Tougher restrictions on foreign drivers in NZ

[sAsLEX]

OK some of you will recall the Auckland University Engineer who was killed by a Foreign Student attempting a u turn with out looking a few years back.

Well this nearly happened again today, and if I was two up like he was at the time I doubt I would be typing this here as I was hard on the brakes and only just pulled short, as a calf shit yellow late model Prelude with our typical foreign student U turned from the left lane without indicating or checking for traffic on Symonds st.

So I think its about time these Visitors to our country were slapped with a few more license restrictions/tests to hopefully avoid more of these accidents just waiting to happen.

And none of the " me dont understand" bullshit when pulled over on the side of the road. They should have licenses revoked if they fuck up once, and then have to go through the graduated license system like the rest of the populace!

[Fishy]

So I think its about time these Visitors to our country were slapped with a few more license restrictions/tests to hopefully avoid more of these accidents just waiting to happen.

And none of the " me dont understand" bullshit when pulled over on the side of the road. They should have licenses revoked if they fuck up once, and then have to go through the graduated license system like the rest of the populace!

I agree with you 100%!!!

I got hit by a south Korean guy who was driving a volvo back in 1998 and broke most bones down the left side of my body. He was here on an international license and couldn't read english.... how the hell was he supposed to be able to read the rode sign that he was approaching when he smashed into me?

He shouldn't have been on the road.

[Postie]

I'm glad your ok mate.
But a lot of these guys don't even have a licence

[bobsmith]

OK some of you will recall the Auckland University Engineer who was killed by a Foreign Student attempting a u turn with out looking a few years back.

Damn was this a couple of years ago (2 and 1/2 ish?) on symonds street by the biosci building in auckland uni? (if you know the area), if so I think I might have been there when it happened? I was sitting in the biosci building (I'm not a pretend scientist, my girlfriend is...) when I heard a loud screech than bang, I went out and saw that a stupid asian driver was attempting a u turn and a bike went under and got killed. (now, you can't tell me I'm being a racist since I'm a south korean by birth myself)

I agree that if people are to drive here, they should at least be tested on their english reading and basic road rules.

Mind you I think irratic u turns on Symonds street has something to do with typical idiotic drivers the university attracts rather than a single national type, I'm sure I've been almost run over just as many times on symonds street by people of all nationalities (I used to be one of those suicidal engineering students who refused to use the stupid underground walkway... besides crossing the road the risking your life is so much more fun than going underground...

[bobsmith]

I think foreign drivers do have to go through the graduated system if they are staying here for longer than certain amount of time though.

I know one of my friends from alaska who has been driving for several years in alaska got pulled over once after being over here for not that long (6 months maybe???) and got told by the that she has to get a NZ licence if she's living here (the might have been bullshitting)

Anyhow, so she did, and she was stuck on restricted licence for ages being very very frustrated since the day before she got her NZ licence she could drive around without restrictions than the next day, she couldn't.

[Macktheknife]

Im so sick of hearing about this type of shit, I have been hit by a Korean too, she was thankfully in a loaner car because she crashed her SUV the week before! They should all have to sit the NZ licence test WITHOUT a translator to help. Unless the person comes from an english speaking country that drives on the same side of the road... take the test or take the bus.

[bobsmith]

Damn it, it's moments like this that I didn't say that I'm a korean by birth.

It's funny though that people often specify SOUTH korean isn't it?

because I certainly have never seen a north korean anywhere...

[magicfairy]

Not much we can do about it - Geneva convention apparently - according to Nanny Knackstead - we can drive on their roads with our license, in return they can drive on ours for up to a year. LTSA have already said not likely to change - even though not all licensing tests are the same.

My issue is :
We don't let foreign doctors practice in this country without passing NZ Exams if they haven't got recognised qualifications, even if our doctors are allowed to practice overseas in their countries. Likewise nurses.
Because the medical profession recognises not all training is equal and someone could get hurt, killed.

Why can't we apply the same reasoning to driving? - they also can hurt / kill someone.
To add insult to injury - we can't sue for personal injury either, so the offender gets a slap on the hand with a wet bus ticket and the victim loses out big time.
If you got taken out in the US or Aus, you'd sue.

rant..rant...

[The_Dover]

So would all the kiwi's who go overseas on holiday and want to drive a car REALLY want to have to sit a test in the native tongue of any country they visit?

Most of you guys struggle with english.

[Finn]

Having a license has got nothing to do with driving/riding ability. I'm a classic example - Oldrider gave me the learn a week or so ago. Most kiwi's have a license and can't drive for shit. As for foreigners, it depends on what country (or region in some cases) they come from.

[magicfairy]

I'd just like to see a system that recognises which countries actually test drivers skill and knowledge and let them drive here, but licenses from other countries only prove you paid they money / bribe and perhaps never got behind the wheel of a car.

But it would all be way to complex, so never likely to happen. There would have to be reciprocal arrangements with the other countries.

Lots of people don't drive in foreign countries because of the financial risk if you cause an accident. ACC laws means that won't happen here, so there is no disincentive.

[Karma]

I think foreign drivers do have to go through the graduated system if they are staying here for longer than certain amount of time though.

I know one of my friends from alaska who has been driving for several years in alaska got pulled over once after being over here for not that long (6 months maybe???) and got told by the that she has to get a NZ licence if she's living here (the might have been bullshitting)

Anyhow, so she did, and she was stuck on restricted licence for ages being very very frustrated since the day before she got her NZ licence she could drive around without restrictions than the next day, she couldn't.

Wrong.

If you've held your license for more than 3 years in your origin country then all you need to do is pass a scratch and win theory test here and you'll have an equivilent license for NZ.

Less than 3 years and you have to sit the practical and theory, but you still get an equivilent license. This is why I only have to do theory for my car license, but practical and theory for my bike. I'll still have a full NZ bike licence even though I've been riding less than people on learners.

[ManDownUnder]

Im so sick of hearing about this type of shit, I have been hit by a Korean too, she was thankfully in a loaner car because she crashed her SUV the week before! They should all have to sit the NZ licence test WITHOUT a translator to help. Unless the person comes from an english speaking country that drives on the same side of the road... take the test or take the bus.

Gotta disagree - kinda of.

I say they all take the test.

If you're from a coutry on the right side of the road, english speaking etc it'll be a doddle.

If not, it'll be more challenging

It also gets around any bullshit/fake licences, but introduces a whole new set of problems for visiting business types...

[Lou Girardin]

Sorry guys, but I'm damned if I want sit a licence test every time I want to drive a rental o'seas.
Do you all realise that we'd be regarded just as badly for our driving skills if there were enough of us in, say, Europe.

[bell]

Exactly Lou G. It didn't take me long to realise just how badly Kiwis drive (sure, not all of them but too bloody many) until I'd been driving on European roads - UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, etc. The word courtesy simply doesn't exist for a lot of drivers on NZ roads. The mentality that goes along the lines of "I'm in a steel cage, warm and dry and cosy and singing along to my stereo and don't need to give a flying fuck about anyone else on the road..." seems to be so entrenched over here. I rarely saw that in Europe, particularly UK. Still, that unpredictable nature of other peoples driving is part of what makes riding a bike so entertaining.