AA March 2010 Policy Meeting

[Okey Dokey]

In amongst all that, I note that any talk about training is always "rider training"!

what about "driver training"?

Train "drivers" to acknowledge and accept that motorcyclists are a legitimate and legal form of transport!

And that "all" other motorists must "share the road" with them!

That would be a good start in bringing motorcycle accident rates down for a start!

And who will design the rider training? Good trainers like ProRider and others already operating in NZ should be advising the gvmt, as well as BRONZ or Ulysses. Or will we just copy what they do in motorbike-loathing Victoria? The AA are about cars, not bikes, and don't seem to be on our side.

[Pixie]

In amongst all that, I note that any talk about training is always "rider training"!

what about "driver training"?

Train "drivers" to acknowledge and accept that motorcyclists are a legitimate and legal form of transport!

And that "all" other motorists must "share the road" with them!

That would be a good start in bringing motorcycle accident rates down for a start!

You will never get driver training in NZ with the current road safety cohort.
The current attitude is that training results in "over confident drivers".In fact, this was stated by the then head of road policing, Dave Cliff at the road safety meeting in Whangarei a couple of years ago.

Look at the current road safety campaign: everything is geared to make the average idiot terrified of going out on the road."intersections are lotteries","if your car does not have abs esp etc. you will lose control and a truck will hit you","if you do 60 kmh you will wrap your car around a power pole"

They believe frightened people are safe people.

[Okey Dokey]

Good points, Pixie. I never realised before, but you are right, the attitude is to frighten people off the road. (or tax bikes via ACC off the road)

[p.dath]

Look at the current road safety campaign: everything is geared to make the average idiot terrified of going out on the road."intersections are lotteries","if your car does not have abs esp etc. you will lose control and a truck will hit you","if you do 60 kmh you will wrap your car around a power pole"

They believe frightened people are safe people.

Yes, it definately feels like they want everyone driving defensively, as though an accident could happen at any time. And I guess when you have been employed to reduce the road toll why wouldn't you.

The big question; the policy question; is do we want this policy for our roads?

I think it needs some moderation. Otherwise why not just take it to the n'th degree, and ban everyone from using a public road. Voila, no more accidents on public roads.

So a carefull balance needs to be struck between use of a public asset and preservation of human life.

[bogan]

They believe frightened people are safe people.

I'd never realised that before either, this must be why they are coming down on bikers, we go out because we enjoy it, and being one of the most vulnerable road users we should probably be the most scared. Fuck it, life's too short to waste time fearing the inevitable.

[Pixie]

Yes, it definately feels like they want everyone driving defensively, as though an accident could happen at any time. And I guess when you have been employed to reduce the road toll why wouldn't you.

Unfortunately it's a flawed theory.The safest countries are those that require extensive skills before a driver can be licensed.

[p.dath]

Unfortunately it's a flawed theory.The safest countries are those that require extensive skills before a driver can be licensed.

I have to say what I've head about the German model sounds very good, and they think like you do.

[Pixie]

I have to say what I've head about the German model sounds very good, and they think like you do.

Can you imagine Joe Kiwi driving safely at 200 kmh?
In Germany the license test is divided into sections,all of which must be completed.One section requires driving at 200 kmh on the autobahn.

[oldrider]

Pixie is correct, have a look at those video clips of Indian intersections! (I can't find them)

Total chaos, no rules (except stay alive) no lights, personal responsibility by the truck load and "cooperation" everywhere!

Amazingly, (even after watching quite a few of them) there are "very few accidents"!

Here we are over "regulated" to the point where nobody has to "think" or "act" responsibly for themselves "or anybody else"!

When things go pearshape they simply reach for the remote and hope the next channel will change everything!

[p.dath]

Pixie is correct, have a look at those video clips of Indian intersections! (I can't find them)

Total chaos, no rules (except stay alive) no lights, personal responsibility by the truck load and "cooperation" everywhere!

Amazingly, (even after watching quite a few of them) there are "very few accidents"!

Having had a few employees from India, they tell me the death and accident rate on the roads is attrocious. They say a large majority of the accidents are never reported.

So I would not hold India up as a model to aspire for.

[oldrider]

Having had a few employees from India, they tell me the death and accident rate on the roads is attrocious. They say a large majority of the accidents are never reported.

So I would not hold India up as a model to aspire for.

Maybe so but there are "millions" of them, how do you reckon the percentages would stack up?

[mashman]

Having had a few employees from India, they tell me the death and accident rate on the roads is attrocious. They say a large majority of the accidents are never reported.

So I would not hold India up as a model to aspire for.

I didn't see any road markings

[Bodir]

Who needs road markings? Aren't that those slippery little annoying things on the road that make you crash?

[Morcs]

Who needs road markings? Aren't that those slippery little annoying things on the road that make you crash?

They make road riding more exciting.

cat eyes when cutting corners with ya knee on the deck on the other hand...