Is there a link?

**MSTRS:Me** · 22nd July 2005, 09:55

I've been pondering the attitudes of people using the roads and something occurred to me that warrants a mention & some discussion.
Since NannyState gave Andy KnackersInASack the key to the city to write his own rules, with the plethora of revised & new laws governing road use, said users seem to have less and less tolerance & courtesy towards each other. Accidents will always happen of course, but is the overall rate coming down as a result of all the rules we must try to obey? Incidents of 'roadrage' are certainly on the increase.
What I am wondering is, with people's natural aversion to being controlled by enforced methods, are we rebelling against these controls by becoming intolerant & discourteous on the roads? Or is this behaviour just indicative of society in general?

**yungatart** · 22nd July 2005, 10:23

You betcha. Don't we all hate being controlled! Aunty Helen and her cohorts think they know whats best for us and I for one am extremely weary of being told what I can do and where. I would rather go back to the days of personal responsibility and being allowed to think for myself. Makes me wonder why I bring my kids up to think for themselves and take responsibility for their own actions when hey presto they get to adulthood and all that is taken away from them by our wonderful cradle to the grave society!

**vifferman** · 22nd July 2005, 10:39

Y'know, I thought it was just/mostly D'Auckland, and due to frustration. But (however) when I was in Chch last week, the driving there seemed to be not as good as it was last time I visited. I just put that down to there being more D'Aucklanders there (?)

I don't think there's a simplistic answer to this one, but I think there are factors that contribute. One of these is that the standard of driving has gone down as people's attitudes have become warped by frustration, selfishness, whatever.

I don't think it helps that we've adopted a "what's wrong with this country is it's population is too low - let's open the floodgates" policy, which has resulted in us garnering the problems that are attendant with a higher population, such as crime. Also, the rapid influx of 'foreign' cultures to what was essentially a bi-cultural society, without time for people to adjust has resulted in a degree of racial intolerance, some mental driving behaviour by both the immigrants and those who are frustrated by people who "don't drive like Kiwis".
Certainly, a culture of "legislate to fix the (perceived) problem" doesn't help, especially as that in itself takes an overly simplistic 'bandaid' approach that's wide of the mark, as it's attacking symptoms, not causes.

So your comments about "are we rebelling against these controls by becoming intolerant & discourteous on the roads? Or is this behaviour just indicative of society in general" are both right to a degree.

Or something.

**SPman** · 22nd July 2005, 10:40

With all this reference to Aunty Helen.....
if Uncle Don was in charge, there would be exactly NO difference!
Politicians dont run the country - its the Buearaucrats!
They will only do what politicos tell them, under severe sufferance,and politicos will only tell them what to do, if theres a vote or three in it!
Covert controll seems to be the modern way and it makes it harder to actually rise up and smite the barstards!
The catchcry of "safety" and "terrorism", is all it takes these days for some control freak arsehole to tell us what we can and cant do!
And its all "for the public good"
Bullshit!
Its all for their own good!
Fuck I hate those nimrods!
...whoops

Reason the driving is so bad and getting worse is lack of control....yes...thats it..
lack of firm government action!

**Coyote** · 22nd July 2005, 10:47

And with Uncle Don in charge, every service that the government runs will slowly be sold off to private sector. Imagine how much worse the traffic cops would be if they were run by and organization looking to make a profit, oh wait a minute...

**enigma51** · 22nd July 2005, 10:59

Originally Posted by alarumba

traffic cops would be if they were run by and organization looking to make a profit, oh wait a minute...

so true.

I dont actualy get why people get so

when driving. People need to relax and just go with the flow. But what happens is you get some assholes that think they are funny by pushing in etc and that pisses people off and make them aggresive drivers.

**Coyote** · 22nd July 2005, 11:02

Originally Posted by enigma51

I dont actualy get why people get so

when driving. People need to relax and just go with the flow. But what happens is you get some assholes that think they are funny by pushing in etc and that pisses people off and make them aggresive drivers.

You have to relise that you didn't pay for the roads you're riding on, and you're lucky. So you may as well abide to the laws that are set, or don't use the roads at all

**ManDownUnder** · 22nd July 2005, 11:19

Originally Posted by alarumba

You have to relise that you didn't pay for the roads you're riding on, and you're lucky. So you may as well abide to the laws that are set, or don't use the roads at all

yeah but...

I do pay for the maintenance of them... and without that they currently be unusable... so I think we can use 'em - surely?

**ManDownUnder** · 22nd July 2005, 11:23

Originally Posted by MSTRS

I've been pondering the attitudes of people using the roads and something occurred to me that warrants a mention & some discussion.
Since NannyState gave Andy KnackersInASack the key to the city to write his own rules, with the plethora of revised & new laws governing road use, said users seem to have less and less tolerance & courtesy towards each other. Accidents will always happen of course, but is the overall rate coming down as a result of all the rules we must try to obey? Incidents of 'roadrage' are certainly on the increase.
What I am wondering is, with people's natural aversion to being controlled by enforced methods, are we rebelling against these controls by becoming intolerant & discourteous on the roads? Or is this behaviour just indicative of society in general?

I like to work within the rules to point out the farcicle nature of them...

current example. Get into bus lane in Auckland city and ride along... till you get to intersection - then stop (if light is red of course). When bus comes along - wait nicely... bus light goes green... stay stopped (you're not allowed to go - LTSA says so - you're not a bus... !) Bus gets angry (and if you time it right the three or 10 behind it do too.

Main light goes green - toodle off...

If the police aren't allowed to drive cars without a current WOF - they should pink sticker them (repeat offender would need to be impounded). When they don't get fixed (or the budgets are blown) then we start having some fun - it is election year after all...

MDU

**Ixion** · 22nd July 2005, 11:39

I think it is an indirect link. The plethora of rules is partly caused by, and contributes to, the culture of abrogation of personal responsibility.

Nobody ever expects to be responsible for their own actions, their own safety, providing for themselves etc. It's all "someone else's" fault, "someone else" should do it for them.

So when people don't "get their own way" on the road it must be "someone else's" fault.

And no-one accepts that they are responsible for how their actions affect other people (on the road or off it). The culture of "me" and personal gratification is well established.

So everyone wants all the other drivers to get out of their way, and is indignant when they don't get their own way.

**Lou Girardin** · 22nd July 2005, 14:26

I've wondered if some unconsciencious perversity is responsible for the road toll rising. Could people be so pissed off at Big Brother watching us all the time that they rebel in the only way they know, by driving stupidly.

**vifferman** · 22nd July 2005, 14:32

Originally Posted by enigma51

I dont actualy get why people get so

when driving. People need to relax and just go with the flow.

It's because they're not supposed to drink beer or have sex while driving. Both are good for relaxation.

**XTC** · 22nd July 2005, 15:21

Originally Posted by vifferman

It's because they're not supposed to have sex while driving.

So long as you don't spend a lot of time driving alone..... still each to their own I spose.

I had a break from road riding for 2-3 years and since getting back on a road bike I have noticed a marked improvement in the drivers courtesy and them actually seeing me but it was in no way bad before.... Like some one else said just go with the flow and relax. Think happy thoughts. If some one cuts you off let it go...