Speed, enforcement & driver behaviour

**Smifffy** · 9th November 2011, 19:43

Ok, I must be getting old, tired, broke or all three.

I'd like to note that the road toll is significantly lower than it was in 1974. Strangely speeds have gone up, and I believe that the reduction in toll has more to do with safer cars and safer roads than speed. I believe that those are the initiatives that should be pursued, as well as the people that travel at warp speed.

Anyway, since I am old and tired, in the cage, I tend to set the cruise control for the limit, hang my arm out the winda and crank up the classic rock.

On two recent trips from the Tron I have been doing this, staying in the left lane of the passing lanes, and everyone and their unrestrained toddler blaze by me in their clapped out smoking jap import. This doesn't worry me in the slightest, as long as they maintain a reasonable open road speed. During these trips however, more than twice, as we approach the end of the passing lane, Mr Popo approaches in his clearly marked car from the other direction.

The shitter then hits the picks and forces his way back into my lane, this seems to happen when his rear passenger door is about even with my wing mirror.

Each time I take evasive action and run the very real risk of the arse biscuit in the cage behind me running up my own backside.

I believe that if Popo wasn't there, said japper would brush by at 110-120 km/h and there would be no danger to either of us.

I know that Popo didn't cause the guys to speed, or require them to overtake.

I can usually guess with a high degree of certainty that SH1 between here & there is heavily patrolled, I don't even slow down when I see the patrol car, because I know I'm good. (Unless the disco lights are on, perhaps indicating a road hazard ahead)

Other than the obvious health/safety and insurance headaches, what is the legal position if I am unable to take evasive action soon enough and the japper either hits me and pushes me off the road, or hits oncoming traffic and possibly even the disco wagon?

Surely the jappa is passing me and is required to complete the entire manoeuvre safely? Surely the Popo will have seen all of this unfold and will be able to vouch for my safe and sensible drivings?

Surely there should be some guidelines available as to whether it is more or less dangerous to complete the passing manoeuvre or to cut off traffic at 100km/hr?

One of the jappas had an oncoming Kenworth sitting immediately behind the disco wagon, and if I wasn't so quick off the mark in evading him it would not have ended well for any of us. I'm sure the Jappa driver is completely oblivious to the risk he put any of us to, and congratulated himself on his quick reactions at avoiding a speeding ticket.

I think he should have got a ticket anyway.

I'd love to hear from Pro Popo peeps and maybe the bush lawyers too.

What is best done about this? Letters to the Waikato Popo? Letters to the gummint? More airbags and a steady nerve?

The safest thing to be done IMO is to cruise along at 110-120 and not let Jappa anywhere near me, but I'm redeemed from that kind of behaviour now.

Cool story, eh?

**mashman** · 9th November 2011, 19:51

next time, take the fucker out before he takes you out and claim self defence

**steve_t** · 9th November 2011, 19:54

*555 the unsafe driver

**Edbear** · 10th November 2011, 08:05

Originally Posted by steve_t

*555 the unsafe driver

Always!

Unless the police get enough complaints they won't be specifically targetting such drivers and are more likely to let it go.

I set my cruise at about 103/4 on the GPS and always chuckle at the cars that slow down every time they see a camera van or Police car regardless of their speed at the time! I've often overtaken Police cars which invariably tend to cruise at aound 95 nif they aren't in a hurry. Never been pulled over and usually give them a brief wave as I cruise on by. (No not THAT wave..)

**SMOKEU** · 10th November 2011, 18:37

The government needs to focus more on idiot drivers than speeding. It's surprising to see how many people can't even follow basic road rules such as indicating or merging properly.

**Sable** · 10th November 2011, 18:45

Failing to indicate fucks me off badly. A lot of car drivers seem to view it as an optional extra.

**FJRider** · 10th November 2011, 18:46

Originally Posted by Edbear

... usually give them a brief wave as I cruise on by. (No not THAT wave..)

Another waving thread huh ...

**blackdog** · 10th November 2011, 18:47

All this talk about jappas, I bet you drive a Toyota to go with your Suzuki.

**Smifffy** · 10th November 2011, 19:27

Originally Posted by blackdog

All this talk about jappas, I bet you drive a Toyota to go with your Suzuki.

When I'm in the nissan I can only manage 95 km/h.

But it *is* invariably the clapped out jap import that is most guilty of it.

**Smifffy** · 10th November 2011, 19:39

Originally Posted by steve_t

*555 the unsafe driver

Using the phone while driving is inherently dangerous - to the extent that there is even a law against it

My phone is complicated enough with all of the swiping etc required to use it, even after finding it, that I do actually feel that that would put me at even more risk.

Besides which:

a. There is a Popo wagon right there to see it happen, esp since the Popo inderectly caused it in the first place
b. Aforementioned Popo is then just as likely to pull me over and demand to know wtf I think I'm doing talking on the phone whilst driving since there is a law against it.

I don't need those kind of hassles.

My preference is to either
a. allow some leeway for vehicles to exceed the limit to complete passing at the end of a passing lane
b. Nail the fuckers who cut off traffic in left lane at end of passing lane

**Scuba_Steve** · 10th November 2011, 19:39

yes the speed scam has been inforced to the point it is now detrimental to safety, & yes if there was an accident you get the fun job of proving it was not your fault due to the "you car hitting his rear end" result but in saying that the law does say things like he must not make you take evasive action etc

**scumdog** · 10th November 2011, 19:49

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

yes the speed scam has been inforced to the point it is now detrimental to safety, & yes if there was an accident you get the fun job of proving it was not your fault due to the "you car hitting his rear end" result but in saying that the law does say things like he must not make you take evasive action etc

Chuck a full-stop or two and add another comma or here and there and I might bother to read that post....