New road safety measures

**Swoop** · 11th May 2011, 17:36

Originally Posted by p.dath

Making motorcycle riders better will result in them being involved in less accidents.

Correct, but why are car drivers not being held to higher levels?
CC/power/non-turbo limitations applied to learners on four wheels???

**AllanB** · 11th May 2011, 17:41

Originally Posted by Swoop

but why are car drivers not being held to higher levels?
CC/power/non-turbo limitations applied to learners on four wheels???

Agree 100%.

It is because stupid 18 year old shits with pants hanging down under their butt cheeks and caps on backwards can vote at 18.

Having said that I do think it is coming.

**Ocean1** · 11th May 2011, 17:44

Originally Posted by p.dath

The problem was fines affected people differently depending on their income.

Always with this fettish about not offending the poor people, no good will possibly come of it y'know.

**MrKiwi** · 11th May 2011, 19:08

Originally Posted by Bald Eagle

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

Couldn't possibly comment - well I could and will - sadly so true

**MrKiwi** · 11th May 2011, 19:10

Changes are being made for car drivers. The restricted licence test is going to be more more challenging. So changes are coming for both cars and motorbike drivers licencing.

**Ocean1** · 11th May 2011, 19:20

Originally Posted by p.dath

Making motorcycle riders better will result in them being involved in less accidents.

Only if you define "better" as being involved in less accidents. It's not a realistic definition.

A more likely expectation of improved ability is that accident numbers will remain similar because what causes them is personal risk tolerance.

**DrunkenMistake** · 11th May 2011, 19:25

Originally Posted by AllanB

Agree 100%.

It is because stupid 18 year old shits with pants hanging down under their butt cheeks and caps on backwards can vote at 18.

Having said that I do think it is coming.

Heh', The right to vote must be to blame!

Originally Posted by JimO

child restraints??

Yeah, you can buy an add on for your Ventura pack rack, Just bungee the kid on and your good to go

**ducatilover** · 11th May 2011, 19:44

Ten bucks says the new systems will be useless and pointless.
I'm all for better education for riders and drivers alike. It would be very good to see subsidised practical training available, I for one would love more rider and driver training.

Make the step from 250cc bikes not so big too, it's fucked.
Make the younger drivers or learning drivers have a car restriction, 100hp per tonne max or perhaps less.
Car and bike control training must be mandatory.
Refresher courses.

The money ACC saves could be put towards making safer drivers.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha that'll be the day...

**Berg** · 11th May 2011, 20:22

Bring it on

I tend to agree with the demerit points as there is already so much money owed in unpaid fines or written off fines and the courts are being clogged with recidivist offenders who will not pay.
At least with demerit points, offenders loose their licence after the accumulation of 100 points within 2 years and if they insist on continuing driving they will loose their cars or bikes. This frees up the court system for more serious offences that have in the past been held up in the backlog.
I also know the car testing regime has already got harder and is slated to have more pressure placed on it in the future.
The maximum time on learner/restricted licences is also a good idea as it works twofold. Firstly people have to get on with getting a licence rather than languishing on learner and restrict-eds usually forgetting what they have been taught and often breaching their conditions and secondly by forcing people who cannot pass the driving aspects of the licences to either abandon driving/riding or to go back and learn properly.
As for the drug testing and child retraints, thats just all good.
I bet people who are suspended or forbidden will be the major targets as they will have their mode of transported impounded for 28 days and then will have to pay before they are released.
Of course, if you behave you have nothing to worry about. 25 years of driving/riding and never had a ticket that stuck (touch wood)

**Milts** · 11th May 2011, 21:42

Interesting about the increase in demerits for speeding...

We all know that in the correct conditions, with a capable vehicle and an aware driver, the speed limits can be safely exceeded to an extent. In fact an awake and capable driver doing 140 on a clear straight empty multi lane road is probably a lot safer than someone trying to control their kids while doing 80 in a 100 zone. A huge percentage of the crash stats caused by 'speed' are people who are not skilled/experienced/sober/aged over 18. However the police and government seem convinced that speed itself is the demon rather than the inexperienced and so choose to focus on this aspect, and thus adversely affect those who may know the difference between safe and unsafe speed.

The increase in demerits seems to show a genuine interest in reducing speeding. I'd be interested to see what the "it's just revenue gathering" brigade have to say. To be honest, I'm happier that they appear to be incompetent rather than malicious. Not that incompetence is a good thing in a governing body, but it could be worse. Explicitly giving police more discretion when pulling people over would be a step in the right direction.

I'm all for the improved lisence system though and at least they are paying some attention to this issue.

**riffer** · 11th May 2011, 22:24

Originally Posted by 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!

I thought the same thing at first, and went and read the relevant legislation. Because, as you do, I thought it was enshrined in legislation that demerits were only to be recorded for road/safety infractions. Well, it would appear that the amendment to the Act gives the Minister of Transport carte blanche to apply demerits and fines on ANY infringement.

And of course, we all know what's been happening to relicencing since last July.

**miloking** · 11th May 2011, 22:57

Originally Posted by Milts

Interesting about the increase in demerits for speeding.........

The increase in demerits seems to show a genuine interest in reducing speeding. I'd be interested to see what the "it's just revenue gathering" brigade have to say. To be honest, I'm happier that they appear to be incompetent rather than malicious..........

There are still fines for speeding and other traffic infringements not just demerits so its still revenue gathering...very simple!

Want to shut up the "revenue brigade"? Remove all fines and have only demerits....

**Milts** · 11th May 2011, 23:10

Originally Posted by miloking

There are still fines for speeding and other traffic infringements not just demerits so its still revenue gathering...very simple!

Want to shut up the "revenue brigade"? Remove all fines and have only demerits....

Agreed. But then on the flipside if it were purely about revenue gathering, they wouldn't bother with demerits and would instead just increase finds. Raising the demerits shows they are at least thinking about slowing people down as well as making money.

**swbarnett** · 12th May 2011, 01:38

Originally Posted by Milts

Raising the demerits shows they are at least thinking about slowing people down as well as making money.

Or it could just be a smoke screen to make you think this.

Even reducing fines wouldn't necessarily convince me it isn't about revenue. The important factor is how many dollars they receive, not how many they demand. Smaller fines will probably be paid more readily so the overall take may actually be larger.

**awayatc** · 12th May 2011, 05:44

Originally Posted by p.dath

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.

I believe it is in Switserland (or some such eauro country) where the fine is based on your income