Police getting tougher on speed tolerance

[GrayWolf]

So over the two year period that the major decline happened in, the entire vehicle fleet improved by so much it was the main cause for the decline?

Car improvements have made a massive difference over the long term, but it's a very slow process. Getting people to trash their car because it doesn't have traction control just doesn't happen overnight.

yet where is the independent statistical evidence that proves the reduction was due to the 4km policy? If memory serves last year? there were several major incidents and deaths that were higher than usual (pre 4km allowance). I accept that I only studied stats at 'undergrad' level, but we sure learned how they can be skewed to suit your requirements.

I'm not popping at you on this Rastus, but in an earlier post you said that you could judge your road speed by sight/vehicle noise. I doubt anyone is THAT good that 1-2km's is instantly discernible. My bike does 5km for every 100rpm... you reckon I am going to 'hear' 20-40rpm? and I dont think ANYONE's hand or foot is THAT steady!

[scumdog]

Why? They are all on here and not out on the roads.

You worry me....

[James Deuce]

You worry me....

He's right though.

I wish people would just drop this issue. There is no allowance, there's a little bit of discretion afforded officers so that we can get from point A to point B without having our time massively and expensively wasted. Rather than smacking traffic Police about we should be looking at media who made this news with that expression on your face you have when you are talking to someone who has something grotesque smeared across their face but you're too nice to say anything about it.

[caspernz]

Spare me days, who the hell has been pulled over by a cop and ticketed for doing 1kph over the speed limit?????

Well actually...first hand experience some years back of being pulled over for 91 (alleged) in a truck. Himatangi straights (north of Foxton), with cruise set at 92 (onboard GPS made this actual 90). This was in one of those blitz months leading up to Xmas period. Just asked him where I had to go to court to contest, he stopped writing. Isolated incident I'll admit.

A year or two back the bigger talking point amongst truckers was being written up in some parts of the country for phantom speeds. Had one in Wellington where a truck limited to 88 was ticketed by a mobile patrol for doing 107, uphill to boot. Took quite some effort to get this ticket torn up. GPS records were part of the key.

But heck, let's not pretend that ALL truckers and bikers are innocent motorists...and I'm all for road safety.

In my mind punitive speed enforcement without targeting the other bad behaviours (or that's the perception anyway) and the boys'n'girls in blue are fighting a losing battle in keeping the respect of Joe Public.

[unstuck]

You worry me....

Yep, me too.

[GrayWolf]

Not to mention you can still buy new reasonably expensive vehicles with no traction control. Hiace springs to mind as I've just collected a 2008 one (and typing this in Christchurch).

I am not a major fan of electronic interventions as a 'rely on' factor Gremlin. I understand and 'have had instance' that they can be a saving grave. THAT is what they should be, the 'saving grace' when we fuck up big time. If you look at Finland as an example, as part of their driver training they HAVE to do skid pan and gravel road control. What's wrong with being taught things like cadence braking, and other manual skills?
We have a computer system at work on our 'vehicles' that is so powerful the things could 'literally' drive themselves. The electronic traction/braking system is so bloody sensitive and invasive, we want to be able to turn it off in adverse conditions.
The adverts they ran on TV a few years ago.. (the mines on a fast bend).. to me it was teaching that the traction/stability control will save your arse... Yes it does, but people being people are relying on these support mechanism's rather than actual driving skill. (it's OK to go flat out, the electronics will keep me on the road).
I was watching top gear in the early hours the other night, and Clarkson was testing a Ferrari GTO (600+bhp) Those guys are all reasonably skilled and adept at slide, power slide etc control. He switched off the electronics and was unable to control the car, his comment was this car is beyond an animal, it's a bastard! This is what I fear in many ways will be the final solution for cars, the driver will have little to no choice/say in the cars control.

One of the things I found surprising when I moved to NZ is that learners can drive a car (even with restrictions) un supervised, and at a very young age. The UK you cannot touch a car till 17yrs old, and MUST have a qualified driver in the front seat beside you.

[scumdog]

One of the things I found surprising when I moved to NZ is that learners can drive a car (even with restrictions) un supervised, and at a very young age. The UK you cannot touch a car till 17yrs old, and MUST have a qualified driver in the front seat beside you.

You should have heard all the hand-wringing whingers and their 'lordy-me's when the driving age was boosted from 15 years old to 16, how was anybody ever going through the trauma..

You would have thought it was the end of the world for some...

(A side-effect of this is empty spaces at the high-school car-park!)

[Gremlin]

Yeah, I'm a bit in 2 minds about the electronic interventions. As you say, there is no requirement to do skid pan etc, so I would say it's more likely your average driver doesn't have the car control of a decade or two ago, simply because you don't need it. Hell, there are those that panic when ABS makes the brake pedal vibrate, and then lift off the brake.

On the other hand, different vehicles perform in different ways. Previous ute, I had it spin up at 30kph just following another vehicle through an intersection... road was slippery (and I've seen a few cars through the guard rail over the years) and now it's high grip surface as of a few months ago.

Ho hum... yes, it can allow drivers to be less skilled, but it does keep the average driver safer...

[pritch]

I live in a City with actual people.

But don't you live in Auckland?

[James Deuce]

You should have heard all the hand-wringing whingers and their 'lordy-me's when the driving age was boosted from 15 years old to 16, how was anybody ever going through the trauma..

You would have thought it was the end of the world for some...

(A side-effect of this is empty spaces at the high-school car-park!)

My job isn't done until I get the minimum driving age rasied to 25.

[Banditbandit]

You should have heard all the hand-wringing whingers and their 'lordy-me's when the driving age was boosted from 15 years old to 16, how was anybody ever going through the trauma..

You would have thought it was the end of the world for some...

Yeah - if you were 14 about to turn 15 it would have been the end of the world ..

[rastuscat]

I accept that I only studied stats at 'undergrad' level, but we sure learned how they can be skewed to suit your requirements.

Yes, both of us can skew them, depending on our point of view.

I can tell the speed difference to maybe 5kmh difference, but to 1kmh? Nah, that's beyond me.

And the zero tolerance hubbub was caused by the media, not us. I doubt anyone has been tagged for 1 over. And if they have, it's be unusual circumstance.

Back to my donuts.

[bogan]

Yes, both of us can skew them, depending on our point of view.

You can skew the interpretation, not the data though.



Doesn't look like any statistically significant event occurred recently to me.

Hmm, how about normalised per km then?



Nope, fuck all there either.

[Big Dog]

My job isn't done until I get the minimum driving age rasied to 25.

A side effect of that will be more road users with no road experience who think they are awesome because they have life experience.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[James Deuce]

A side effect of that will be more road users with no road experience who think they are awesome because they have life experience.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

Not so much: They have less brain damage over 25.