Downhill passing lanes?

[Brett]

NZ driving standards are a bit of a laugh, regardless of the vehicle operated

and THAT right there is the heart of the real issue.

[swbarnett]

and THAT right there is the heart of the real issue.

Close, but not cigar... The real issue is that we seem to live in a society where the underlying philosophy is that of rampant individualism. I'm all for trumpeting the rights of the individual. But that has to be tempered with a respect for the right of all to exist.

We seem to have forgotten that, we ALL have a right to use the road. Not just the faster vehicles but also the laden truckie, campervanner, slowpoke cager etc...

[scumdog]

Close, but not cigar... The real issue is that we seem to live in a society where the underlying philosophy is that of rampant individualism. I'm all for trumpeting the rights of the individual. But that has to be tempered with a respect for the right of all to exist.

We seem to have forgotten that, we ALL have a right to use the road. Not just the faster vehicles but also the laden truckie, campervanner, slowpoke cager etc...

Yep, compared to a lot of other countries we (NZ) are pretty immature and selfish.

And not just with our road-use.

[Rhys]

Yep, compared to a lot of other countries we (NZ) are pretty immature and selfish.

And not just with our road-use.

If you are holding up other road uses then pull over and let them pass ! problem solved

[swbarnett]

If you are holding up other road uses then pull over and let them pass ! problem solved

Doesn't that just illustrate the problem. The assumption that road users being held up have more right to the road than those in front.

Yes, there are road users that, for reasons of incompetance or downright arrogance shouldn't be there (or at leaset should be pulling over at every opportunity). However, there is another, probably far larger, group of slower road users that has every right to be doing what they're doing at the speed they're doing it.

[FJRider]

Doesn't that just illustrate the problem. The assumption that road users being held up have more right to the road than those in front.

Yes, there are road users that, for reasons of incompetance or downright arrogance shouldn't be there (or at leaset should be pulling over at every opportunity). However, there is another, probably far larger, group of slower road users that has every right to be doing what they're doing at the speed they're doing it.

There is legislation that forbids anyone to "Impede the flow of traffic" ... usually enforced only when it is done by choice/stupidity. As opposed to it being impractical ... or a simple inability to move over.

Some (usually the ones behind) just can't tell the difference.

[Jantar]

Doesn't that just illustrate the problem. The assumption that road users being held up have more right to the road than those in front.
..........

There is no assumption that those being held up have more right to the road than those in front. Rather it those ones who are impeding others that are assuming they have more right. All road users have equal rights, including the right Not to be impeded in their travels.

There is another side to the coin as well. Slower drivers should not have to put up with tailgaters. Just as faster drivers should expect slower ones to show them courtesy by pulling over, faster drivers should show similar courtesy to slower drivers by maitaining a safe following distance.

[Road kill]

There is legislation that forbids anyone to "Impede the flow of traffic" ... usually enforced only when it is done by choice/stupidity. As opposed to it being impractical ... or a simple inability to move over.

Some (usually the ones behind) just can't tell the difference.

It's hardly that simple.

I tend to travel just below the speed limit in or on whatever I might be riding/driving,,and I get a constant stream of tailgating traffic wanting to pass me.

Quite frankly "all" these people are inconsiderate criminals that show no respect or consideration toward others,so I'm not going to give them the respect and consideration their not willing to give me.

I don't give a shit what kind of vehicle it is,,the speed limit is either 90 or 100kph,,,not 110 or what ever the tosser on the japo sport bike or shit heap import wants it to be just for him.

Fuck em' em' all,,,I'm in the right under the law,,,they can kiss my arse,,,the longer the better.

[FJRider]

It's hardly that simple.

I tend to travel just below the speed limit in or on whatever I might be riding/driving,,and I get a constant stream of tailgating traffic wanting to pass me.

Quite frankly "all" these people are inconsiderate criminals that show no respect or consideration toward others,so I'm not going to give them the respect and consideration their not willing to give me.

I don't give a shit what kind of vehicle it is,,the speed limit is either 90 or 100kph,,,not 110 or what ever the tosser on the japo sport bike or shit heap import wants it to be just for him.

Fuck em' em' all,,,I'm in the right under the law,,,they can kiss my arse,,,the longer the better.

I see it a lot down here too. They make a huge effort to pass a few slower vehicles (a few km's under the limit) then turn off onto a side road/house/shop later ... while they're just 30 seconds ahead. All the risk in overtaking, and extra fuel cost with the brief higher speed to pass (often well over the limit) hardly makes 30 seconds gained ... worth the effort.

Or am I missing something ... ???

[Road kill]

I see it a lot down here too. They make a huge effort to pass a few slower vehicles (a few km's under the limit) then turn off onto a side road/house/shop later ... while they're just 30 seconds ahead. All the risk in overtaking, and extra fuel cost with the brief higher speed to pass (often well over the limit) hardly makes 30 seconds gained ... worth the effort.

Or am I missing something ... ???

Nah your not missing anything,,and I've calmed down a bit now anyway

Had to be at Onehunga "Toll" early this morning,so I'm cruising along in the left hand lane doing 90km on the dot.

Somebody,,,in a small car crosses from the out side lane across the center,cut's me off an dives up the Otahuhu off ramp.

I saw the fool coming when he was still a K behind me and at 4.30am there just wasn't that much traffic and no reason not to simply come up behind me an then shoot off the inside.

Nope this fool has to be in front,,,for .2 of a second.

[Brett]

Doesn't that just illustrate the problem. The assumption that road users being held up have more right to the road than those in front.

Yes, there are road users that, for reasons of incompetance or downright arrogance shouldn't be there (or at leaset should be pulling over at every opportunity). However, there is another, probably far larger, group of slower road users that has every right to be doing what they're doing at the speed they're doing it.

Agreed, everyone has the right to travel how they wish...as long as it is safe. If you're going slow enough that you're holding traffic up...that's unsafe. It's a simple common courtesy...basic manners. Just like letting the person with 2 items go in front of you at the supermarket when you have a full trolley. It's like those muppets who sit at 95kph in the right hand lane on the motorway, going slower than the lane on their left. There is no legitimate excuse for that...other than a) incompetence and b) rudeness/arrogance.

[Berries]

It's a simple common courtesy...basic manners. Just like letting the person with 2 items go in front of you at the supermarket when you have a full trolley.

Eh? People with two items can fuck right off to the 12 items or less till or the self serve*. They have options which do not exist on the road unless you have five lanes each way.


* Unless very old or very pretty, I'm not a complete prick.

[swbarnett]

Agreed, everyone has the right to travel how they wish...as long as it is safe. If you're going slow enough that you're holding traffic up...that's unsafe. It's a simple common courtesy...basic manners. Just like letting the person with 2 items go in front of you at the supermarket when you have a full trolley. It's like those muppets who sit at 95kph in the right hand lane on the motorway, going slower than the lane on their left. There is no legitimate excuse for that...other than a) incompetence and b) rudeness/arrogance.

Yes, there are a lot of incompitent and arrogant road users out there. However, there are also those that are slow by the nature of the vehicle they're in/on and their driving/riding experience. A laden truck should not be expected to drive in the gutter just so that we can zip past. Likewise someone on an L plate still has the right to ride in a safe manner even if this means they can't go as fast as we would like on a certain road. Then there's the cyclist that simply can't do anywhere near 100k. On some roads it's not practical or safe to allow enough room for a car to pass.

[FJRider]

A laden truck should not be expected to drive in the gutter just so that we can zip past. Likewise someone on an L plate still has the right to ride in a safe manner even if this means they can't go as fast as we would like on a certain road.

If that truck was to pull over onto the edge of the road ... anything behind is likely to get a facefull of gravel. Then winge about a broken windscreen

I guess you cant please everybody ...

[Jantar]

.... there are also those that are slow by the nature of the vehicle they're in/on and their driving/riding experience. .....

I often drive a slow vehicle towing a laden horse float or my glider trailer. I always try and let faster vehicles pass and it doesn't cause me to have to hug the side of the road with the left wheels in the gravel. I use the rule of 5: ie 5 vehicles behind me I pull over imediately; 4 vehicles behind, I pull over within 1 minute; 3 vehicles behind, I pull over within 2 minutes etc. So of course 0 vehicles behind, I don't need to pull over at all. This doesn't preclude me from always using the slow vehicle lane where it is available even when there is only a single vehicle behind.

Last year when I towed a glider trailer from Stratford to Taupo to Wellington then Picton to Murchison to Hamner Springs then Alexandra my wife and I kept a count of how often I had to pull left to let faster vehicles past, and how much time it added to the journey. We were pleasantly suprised by the numbers. I can't remember the exact figures from a year ago, but I can confirm that we never had more than 3 vehicles waiting to pass, and using 20 seconds loss to slow down, pull over and get back up to speed, we estimated that it only added maybe 45 minutes over 6 days of slow vehicle driving.