Petition for removal of L plate and 70km/hr limit????

[TLDV8]

I await the Minister's reply regarding the 70 kmh restriction.

[copperS100]

i agree on the 70km restriction as im a learner rider. i have to drive on the motoway evevryday to get to work and if im driving at that speed im more then likely to get run of the road or in a more likelier case drivers having a few harsh words to me as they pass so i always travel at the speed of the cars infront of me

[davereid]

Can L plate car drivers do 100km/hr ?

If they can, then this is just another anti-bike thing.

Some how the whole system seems to be setup to make a motorcycle very difficult to choose as your prefrred form of transport. Like if you want to use a bike for a decent commute, your forced to start on a 250, sell it buy a commuter. Losing $$$ all the way. But you can just buy the toybaru turbo-pop and your off to work.

[McJim]

I've worked it out - the Police want the revenue from speeding tickets so they need the casualty rates up on the roads to justify this - a learner motorcycle will only wipe himself out but a learner in a turbo-jap can take out 2 families in one moment of idiocy!

Therefore they put lots of barriers in the way of motorcycles to maintain the road death stats (via Jap import turbo ma balls and young brain donors) so they can tell the dumb arses in the public that they need all the cameras, radars and lasers to make all the money from fines.

All a bit obvious really.

[Disco Dan]

ok, my first 250cc bike i used to learn on i had an L plate with the thought that when i stalled it on a hill etc cars wouldnt get toooo upset. But after a nasty spill and almost a year of car driving ($$) Im back on another 250cc. No L plate this time and to be quite honest i did not even realise there was a 70kmph limit on my licence!

Im gasping awaiting some more $$ to upgrade to higher cc bike after 5-6 months.

I agree, Learners should be restricted to 250cc and 70kmph
Restricted license holders should be able to have upto around say 4-500cc and the 70k limit taken off.
Then Full holders... go for it

[davereid]

I don't know if smaller bikes are necessarily safer.

Look at a learner legal Aprilia 250, or any of the gee whiz jappas. Good for 100 mph, rabid power bands, sharp brakes. Hard to argue that they are intrinsically safe !

Yet the little commuters may be worse. Can't keep up with traffic, particulary in a headwind, blown around terribly on a windy day.

My wifes on a learners licence, so just riding my scooter. But I know she would manage an 883 Harley perfectly. Easy power so hard to stall, immensly stable, low seat height. Also forgiving brakes- stop very well (BRM tested cruisers and found they stop as well or better than sportsbikes - at least for that first emergency stop.)

[TLDV8]

I await the Minister's reply regarding the 70 kmh restriction.

Six days later

[TLDV8]

I await the Minister's reply regarding the 70 kmh restriction.

Six days later

*
Shock Horror....

Dear Me

On behalf of the Hon Harry Duynhoven, Minister for Transport Safety, I
acknowledge your email of 28 September 2006 concerning the restricted
motorcycle licence speed limit.

You may expect a personal reply from the Minister in due course.

In the meantime, can you please provide me with your postal details, so
that the Minister's response can be posted to you?

Thank you.

Tania Ditchburn
Private Secretary
Office of Hon Harry Duynhoven
Minister for Transport Safety

Ph: (04) 471 9856
Fax: (04) 472 8052

[TLDV8]

I sent my postal details as requested plus another short email.
I have since received a reply so will wait with baited breathe for the ministers reply.


I have pointed out the flaw in the 70 kmh restriction from a safety view and reminded them that it dates back to the open road speed limit of 80 kmh.
As far as i am concerned they are now accountable in that it has been bought to their attention,you newbies who want change need to keep onto it.
You can sit around discussing things on an internet forum but it will do little.
You actually have to do something.

I will wait for the reply but have a hunch it will be political mumbo jumbo.
Remember this is a safety issue.

If you are going to do a petition.

Get a template of it done,email it to as many people who want it...... print it out and start door knocking for places to display it.

Power to the People and all that jazz.

[ManDownUnder]

For the record - Harry's a good guy. A hands on petrol head who was really into fixing up VWs and Porches (don't know how much time he has to do it now though).

Problem is he is bound by Aunty Helen's rules... like the rest of them. Expect a sympathetic answer, without many big promises.

[Hitcher]

I hope you're not expecting the "Minister" to have written the letter...

[SwanTiger]

I will be going to the next BRONZ meeting and joining up along with raising this topic, so if anyone else is keen to come along. BRONZ seems to have quite a few intelligent people who don't mind having their ears bashed with ideas.

[TLDV8]

Problem is he is bound by Aunty Helen's rules... like the rest of them. Expect a sympathetic answer, without many big promises.

True MDU.....but... I am of the opinion they do not even know about this 30 kmh difference.My reply will be that as the minister of safety he will need to be accountable for riders doing 70 kmh on open roads as they are directed too by law.Perhaps i will ask him if he would be prepared to be put in that position.
It is an archaic law that has slipped though a crack.
Edit... and yes i have seen him on TV,he seems like a good chap without the usual political spin.

Perhaps 100+ 250's on a Friday on a busy Wellington/Auckland motorway cruising at their legal 70 kmh might give them a wake up call.

I am all for L plates (when used for their intended purpose)

[ManDownUnder]

True MDU.....but... I am of the opinion they do not even know about this 30 kmh difference.My reply will be that as the minister of safety he will need to be accountable for riders doing 70 kmh on open roads as they are directed too by law.Perhaps i will ask him if he would be prepared to be put in that position.
It is an archaic law that has slipped though a crack.

Perhaps 100+ 250's on a Friday on a busy Wellington/Auckland motorway cruising at their legal 70 kmh might give them a wake up call.

I am all for L plates (when used for their intended purpose)

[cornholio]

can I start by saying

on this mater I would agree that I would think twice before heading out onto the motorway going 70kph, this would mean I would basically have to sit in the left lane ( which would have to be the most dangerous for merging traffic and crazy right hand laners wanting to get off at the next off ramp and willing to cut you off to get there ) I have been driving my bike for just over a year and still need to go and sit my restricted so I have been cruzing to work everyday and have well come to terms with the handling of my bike, but joy joy yesturday I was stuck behind a black smoke belching bus for about half my trip home going about 35-40k as I came up to the only 2 lane island and saw the bus half move into the left lane I dropped a gear and zipped passed just as a cop was coming from the opposite direction this is the fun part, I was doing 82k as I passed the bus and was pinged by the officer, I had then dropped down to 55ish k's when 100m down the road the cop caught up to me.

Once I had pulled over and been given a ticket for $1100 bucks this is my opinion on the rest of the poll

L plate put it on and take it off when no longer a learner = $400 if off

don't do over 70k it cost you $400

as for the passing speed that was my fault for giving it to much gas

6 months is not very long to have to wait to move on, don't be a dick like me and get a hefty ticket before christmas it's not fun - I have had a couple of bails which were from some kind car drivers wanting to play barricade when pulling out into streets and if it were not for my years of driving a car and respect of my new vehicle I could have come off a lot worse