New road safety measures

[Murray]

Announced today

The Government is looking at a swathe of changes to improve road safety including tougher motorcycle testing and more demerit points rather than fines for speeding.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce this morning released the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-12 at the global launch of the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Mr Joyce said the plan continued the approach set out in the Safer Journeys strategy.

"This is an across the board approach to road safety which means we're looking at all aspects of the roading system - road users, roads, vehicles and speed."

The plan includes:

* Investigating maximum time limits for learner and restricted licences.

* strengthening motorcycle licence testing.

* researching the impact of drivers under the influence of drugs and ways to combat drug-impaired drivers.

* further safety improvements on high risk roads.

* rebalancing speeding penalties in favour of demerit points, rather than fines.

* encouraging the use of child restraints.

The plan also seeks to implement changes passed by Parliament including a tougher restricted licence test, increased minimum driving age and a zero blood alcohol limit for youth. It seeks also to implement measures passed to target high risk drivers around using alcohol interlocks and a zero blood alcohol limit for repeat drink drivers.

"Research and experience tells us that progressing these actions and implementing the legislation passed last week over the next two years can add to the improvements we've already made and help reduce New Zealand's road toll," Mr Joyce said.

- NZPA

My question is that do demerit points mean more than the fines - seems to be so many people on the road now without correct license or suspended licenses anyway?

[Swoop]

I am perplexed with "tougher testing" for motorcyclists.


Why is there no need for tougher testing of all classes of vehicle drivers?

[Bald Eagle]

I am perplexed with "tougher testing" for motorcyclists.


Why is there no need for tougher testing of all classes of vehicle drivers?

Because it's motorcyclists that they want to get rid of. Stevie Wonder scool of driving graduates already have their diplomas.

[Swoop]

Because it's motorcyclists that they want to get rid of. Stevie Wonder scool of driving graduates already have their diplomas.

Their approach proves that they are truly not interested in getting better motorists' onto our roads.

[MrKiwi]

The 70km speed limit for learner riders is soon to go and the power to weight ration is soon to be implemented - both long overdue.

The driver testing for obtaining a motorbike licence is to be made tougher, something I think is long overdue as well.

[p.dath]

That all sounds fine to me.

I am perplexed with "tougher testing" for motorcyclists.


Why is there no need for tougher testing of all classes of vehicle drivers?

Call it personal responsibility - being responsible for accidents you are involved in. Making motorcycle riders better will result in them being involved in less accidents.

[JimO]

child restraints??

[Blackbird]

The 70km speed limit for learner riders is soon to go and the power to weight ration is soon to be implemented - both long overdue.

The driver testing for obtaining a motorbike licence is to be made tougher, something I think is long overdue as well.

Couldn't agree more with respect to tougher testing but a good question has been raised - why not make it tougher for car drivers too? All standards are lamentably low compared with some European countries.

Motorcycle basic training/testing/licensing in the USA is of particularly poor quality due to both pressure by some manufacturers connected with sales and also that quaint American notion of "freedom". However, their accident statistics reflect the price of poor standards, just like ours do.

But before we get all sanctimonious about basic testing, how many of us have done any roadcraft refresher training in the last 2 or three years? Much lower than 50% of the mature riders on this forum I'd warrant. That's fertile grounds for improvement too.

[p.dath]

Couldn't agree more with respect to tougher testing but a good question has been raised - why not make it tougher for car drivers too? All standards are lamentably low compared with some European countries.

I think if you compare the motorcycle GDLS to the car GDLS the motorcycle system allows you in control on your own much much faster - well before any real skills are learnt.

[bogan]

I am perplexed with "tougher testing" for motorcyclists.


Why is there no need for tougher testing of all classes of vehicle drivers?

They just passed a bit toughening up the cage restricted test iirc. What's good for one is good for the other I reckon. Bring on 10 year retesting for everyone

[Spearfish]

I does include cars..according to a driving instructor neighbour of mine.

[bogan]

I think if you compare the motorcycle GDLS to the car GDLS the motorcycle system allows you in control on your own much much faster - well before any real skills are learnt.

True, but the car system allows somebody with little skills to be in control of someone with even less!

[Bald Eagle]

True, but the car system allows somebody with little skills to be in control of someone with even less!

Parliament allows somebody with no skills to be in control of everybody.

[Waxxa]

what the fuck is up with demerit points on Registration?

The main component of Rego is ACC levies! How does non-payment of ACC levies constitute demerit points when demerit points are for road/saftey infractions, for example; if you run a red light, it should have demerit points attached to that!

Even a WOF is only an indication of how 'safe' a vehicle may be at that point in time and that isnt going to attract demerits.

Fucking bullshit policy!

[p.dath]

what the fuck is up with demerit points on Registration?

The problem was fines affected people differently depending on their income. A fine to one person may be a serious deterrent, while to another it was a minor inconvenience.

Demerits have a more equal effect on everybody.