Gear grind rave

**VasalineWarrior** · 16th January 2006, 17:25

Anyone watch the news on channel one tonight? Showed an article with a refugee from afganistan who looks to have crossed the centreline just outside of wellsford and taken out himself and an elderly woman in a headon collision. What really grind my gears was the police response after the crash, stating how they were considering implementing measures such as increasing demerit points, harsher penalties for people who breach their licence conditions and ''increasing the number of infringement tickets''. What the hell is wrong with these idiots? The cause of this crash was because someone CROSSED THE CENTRE LINE. No ammount of demerit point dishing out would have prevented this, as it had stuff all to do with speed and everything to do with driver incompetence. What we need is some sort of driver training to ensure people get the basics right, such as keeping left. This silly method of policing is doing nothing to lower the road toll!

**Fishy** · 16th January 2006, 17:33

Completely agree with you on that mate!. Whenever something goes wrong and they want to implement some sort of measure to improve "safety" its all just a load of rubbish and a poorly disguised method of revenew collecting.

**T.I.E** · 16th January 2006, 17:35

totally agree, demerits points are worth crap if your dead. it's a little too late unless they stick them on ya head stone

**Beemer** · 16th January 2006, 18:14

Yes, if the cops could somehow find a way to issue tickets for crossing the centre line, we'd all be a lot safer. While many things cause accidents, including the dreaded speed, a huge number of accidents (no, crashes really) are caused by people losing concentration when driving and crossing the centre line. All ages too, it's not the preserve of the old. I travel between Levin and Palmerston North regularly and you wouldn't believe the number of drivers who drift into my lane whether I'm in a car or on the bike. They do it on straights, on corners - everywhere, so I am at a loss as to how to prevent it. Perhaps reminding people that driving is something that needs your WHOLE concentration could help. Okay, motorcyclists have accidents too, but the majority of us are concentrating on what we are doing a lot more than many drivers.

I've lost count of the number of times I have flashed my lights or shaken my fist at a driver with two wheels over the white line heading towards me - and usually I get a one-fingered salute in response. As far as I'm concerned, they are far more dangerous than those who speed - but on a par with those who drink.

**merv** · 16th January 2006, 18:21

Agree with everything said above - the measures proposed do not target the problem. Its always penalise the many for the sake of the few and still wonder why it never works.

What intrigued me though was here was a "refugee" and he's driving a flash Merc - looked something like an E320 probably less than 10 years old. Aren't refugees meant to be taken in with pity when they arrive destitute. So why wasn't he having to catch the bus?

**What?** · 17th January 2006, 06:00

Originally Posted by Beemer

Yes, if the cops could somehow find a way to issue tickets for crossing the centre line, we'd all be a lot safer. .

They do - they just prefer to concentrate on speed, because that is what kills. Apparently driving on the wrong side of the road is much safer than exceeding the posted speed limit, hence radars and cameras littering passing lanes, or the only bit of staight road for miles.

**Lou Girardin** · 17th January 2006, 07:57

Are you all aware how they drive back home?
A complete disregard for commonsense and a reliance on Allahs will. Then we let them drive on their Afghan licence, if it exists, for a year.
The wonder is that more aren't dead.

**Motig** · 17th January 2006, 08:02

Yep,gotta agree with you guys. I suppose its easier to blame speed instead of incompetence, certainly easier to enforce. Mind you the biker that was clocked at over 200k over central doesn't help the case.

**Finn** · 17th January 2006, 08:07

Originally Posted by merv

What intrigued me though was here was a "refugee" and he's driving a flash Merc - looked something like an E320 probably less than 10 years old. Aren't refugees meant to be taken in with pity when they arrive destitute. So why wasn't he having to catch the bus?

This is all part of helen's plan to get a senior position in the UN. Upon entry to NZ, refugees can choose between a Merc, BMW or an Audi. Consider it a welcoming pack.

Either this or he just worked hard? However, he could have had money... you don't have to be poor to be a refugee. Great, now I've got that Tom Petty song in my head!

**Lou Girardin** · 17th January 2006, 09:22

He might have arrived with his poppy crop in a suitcase.

**SVrunner** · 17th January 2006, 09:28

Remember all roads have barriers some are better than others.
Most are 4" wide & paint thickness high.
Some have 2 of these 4" wide strips - yellow of course.

On the position of blame, always falls to the drivers or riders concerned at that time of the incident.

**What?** · 17th January 2006, 20:37

Ummmmmm, just woken up here... Since when does financial status have anything to do with refugee status? Many of those fleeing their homelands are fleeing political oppression, not financial hardship. Sure, alot of them turn up here broke, but not all.