Why it's important not to have other road users lift their game

[p.dath]

A common complaint here is that other road users are dickheads and put us in danger....

I love your post Shrub. Another reason to consider avoiding making the licencing process to onerous, is that if you lift the level required to get a licence too high, then you will eventually increase the number of people who can't be bothered going to all the trouble, and then simply drive with no licence.

I would prefer the licencing process to involve more supervised driving time, and ideally I would prefer that was done by someone with some professional driving experience.

I guess the trick is to strike a balance where the process is cheap and easy enough that people are still prepared to go through the process - and get the best level of instruction that fits that criteria, and simple giving up and deciding that driving unlicensed in easier - which would be a far worse out come for everyone on the roads.


I've been speaking with a young driver about the defensive driving course lately. They were interested in doing it solely because it reduced the time to get their full licence by 6 months. But alas after the recent law changes, because of their age, it means that it will no longer reduce that time.
So now they see no point in doing the course at all. I've tried to explain how they teach you about being a safer road user, about how they are currently in the most dangerous period of their driving lifetime, and about some of the things they teach like the three safety zones.
You see, they don't think they are going to have an accident. Their is no licence incentive. So why bother paying extra money for a course that teaches you skills that you don't think you are going to need.

[Gianz]

It's hilarious in a sense, over here you put your indicator on and often some small minded prick will try and close the gap you're aiming for. In Europe, by and large, the driver in the same situation just eases off a little. Hey, we're still all moving in the right direction...

that is something that pisses me off so much, next time I'll install some spears coming out of my wheels!

Regarding to blaming the roads, I noticed that Italy and New Zealand have similar car ownership rates and deaths per capita. Still, Italian roads are waaaaay worse then kiwi ones, way more overcrowded and people speed easily up to 200km/h anytime. Most of Italy is mountainous and the roads were first designed by the Romans 2000 years ago. On top of that in the north is often very foggy (2m visibility sometimes) and it snows for real.

just a comparison

[PeeJay]

I've :
Never been to a crash at a Stop sign where the offending car had stopped- then driven into the car that had the right of way

Never been to a crash at a Give Way controlled intersection where the offending driver had driven through it with caution instead of blasting straight through

Never been to a crash where somebody making a right turn onto a side street hit the car rolling up to the intersection on ITS incorrect side of the road.

Funny dat...

So it wasnt you who attended the crash where lady stopped at the stop sign (I watched her as she stopped and looked both ways) then proceeded to drive into the side of my truck. Comment from officer attending "happens all the time" slight exaggeration for effect I'm sure.
And it wasnt you who helped my mate into an ambulance after a retard stopped at a stop sign and then proceeded to clean him and his bike up.

Both said the way was clear

funny dat NOT