should we protest against learners in high-powered cars?

[bugjuice]

No,I say not.For the same reason I think the present motorcycle restrictions are a farce - 96% of the riders on this site (myself excluded because I ride on a completly different level to mortals,my connection to god gives me far seeing vision) are riding a bike far beyond their ability to control,the present system was set up 30 years ago in a different age.You want to apply restrictions to learner car drivers when most likely the bike you learnt on far exceded the power to weight of dad's Merc.Set your own house in order before you make a move next door....

fair comment. But on bikes, best you could take out in one 'accident' could be a few people at worst, including yourself, or possibly, yourself alone. In which case, you tend to take things a bit easier, cos it's you at steak mmmm steak...

but with a car, how many people can you take out in one go, and walk away from it like nothing ever happened? Who gets killed and who walks away to do it again? Not saying a smaller less powered car will make this any better, but it might help it not to be an accident, or an over-cooked corner..

Ok, so some learner bikes are a touch over powered, like the RGV250, but there's still a restriction in place, is there not..??

[TwoSeven]

Personally I dont think anyone under 18 should be allowed to drive on a public road. Then by the time they have gotten thru the restrictions, they'll be 21. It used to be said the requirement for 15/16 year olds to drive was because of farm workers, but I dont think that really holds now - anyway, they could have a special licence 'farm vehicles only'.

Maybe scooters and small capacity bikes could be a lower age.

But then I also support actually training road users and periodic retesting- something that will never happen here. People dont have the skills to implement such a scheme.

[Lou Girardin]

Bring back the CNG-powered Holden Sunbird automatic!

That's the one! The MOT had CNG (car no go) powered Kingswoods, topped out at 120 -130 k's. Took us 4 km's to stop a Corolla and he only stopped because we put the flashers on in desperation, we couldn't close the gap on him.
CNG power for all newbies.

[250learna]

I think the fact that most people can not afford to buy a car for their kids to learn on, and not many 15 year olds have that kind of money. So they end up driving parents cars. Parents buy a car to suit tehir needs and desires (in most cases) not a car they know will be safe for their kid to drive around in once he or she get their licence.

It would creat a huge problem for many and as such i dont see it happeneing. I think there might be a better shot at raising the age to 18 like in most other countries.

Wouldnt hold my breath tho

[Ixion]

I think the fact that most people can not afford to buy a car for their kids to learn on, and not many 15 year olds have that kind of money. ..

Cars is cheaper than bikes. I can get a real good second hand car for $1500 bucks. See how good a learner 250 you get for that

[Skyryder]

Just take his number and pot the fucker. That's about all you can do legaly. Maybe dada might do something useful. Either that or go and live in Blackball.


Skyryder

[SlashWylde]

Totally agree.

See my thread on this issue here:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=11857

Suney had some interesting correspondance from the LTSA on this issue.

[Zed]

Was nearly taken out this morning by a school kid in daddies merc.

I reckon all the big bikes should spend the week riding around with 'L' plates on, then when we get stopped, we say why..

Views?

Sorry to hear about your close-call Kit, but mate it happens to the best of us! I'm sure you're thankful you didn't bin it, and yes it would have been this twerps fault if you did. You have a right to be angry.

In answer to your suggestion to ride all week with an L-plate attached above my 180 rear tyre, unfortunately I won't be joining you in that exercise because it simply won't work...plus I've never ridden with an L-plate and I never will!! The one thing that will work is if "daddy" never gives the keys to his spawn in the first place!

Glad you're okay BJ.

[250learna]

Cars is cheaper than bikes. I can get a real good second hand car for $1500 bucks. See how good a learner 250 you get for that

ok but for that price you are getting an old car that wil need high maintainance, and the safety issue (for the driver) which most parents think about (i should hope). Would you let your sun drive your nissan maxima with airbags and works or a rusty old car that he picked up for $1500 that will most likely be the end of him if he has a crash...keeping in mind he is inexperianced driver!

[Zed]

ok but for that price you are getting an old car that wil need high maintainance, and the safety issue (for the driver) which most parents think about (i should hope). Would you let your sun drive your nissan maxima with airbags and works or a rusty old car that he picked up for $1500 that will most likely be the end of him if he has a crash...keeping in mind he is inexperianced driver!

When Ixion said "a real good second hand car" I'm sure he meant that they are in fairly rust free and structurally sound condition, generally good condition all round I think.

Such cars are available cheap as nowadays.

[Roadrash]

i reckon that before you get a car licence you should have have a bike licence for a year or two, that way any shit drivers never make it into a car

[inlinefour]

Do you think it will do any good?

[Jeremy]

Compulsary full car insurance, that solves all the problems, especially if there's some sort of equality between the sexes for once.

Why?

I can't learn to drive in either of my parents cars, can't learn in Dad's van because it's got business insurance = only drivers only 25 with full. Can't learn in the family car , because it's a nearly 3L diesel nissan laurel, and I was 17 at the time. I have no idea why my sister can get covered at 15, but I couldn't at 17. Funny thing is that my GN250 has far more grunt than either of their cars, yet I can easily get full insurance for it. Which is the reason why I'm stuck with a 1L on my license.

[Ixion]

I think when Ixion said "a real good second hand car" I'm sure he meant that they are in fairly rust free and structurally sound condition, generally good condition all round I think.

Such cars are available cheap as nowadays.

Yep. This one for instance.

Better cage than I drive. sure, no boi racer cred. That's the whole point. No different to bikes. If a learner on a bike has to able to afford to stump up for a 250, I don't see a problem in saying that the learner in a car should do similar.

[nsrpaul]

need a power , cc restriction for cars , no question , when my little brother was 17 , couple of yrs ago now , 3 kids in his yr at school had a wrx
I'd like to see a gn250 keep up with one of those!!!!!!!!!!!!!