Speeding tickets. Why the angst?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Middle class males on sportsbikes not wanting to be told what to do.

"K7 600"

you too, huh?

[Swoop]

"Laws - put there for the guidance of wise men and the slavish obedience of fools!".......someone or other.....

"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men". Douglas Bader.

[Toaster]

Do I like the speed limits? Not at all. Do I think they should be more generous in certain places, absolutely. Would I like to see more common sense discretionary use of time place and circumstances - very much so.

Who is at fault if I get a ticket - me. End of story.

Fines simply mean I am robbing my family of funds that could have been used for their benefit. So I keep it reasonable on the roads and save it for the track.

[Usarka]

Wondered when this would arise so I've prepared a response.

NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD WHINGE

9% of the tickets my section issued last year were for speed.

So there.

You're from rangiora.....so what's the percentage issued for no rego or warrant?

[steve_t]

9% of the tickets my section issued last year were for speed.

Wow. I commend you. Are you guys the exception to the rule or is that normal? I struggle to believe it's normal. How many speed camera fines were issued in your region? And with what sum value?

[Zedder]

"A car travelling at 60km/h will take 45m to stop in an emergency braking situation "
What utter bollocks. I've seen a test conducted by Continental on a variety of tyres, with very sophisticated testing gear, and the stopping distances VARIED by 35 meters at 80kmh. How can this be accurate?
This is what f*cks me off about the speed laws, there are so many other things that cause accidents that are ignored. Yet they hound speed like you are a murderer.
Speed is not the problem, bad driving is.

But handing out fines is a far easier and cheaper way to "train" people.

[oneofsix]

But handing out fines is a far easier and cheaper way to "train" people.

But being cheap, like most cheap products, it fails more often. It many fails because those that promote it forget their target audience are people. When the training fails it then becomes revenue.

[DEATH_INC.]

Speed limits should be abolished, and replaced with a recommended speed. Then PROPERLY trained officers can judge for themselves and issue a dangerous driving charge if your driving warrants it.

Let's use me as an example, the last 3 speeding tickets I've had (that I remember)

142 kph, followed by a cop for 15km. In his words "I could see you were riding well within your capabilities" and remember, he followed us for 15k. Was it really dangerous?

In he company bug, 60 something in a 50. Arrogant as f*ck south african cop. Driving with the flow of the traffic the next day....nearly 80kmh. Dangerous?

On My old ZX12, designed to be the first production bike to break 200 mph (it didn't happen, but that's another story) at 6am monday morning in a small town, 60 something kph. Only myself on the road (sh1), hardly saw another vehicle. Dangerous?

Still wonder why I hate speeding tickets?

[Scuba_Steve]

Speed limits should be abolished, and replaced with a recommended speed. Then PROPERLY trained officers can judge for themselves and issue a dangerous driving charge if your driving warrants it.

I would do just that, all speed signs would go yellow, with possibly an exception for populated CBD's/shopping areas might keep red's there.

[Zedder]

But being cheap, like most cheap products, it fails more often. It many fails because those that promote it forget their target audience are people. When the training fails it then becomes revenue.

That's the real problem: people. Many types, driving styles, attitudes etc.

[oneofsix]

I would do just that, all speed signs would go yellow, with possibly an exception for populated CBD's/shopping areas might keep red's there.

Don't forget to revoke the local council ability to set lower speed limits, like WCC's idea of a city wide 40k limit, 40k along the Quays FFS!

[oneofsix]

That's the real problem: people. Many types, driving styles, attitudes etc.

agreed and is why the current zombie like attitude by the authorities is domed to fail. The slow drivers will just get slower. Speed is a relative thing and it is the difference in velocity between the two objects that cause the degree of mess. As the slow drivers will just become slower then the velocity difference will remain, add to that the drive offs caused by bored/wary drivers and crash rate doesn't change nor the death rate. Driver education and drivers taking responsibility is what is required. Death_inc is on the right track with the comments on policing dangerous, and I would include careless, driving, but that costs more.

[HenryDorsetCase]

bring back carless days, that'll drop the road toll by a seventh!

obviously.

[SPman]

That's the real problem: people. Many types, driving styles, attitudes etc.

And therein lies the rub.......we've all seen how a lot of people drive ...the more you are on the road, the more and scarier examples you see....standards in driving are not set or enforced other than through random policing action. If pilots got their licenses the same way vehicle licenses are obtained, we'd be constantly dodging a rain of falling aircraft bits!
Higher driving standards - better trained and graded drivers, higher standards for traffic related police officers - including psychological tests if necessary, to weed out the power trippers and uber control freaks - with intelligent road regulations and application of said regulations, and no political interference!

Weeding out of incompetent drivers - means better public transport of course........

There are some intelligent police out there who do try and handle traffic intelligently...not enough, though, either on the road or in admin.

Most drivers (and riders), have a sense of ability far outweighing actual ability and there are a lot of ego trippers out there who's sense of worth is tied up in their "ability" to "control" a vehicle, and don't like it when told otherwise! By pulling them over they perceive you as having a go at their inflated sense of self - "they're better than average and should be allowed to go faster than the rest"....hence the diatribes! You probably find that those who are "better than average", don't normally bleat about it at the time - just accept it as part of the price of driving as they do....and quietly get on with driving quick, safe, but normally, not stupid

To many things - all idealistic - would cause to much disruption, outrage and cost too much, so carry on as usual.......

[Zedder]

agreed and is why the current zombie like attitude by the authorities is domed to fail. The slow drivers will just get slower. Speed is a relative thing and it is the difference in velocity between the two objects that cause the degree of mess. As the slow drivers will just become slower then the velocity difference will remain, add to that the drive offs caused by bored/wary drivers and crash rate doesn't change nor the death rate. Driver education and drivers taking responsibility is what is required. Death_inc is on the right track with the comments on policing dangerous, and I would include careless, driving, but that costs more.

But maybe if policing idiot driving was based on something like the threat of a crushed vehicle, like the hoon law, or heavier demerit points and loss of licence it might work. According to the Police Minister no cars have been crushed because boy racers are coming into line.