Speeding, is it the real issue?

[oneofsix]

I suppose we could argue the core issue is brutal bodily harm and at the extreme, death. Caused by people using motor vehicles. So speed is merely one element.

That's not much help to the parents of a 5 yr old killed by a 40kph car outside a school.

Our car's and bike's power far exceed the margins of our streets and roads. But more crucially, our abilities as human beings are primitive in the microseconds when reactions are required. We aren't up to it.

Many posts here talk about bad driving, low skills, inexperience etc. Yet the reality is the only way to learn these skills is to spend hours and years driving in all sorts of weather and conditions. And that can't happen without mistakes. Sad awful tragic mistakes on rare occasions.

So...the one simple control to limit those mistakes is to restrict speed. It is easy to understand and easy to enforce. The slower you go the more time you have to react.

Sounds fair and reasonable doesn't it? Some good points made but just a thought. The speed limit didn't help the 5 year old in the example, perhaps it even harmed him because the driver was driving to the limit and not the conditions. Around this place everything is so limited, below what the roads and conditions suit, that drivers stop thinking for themselves, and stop noticing the dangers for themselves.

[Berries]

The speed limit didn't help the 5 year old in the example, perhaps it even harmed him because the driver was driving to the limit and not the conditions.

Not a great example. How many five year olds have survived after being hit outside school by a vehicle travelling at 40km/h rather than would have died having been hit by someone going at the previous 50km/h speed limit? And what conditions would have you driving/riding below 40km/h anyway?

Of more interest I wonder how many crashes have been caused by the adoption of the 100km/h speed limit signs rather than the old black stripe on a white circle? I would suggest lots, but something we will never know.

[Ocean1]

Of more interest I wonder how many crashes have been caused by the adoption of the 100km/h speed limit signs rather than the old black stripe on a white circle? I would suggest lots, but something we will never know.

LSZ sign. Didn't mean the same thing.

In fact iirc in it's original incarnation it meant "something less than flat out, 'cause there's a bit of gravel here an' there, we can trust ypu to do that, can't we?"



Spot the problem for today's constabulary?

[Muppet]

I find I can go for yonks without glanceing at my speedo and rarely do I find myself changing speed by much, you get a 'feel' after a bit of what your speed is.

And substantiate what a couple of drinks consists of??

Sure, one or two glasses might not adversely affect your ability to drive - that's why there's a 'breath/blood alcohol limit'

BTW: Funny how the guys I 'meet' that have an EBA reading of 783 or 1072 etc invariably tell me they have only had 'a couple of drinks'!

Yes, specifically I get told "But I've only had two beers". It looks even funnier in court when the summary is read to the Judge ie:

"Defendant underwent an Evidential Breath Test which gave a positive result of 982 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Defendant stated to Police he'd had only two beers."

Usually at this point you see the Judge, Registrar and Court Clerk sniggering away.

[Kickaha]

Defendant stated to Police he'd had only two beers."

Lady on the police program the other night had only had one bottle, bottle of what was asked, vodka was the reply

[Ender EnZed]

LSZ sign. Didn't mean the same thing.

In fact iirc in it's original incarnation it meant "something less than flat out, 'cause there's a bit of gravel here an' there, we can trust ypu to do that, can't we?"



Spot the problem for today's constabulary?

According to the Road Code book, the LSZ sign means the same as a 100 sign unless:

- the weather is bad
- visibility is poor
- there are people, animals, cyclists or lots of vehicles on the road
- the road is in poor condition

If any of the above is true then the limit is 50km/h.

I'm pretty sure almost no one knows what it means so there'd be some good lulz for a cop on a rainy day.

[FJRider]

LSZ sign. Didn't mean the same thing.

A black diagonal stripe on a white background sign, was an "open road speed zone" ... in the times when the open road speed limit changed often.

Limited speed zone signs had these very words on the sign.

[Berries]

Nah, I didn't mean the LSZ sign, of which there are none now anyway. I meant the old derestriction sign, white circle with a black stripe through it, you still see them around although not on the state highways. It means exactly the same as the 100km/h sign, ie the speed limit is 100km/h, but I have always felt that there is an implied difference between the two. One says the national speed limit applies, which happens to be 100km/h, the other says that the speed limit is 100km/h. Put yourself in the shoes of a visitor to these shores and I suspect they see a sign that says 100 and so they go 100 with no other thought because they are told they can do 100.

This is supported by MOTSAM which for some reason on this matter NZTA don't follow - RG-2 signs (the ones with the 100 on them) are preferred and should be installed in situations where the alignment and nature of the road in the vicinity of the sign generally permits safe travel speeds of 100 km/h. Where this is not possible RG-2.1 signs (the one with the black stripe) may be used.

[FJRider]

Lady on the police program the other night had only had one bottle, bottle of what was asked, vodka was the reply

Methinks ... that lady was no lady ...

[Ocean1]

Nah, I didn't mean the LSZ sign, of which there are none now anyway. I meant the old derestriction sign, white circle with a black stripe through it, you still see them around although not on the state highways. [/B]

Quite right. As you were.

[Scuba_Steve]

Yes, specifically I get told "But I've only had two beers". It looks even funnier in court when the summary is read to the Judge ie:

"Defendant underwent an Evidential Breath Test which gave a positive result of 982 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Defendant stated to Police he'd had only two beers."

Usually at this point you see the Judge, Registrar and Court Clerk sniggering away.

whose to say those "2 beers" weren't jugs of Schorschbräu Schorschbock 57% finis coronat opus


(& yes the 57% is it's alc content 57.7% to be exact)

[The Singing Chef]

I find I can go for yonks without glanceing at my speedo

Haha yea but you don't have to worry about getting nabbed by La Policia.

[scumdog]

Haha yea but you don't have to worry about getting nabbed by La Policia.

Explain to me why??

[The Singing Chef]

Explain to me why??

Heard a few stories from mates in the force not getting ticketed by their mates also in the force.

[tigertim20]

Heard a few stories from mates in the force not getting ticketed by their mates also in the force.

a recent story in the news of a low level officer nabbing a high power cop for minor traffic infringements appears to suggest your friends in the force are pulling your tits.