

But theres absolutely no reason to be attempting to pass people travelling AT the speed limit around there, thats just arrogance and insanity!

[MIXONE]

I too travel this road on a regular basis both on 4 wheels and 2.I quite like it but still remember the first time over it when it was 100kph and I was trying to keep up with a mate who lived in Whitby.Very intimidating with not a lot of room for error.

[Beemer]

I'm gonna say this again.

PERSPECTIVE

What looks dangerous from 30 feet away looks totally safe from right there. this is even more pronounced when sitting about two feet lower in a car.

BTW, did the road wind back on forth, or was it blowing a gail?

It was a windy road as in twisty - but it was also quite windy as in blowing a gale (blowing a Gail is something you may do personally...).

We were in a sports car, so not quite the laid-back family saloon, and it was occupied by two motorcyclists, one (my husband) with more than 30 years' riding experience. Trust me, if he thought they were riding like total tossers, then it's a pretty safe bet they were. Overtaking on double yellow lines in the path of oncoming cars, doing WAY more than the speed limit for that road AND nearly losing it is dumb behaviour in my view. And he was right on top of us when he overtook, not 30 feet away.

I have driven and ridden that road regularly for about 23 years and while I don't think the road is inherently dangerous, it has very little margin for error. The sea/inlet on one side and mostly a bank on the other. Visibility is not that great, which is probably why it has yellow lines for most of it. The limit of 80kph is about right - there are few parts where 100kms would be safe.

[red mermaid]

I think Beemer you and your husband have just gained a small bit of understanding of what it is to be in the boots of a police officer when you see something driving dangerously, stop and speak to them, and tell them they are to be prosecuted.

All of a sudden you are mistaken and it is all someones elses fault.

[pritch]

I think Beemer you and your husband have just gained a small bit of understanding of what it is to be in the boots of a police officer when you see something driving dangerously, stop and speak to them, and tell them they are to be prosecuted.

All of a sudden you are mistaken and it is all someones elses fault.

Eh? You lost me there somewhere.

I travel that road only infrequently but have enjoyed it when I did, although it is better when the tide is in... There has been some publicity about it of late and I was assuming that Andy Knackerhead and his buddies at the LTSA were softening us up for a reduction in the speed limit. After all, the northern access to Wellington is nearly all 80kph now they must be looking for somewhere else to impose a new restriction.