Hey fellas (Metastable)

**Metastable** · 12th March 2010, 15:44

Well I joined up because I'm heading off your way on vacation and well..... I'll have some questions. I've been riding for 10 years and currently stick mostly to the track.... so I'll hope to contribute to some bike related stuff along the way.

I got a question.... so generally speaking what's the rule of thumb when driving on the back roads away from city centers? I think the speed limit is usually 100kph, right? So does most of the traffic go at 100 or usually 10 over or what's the average driving speed? Up here in a 100 zone you probably won't get a ticket if you're doing 120. Is there a "grace" speed that most officers give you? How about those photo radar set ups? Do you guys get the stationary and mobile ones? I will be driving a cage the entire time.... ya I know, missing out the good riding roads.

Also, how about local driving etiquette? For example, in South Africa if you approach someone from behind, the slower car will often move over on to the shoulder (usually paved) at speed and let you through. Then when you pass you give them a couple of "hazard" blinks as a thank you. In France if riding, cars will try to do the same thing (but there is usually no shoulder, so they just squeeze over as far as they can) and as you pass them on the bike you stick out your right leg (other side of the road) as a thank you. I know about your unique right of way situations when turning. But is there any small stuff like I mentioned above?

BTW, I hope you guys don't think I plan on driving like a nutter

.... I'll have the wife and my baby in the car, but sometimes when you get into a bit of a groove......you look down at the speedo and

Thanks!

**Grasshopperus** · 12th March 2010, 20:19

Hey mate, welcome to KB

to answer your questions;

Most rural and motorway areas are 100km/h zones. Most people travel at just under 110km/h. Some police will ticket you at 111km/h

The rule of thumb is: speedlimit + <= 10km/h = OK

Driving etiquette over here is variable. A lot of people will go 100km/h in the overtaking lanes and not pull over despite being passed in the slower lanes because "that's the speed limit dagnamit!!". However our motorways generally have wide lanes (compared to other countries, not the USA though) and there's plenty of room for a biker to squeeze by.

Just cruise at 109km/h and enjoy the scenery

**crazyhorse** · 12th March 2010, 21:15

I agree. Just cruise and enjoy the scenery. It is lovely countryside.

But we travel somewhere between 100 - 140, but you can and probably will get a ticket at some stage if you do. But its on you. When are you coming over - good to hear you are bringing the family

.

**motodrummer** · 12th March 2010, 22:39

Welcome to KB dude- yeah, like the others said: just cruise n enjoy...got snapped doing 136a few weeks back...DOH! $400 later, thank you very much officer...slowed me right down. (Gr8 ride tho'!)

**Metastable** · 13th March 2010, 03:19

Ya I'm actually really looking forward to the scenery. My family is use to driving, so it should be lots of fun. We get fast lane bandits here too... some things just don't change.

at least up here we are allowed to undertake... because some of the fast lane bandits don't even do the limit!

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

When are you coming over - good to hear you are bringing the family

.

We are heading over during our summer = your winter. So that would be last week of July and first of August. Us Canadians are afraid to overheat you know.

Ya probably not the best time of the year to visit, but it is what works out with our schedule. We will probably spend a fair bit of time in the South Island. Looking forward to checking out Able Tasman Park + Nelson area and ChCh. Plus I hear the South Island probably gets less rain in the winter months.

How about speed cameras, are they +9 approved too? I assume passing on a solid centre line is illegal too? (FYI legal here, in the province of Ontario, but that's the only place I know, here it is just a suggestion)

**CookMySock** · 13th March 2010, 06:35

If you have done all your driving on the right, I think you should not be thinking about how much you can bump the speedlimit here. Leave that for people who grew up with drive-on-the-left.

Steve

**crazyhorse** · 13th March 2010, 07:19

Originally Posted by Metastable

We are heading over during our summer = your winter. So that would be last week of July and first of August. Us Canadians are afraid to overheat you know.

Ya probably not the best time of the year to visit, but it is what works out with our schedule. We will probably spend a fair bit of time in the South Island. Looking forward to checking out Able Tasman Park + Nelson area and ChCh. Plus I hear the South Island probably gets less rain in the winter months.

PErsonally, I think this is the worst time of year to come over. July is generally our wetest month, and to spend most of your time in the south island at that time of year would not be my idea of a family holiday. The south island gets alot of snow, and had about 15 metres of rain (roughly) last year.(so I heard)

South Island is best to be done about February/March/April. You could class it as a mild winter for you if you go when you want, but snow closes alot of roads. your choice, wouldn't be mine.

**Metastable** · 13th March 2010, 07:32

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

If you have done all your driving on the right, I think you should not be thinking about how much you can bump the speedlimit here. Leave that for people who grew up with drive-on-the-left.

Steve

No worries, I'm not trying to race anywhere.... but I just like to know these things. Mind you I have driven a fair bit in South Africa, they drive on the left too. Parking lots are a b!tch though, I always end up going to the wrong side.

Crazyhorse - ya... I hear you. I know going any other time of the year would have been a better time to go. Heck if I left it for next year I would have been able to get a lay down flat economy seat! Ce la vie! I own a business and this period should be the slow time/time when I can have extra staff around. We fully expect to get wet and have a grumpy baby.

**CookMySock** · 13th March 2010, 09:52

Originally Posted by Metastable

Parking lots are a b!tch though, I always end up going to the wrong side.

Your self-talk lets the cat out of the bag, I'm afraid.

In one breath you want to know how much you can bend the rules, and in your very next breath you tell us the slightest stress (carparking!) and you revert to "the wrong side". Wait until bubs signs on screaming at full volume and you will be a lot more stressed than in a carpark.

Very strongly recommend that you travel at 90-95k.

Steve

**Metastable** · 13th March 2010, 14:28

To be honest, I don't see the correlation between one and the other. I don't get very stressed from driving on the left or in foreign countries. I'm not trying to find out how much I can bend the rules. I'm trying to understand the norm. The comments saying most people do +9 is what I wanted to know. Now I realize that for the most part you guys don't have a huge volume of traffic when on country roads, but just in case I don't want to be the guy holding people up, because I don't realize the norm and that you're pretty much OK if you go 10 over... especially IF I feel comfortable going a bit quicker than the speed limit. I would also like to know if you have to worry about speed cameras at that speed, because I don't want a surprise present from the rental car agency 2 months down the road.

Having said all that, I drive within my comfort level..... sometimes it is a bit over whatever is posted, sometimes it is under, especially in residential areas. Example - here on rural roads I usually do about 100kph, but the limit is 80, on the highway (100 limit) we have some stretches that are 16 lanes wide I often go 140... it's like driving down a runway..... in some residential areas (limit 50) I do 35-40 because I really can't see Johny chasing his ball from behind a parked pickup (ute to you). Once driving on the road though, it isn't like you go stupid/forget car control just because you are driving on the opposite side.

However, I think driving knowledge is important. That's why I have already studied your unique right of way rules and I have checked up on some of your road signs as well. Here I'm just getting more information. Who knows, maybe I'll end up driving at 90-95kph or less... I can't say until I get there.

It still has nothing to do with a car park.

**Virago** · 13th March 2010, 14:53

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

...The south island gets alot of snow, and had about 15 metres of rain (roughly) last year.(so I heard)...

Bwahahahaha...! Where'd you get that from? On average, the South Island gets less rain than the North.

http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-...imate/overview

As a bonus, most of the stupid people appear to be from the North Island...

**crazyhorse** · 13th March 2010, 20:28

Originally Posted by Virago

Bwahahahaha...! Where'd you get that from? On average, the South Island gets less rain than the North.

http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-...imate/overview

As a bonus, most of the stupid people appear to be from the North Island...

Gosh, such lovely compliments, didn't think south islanders were that arrogant -as I said, it was information I had heard. my apologies if you get less rain, but here in sunny HB, we don't get much rain either.....