Two interesting articles on Stuff today about appalling NZ road users

[PrincessBandit]

Made for very sobering reading. Both articles talked about how easy it is to pass our drivers test for a Learners licence and how Kiwis are going out onto the road "ignorant and unskilled".

No mention was made at all of motorcyclists, all comments were either general or aimed at car drivers.

One 30 year old got only 7 answers correct when sitting the scratchie, and another flunked 18 times (at a cost of almost $800) before finally passing.......

Hmmmmm. And here was me thinking that they just got them out of a weetbix packet.

[scumdog]

Hmmmmm. And here was me thinking that they just got them out of a weetbix packet.

They do - all that has happened is weetbix comes in a thicker box these days...

[paturoa]

linky http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3830...n-driver-tests

I'm surprised the pass rate is that high!

[JMemonic]

I read the article about the pass rates and was bemused, (I would have thought astounded was what I should have been but no), that holding a drivers licence was believed to be a right.

My good wife sat here motorcycle learners just on ten months ago, she studied the road code I read out questions and admittedly it was the scratch and win test but she achieved a 100% pass, it was not that difficult, so here I am struggling to understand why such low rates are achieved, do people just not care.

A professor recently said in a public forum one of the problems we have here with drivers licensing is we teach people to pass a test not how to drive, now we cant even teach them to pass a test, makes me wonder. As to a system that allows

Another person took the test 18 times in four days – at a cost of $753 – before finally passing.

that to happen has massive faults, they have allowed that individual to buy their licence, (who did that as well huh? the AA), and put other road users in danger.

Next people will complain the test is to difficult and it will be dumbed down even further, how easy does it need to be? I would say fail the test and you have a month stand down before you are allowed to sit it again, fail it 3 times and its 6 months wait before you can sit it again, put some incentive in there to actually pass first time.

[rainman]

I would say fail the test and you have a month stand down before you are allowed to sit it again, fail it 3 times and its 6 months wait before you can sit it again, put some incentive in there to actually pass first time.

Not a bad proposal but I wouldn't have a stand-down between first and second time - people can just have a bad day sometimes. But yes to the "fail m times, wait n months" bit.

[scumdog]

Of course actually having the ability to read would probably increase the chance of passing for quite a lott of those attempting the test...

[Usarka]

Of course actually having the ability to read would probably increase the chance of passing for quite a lott of those attempting the test...

Rubbish, the cops never turn up in time.

[CookMySock]

One 30 year old got only 7 answers correct when sitting the scratchie, and another flunked 18 times (at a cost of almost $800) before finally passing....... Hmmmmm. And here was me thinking that they just got them out of a weetbix packet.

Yes, but they dont actually get their license. They get sent away without it.

Having just had our kids just go through all their license, I thought the process was pretty tough. Certainly they took it hard, and took the whole process on in a serious fashion, and are now accomplished and experienced drivers, and put many adults erratic and incoherent driving to shame, either on their bike or in a car.

This was one of the reasons I taught my kids road skills very early - it was very clear to them they were privileged learning this, and they took to it with the diligence it deserved - not like some older kids where the experience was already kinda old.

Steve

[onearmedbandit]

It's nothing new. I sat my learners in 1990 and the following is just a small example of what I'm sure happens everyday.

1/ Skinhead re-sitting his learners for the 18th time. Failed again. See you next week Bruce. (this all happened in front of me)
2/ Young girl sitting her license, she was sitting in a office answering the 5 oral questions. Throughout the exchange the instructor prompted her with every question, basically giving her the answers. She (well actually the instructor) passed.
3/ On the theory portion of my bike test the instructor was all to happy to point out students mistakes on the test, telling them the correct answer and allowing them to change the answer they had marked. He spoke so loudly that every student was given the answers. He also told us what day to not book our license (practical) on if we wanted to ride a bike larger than 250cc to the test.
4/ At the practical theory test I got to rip around on a Nifty50 whilst the instructor and my father had a coffee together. Later he came out, told me he had been watching me and if I could just ride slowly between two parallel lines I'd passed.

That's my own personal experience. Thankfully my father had the presence of mind to also send me on a defensive driving course. That was 20yrs ago and I still remember the things they taught us.

[JMemonic]

Of course actually having the ability to read would probably increase the chance of passing for quite a lott of those attempting the test...

Yes thats a whole other issue, back when I was at school a mate went through the system until the leaving age (15 at the time) and never learnt to read or write, he does however have a drivers licence, once he finally admitted he had a problem folks organised to help coach him through the road code and sit the entire test verbally. Not sure if he has ever learnt to read to this day but he's quite successful and possibly could now days hire himself a full time driver.

[Scuba_Steve]

"Transport authorities say the figures show Kiwis do not take driving seriously enough, and instructors say that some learners get behind the wheel with scant knowledge of the road rules."
-- It would help if the Transport authorities would take the road & licensing seriously too!

[Tank]

This was one of the reasons I taught my kids road skills very early - it was very clear to them they were privileged learning this, and they took to it with the diligence it deserved -
Steve

I would suggest that your kids have a good chance of getting killed early if you taught them road skills

The exhibits follow for your reading pleasure:

. Try putting your headlights on fullbeam, belt up to the roundabout, indicate, and chop down a couple of gears and make a hell of a noise, weave around like a demented idiot, hang off it motogp styles, and swing hard into the corner. NOW watch them pull out in front of you! I do not think so!

Steve

These days I have less issues like this, as I seem to be able to wake people up beforehand. How I actually do that I don't know - maybe because I weave around like a demented idiot and everyone's scared of me!

Steve

Yeah, swerve around like a demented P-head idiot. I'm sure drivers are like "hoooleeee sheee-ittttt" when I do it.


Steve

I use a very subtle combination of weaving about like a demented idiot, intimidating as fuck dressed in black, nasty magnesium-bright headlight, grrrowl crackle pop bang boom loud vtwin exhaust note. Yup, I think thats about it. OH, and I drive straight at people like I am going to RAM them. Suffice to say, it is about as subtle as an approaching freight train.

Steve

Try upping your speed a little,, and driving straight at them. They don't then hehehe because they want to stay ALIVE. What you get then is people calling you an asshole, but thats just sour grapes since they are bottom of the food chain - boo hoo hoo.

If I look completely out of control and drive around like a demented idiot people stay WELL THE FUCK BACK.

Steve

I got an insanely bright titanium flare on the front of my bike. It's called a High-intensity discharge headlamp. Its' 6000 kelvin flame sticks out like dogs nuts and looks like a freight train coming, LOL. NO ONE pulls out in front of it, unless they want to die.

It probably helps that I weave around like demented idiot, like I'm going to ram everyone, LOL.


Steve

[pzkpfw]

When my Wife got her license one of the oral questions she was asked was "what is the maximum length of a tow rope?".

Her answer was "400 metres".


She passed.

Her driving is fine, it's metric she doesn't know.

[ynot slow]

When sitting my HT way back,the cop was about to ask the other guy(was 4 of us in room)about 4 of 5 oral questions on HT and trailer,then realised I was sitting same,so asked me to sit outside.The officer asked the questions,and I heard them and answers,the silly thing was I knew the answers,mentally answering them,then my turn and he asked me 3 out of 4 questions,and changed 1 question,he just asked questions off the top of his head,didn't use book.

[Forum Ninja]

I must say, I am gobsmacked by the standard of driving since coming to this country. I thought the level of driving in my neck of the woods back home (Leeds, England) was bad, but this really is a whole other level. Don't get me wrong, I'm not kiwi bashing and to be honest most are quite decent. There just seem to be so many more really crap drivers about and people's total lack of ability to drive is seriously scary at times. Luckily I've got a good spidy sense or I recon I'd have been taken out several times by now. That said, I've travelled the length and breadth of the country and most of it seems to be confined to Auckland.

And it may sound like stereo typing, but I know a lot of asian people (mates and work collegues) and not one of them can drive properly. Seriously. I don't get in cars with them anymore as it's just embarrasing and scary. I've given up mentioning things to them as they tend to look at me blankly and can't understand what they've done wrong.

There is a definite failing somewhere, though, if someone can sit their test 18 times and be allowed to pass after finally getting it right. If I remember correctly, you only get one chance to pass your test in Switzerland. Perhaps a bit strict, but 18 takes the preverbial!