Changes to WoF system announced

[Banditbandit]

And yes, I'd prefer cops doing roadside inspections than have to waste my time and money every 6 months.

Yeah .. 'cause cops do them for free .. and currently we have to pay for them ...

But seriously .. more roadside inspections means LESS time spent catching crims and preventing crime ... I think most people here want them catching crims - not stopping motorcyists for a full check over ..

[Katman]

... I think most people here want them catching crims - not stopping motorcyists for a full check over ..

You would think so, going by 90% of the bitching and moaning threads on here.

It appears Bogan feels differently though.

[Katman]

Truth be known, that's probably why the government have pushed through these changes.

They probably figure it's going to be a tidy little earner for them.

[bogan]

Possibly you'd be better off paying when you were stopped, otherwise you'll be paying your portion of every inspection through their agents wages.

Comes to a balance then, would either portion cost me more than the 150 bucks per year I pay now? Or even the 90odd bucks single vehicle owner pay? I very much doubt it.

Read my previous post ... currently insurance companies largely rely on a current WOF (they only neded to see it for my last claim .. and do no other ispection of the bike ...) But with these changes the insurance compaies MAY do their own post-accident inspection, looking for "contributing factors" - lookign for reasons not to pay out because a vehicle is not road worthy ...

Your current "stickers" are OK .. but if insurance companies do their own post-accident checks .. then are you sure your vehicle will "pass" and therefore get paid out by your insurance company?

If I was working in insurance I would certainly be looking at this issue - and lookign to write into policy clauses about vehicles maintained to a proper standard ... and would be doing post-accident checks on all vehicle claims ... (one blown light bulb and you don't get a pay out ...)

So it plugs a loophole that insurance companies use to get out of paying, why is this a bad thing?

Yeah .. 'cause cops do them for free .. and currently we have to pay for them ...

But seriously .. more roadside inspections means LESS time spent catching crims and preventing crime ... I think most people here want them catching crims - not stopping motorcyists for a full check over ..

Either add more cops or pull some off speeding duty...

Both you and Katman really need to look past the status quo, and ask if there is a more effective alternative. You seem to be looking pretty hard to find anything to back up the 'this is the way it is, and I'm used to it' arguments.

Truth be known, that's probably why the government have pushed through these changes.

They probably figure it's going to be a tidy little earner for them.

You mean by the tiny increase in tax take due to people not wasting money and time getting wofs? I got no problem with that!

[Banditbandit]

Both you and Katman really need to look past the status quo, and ask if there is a more effective alternative. You seem to be looking pretty hard to find anything to back up the 'this is the way it is, and I'm used to it' arguments.

That's not my argument - and if you think it is, then you are too stupid to argue with ...

[willytheekid]

.....And yes, I'd prefer cops doing roadside inspections than have to waste my time and money every 6 months.

Ive met a few popo who "thought" they knew the right end of a spanner...but Ive never met a popo who was an actual "bike" mechanic!

And...no fucking way!!!!, will I rely on, or even ALLOW!, an unqualified person to inspect my bike and deem it safe or not..."in there view!"

popo are just that...popo!...certainly NOT mechanics! (yes..I realise they DO have actual mechanics...but the average traffic enforcement officer?..."having a go" )

...REGO=TAX!, WOF=BIKE IS SAFE TO OPERATE!...its that simple really (And I think the current WOF checks are "thin"...I demand MUCH more checks from my mechanic...and he knows it!)

[5150]

So if my car was MADE in 1989, but was first registered in NZ in 2001.. Does that mean it has to have a WOF check every 6 mnths or every 12? That bit is what confuses me?

[Bassmatt]

I am still undecided on this issue, but have found some interesting stuff to feed the debate:

"German research suggests that 10% of vehicle accidents are caused or strongly affected by defects in the vehicle. Monash University in Australia, suggests the figure is actually 24%."

"NZ Government scientists acknowledge that the WOF changes will lead to an increase in road deaths, but suggest that the numbers will be quite low: between 0.7 and 33.6 extra fatalities per year, however, if the Monash University figure is correct, then the actual road deaths that result from the WOF changes could be many times higher: up to 80extra deaths per year."

So if we take the midpoint of our own Govts. figures we are looking at 15 extra deaths on our roads a year. Thats all good I guess, provided one of those 15 isn't you or someone you love, eh?

[scumdog]

I am still undecided on this issue, but have found some interesting stuff to feed the debate:

"German research suggests that 10% of vehicle accidents are caused or strongly affected by defects in the vehicle. Monash University in Australia, suggests the figure is actually 24%."

"NZ Government scientists acknowledge that the WOF changes will lead to an increase in road deaths, but suggest that the numbers will be quite low: between 0.7 and 33.6 extra fatalities per year, however, if the Monash University figure is correct, then the actual road deaths that result from the WOF changes could be many times higher: up to 80extra deaths per year."

So if we take the midpoint of our own Govts. figures we are looking at 15 extra deaths on our roads a year. Thats all good I guess, provided one of those 15 isn't you or someone you love, eh?

So, at present how many deaths a year do we have that can be attributed to cars not up to WOF standard?

And how many death are atributed to cars not up to WOF standard and that have not had a WOF for two years or more?

'Cos there's a shitload of cars out there that haven't had a WOF for yonks.

And hence no rego either - but that's another story...

OH, and the KB 'Sky is falling' crew seem to be in full song - good on yaz!

[Bassmatt]

So, at present how many deaths a year do we have that can be attributed to cars not up to WOF standard?

And how many death are atributed to cars not up to WOF standard and that have not had a WOF for two years or more?

'Cos there's a shitload of cars out there that haven't had a WOF for yonks.

And hence no rego either - but that's another story...

OH, and the KB 'Sky is falling' crew seem to be in full song - good on yaz!

Why make the situation worse, if what you say is correct then a tightening of the regulations should be happening not a relaxing of them. These are the Govts. figures not mine. Drinking and driving still kills plenty too, are you advocating the same relaxing of rules around that?
I not part of the "sky is falling crew", once again, these are the Govts figures not mine.

[scumdog]

Why make the situation worse, if what you say is correct then a tightening of the regulations should be happening not a relaxing of them. These are the Govts. figures not mine. Drinking and driving still kills plenty too, are you advocating the same relaxing of rules around that?
I not part of the "sky is falling crew", once again, these are the Govts figures not mine.

What I'm trying to say is that DESPITE a shitload of cars/bikes without a WOF out there I do not see too many crashes that can be linked to anything that would fail a WOF.

I have seen cars WITH a current WOF with loose steering wheels, non-existent brake pads, non-functioning wipers, tyres down to the steel-belt, massive crazing of the wind-screen, handbrake levers that just flop up-and-down.

So how would 'tightening of the regulations' prevent this? Firing squad for the driver and owner if vehicle not up to WOF standard?.

[bogan]

Why make the situation worse, if what you say is correct then a tightening of the regulations should be happening not a relaxing of them. These are the Govts. figures not mine. Drinking and driving still kills plenty too, are you advocating the same relaxing of rules around that?
I not part of the "sky is falling crew", once again, these are the Govts figures not mine.

Have you got a link to the figures? sounds like it would be an interesting read.

That's not my argument - and if you think it is, then you are too stupid to argue with ...

Thats exactly what your insurance argument boils down to though. No wofs, no insurance clause, no issue; I don't know why you even brought it up?

Ive met a few popo who "thought" they knew the right end of a spanner...but Ive never met a popo who was an actual "bike" mechanic!

And...no fucking way!!!!, will I rely on, or even ALLOW!, an unqualified person to inspect my bike and deem it safe or not..."in there view!"

popo are just that...popo!...certainly NOT mechanics! (yes..I realise they DO have actual mechanics...but the average traffic enforcement officer?..."having a go" )

...REGO=TAX!, WOF=BIKE IS SAFE TO OPERATE!...its that simple really (And I think the current WOF checks are "thin"...I demand MUCH more checks from my mechanic...and he knows it!)

I agree that the WOF checks are thin, so disagree with the WOF=safe, as it appears you do as well? It all hypothetical, so lets just say that hypothetically (and this should be an obvious solution here, cmon), the only cops doing regular roadside check have been trained. Despite how scumdog sounds online, I'm pretty sure they do get trained for what they do.

[FJRider]

So how would 'tightening of the regulations' prevent this? Firing squad for the driver and owner if vehicle not up to WOF standard?.

A bit messy ... a Glock in the glove box for that and similar ... to save wasting court time of course ...

[willytheekid]

I agree that the WOF checks are thin, so disagree with the WOF=safe, as it appears you do as well? It all hypothetical, so lets just say that hypothetically (and this should be an obvious solution here, cmon), the only cops doing regular roadside check have been trained. Despite how scumdog sounds online, I'm pretty sure they do get trained for what they do.

My Mechanic has 30+ yrs experience, his other mechanic has 30+ yrs experience as an Aeronautical engineer!...and the both took over 4yrs to train, and then had to be the "floor bitch" for 2000+ hours!....and that's just to pass there apprenticeship's!

AS much as I love Ol Scummy....I would definitely NOT be "ok" with him fumbling around with my bike, pretending he's some sort of trained mechanic, and then passing judgement on what is safe and what is not



....I think I would prefer to stick with my guy?

But as usual mate, we do agree on something ...the current WOF checks are already "thin", just have to look at some of the "legal" crap on NZ's roads
But my biggest concern, is I can just see certain HUGE corporate fleets going for hundreds of thousands of miles, with NO actual mechanical checks being "legaly" required....and we have to share the road with these vehicles!

Ya think there dangerous now!....just wait till they start throwing bits at ya!

[bogan]

My Mechanic has 30+ yrs experience, his other mechanic has 30+ yrs experience as an Aeronautical engineer!...and the both took over 4yrs to train, and then had to be the "floor bitch" for 2000+ hours!....and that's just to pass there apprenticeship's!

AS much as I love Ol Scummy....I would definitely NOT be "ok" with him fumbling around with my bike, pretending he's some sort of trained mechanic, and then passing judgement on what is safe and what is not

....I think I would prefer to stick with my guy?

But as usual mate, we do agree on something ...the current WOF checks are already "thin", just have to look at some of the "legal" crap on NZ's roads
But my biggest concern, is I can just see certain HUGE corporate fleets going for hundreds of thousands of miles, with NO actual mechanical checks being "legaly" required....and we have to share the road with these vehicles!

Ya think there dangerous now!....just wait till they start throwing bits at ya!

Agree with all that. However, my point is most of the wof testers (VTNZ etc) have training comparable to what a cop would get, not to the level your guy has. There just seems to be lot of complaining that the new way, or other suggested ways are broken, but not applying the same level of examination and critical thought to the currently broken process.