A licence to exceed 100km/h

**Felicks** · 2nd May 2006, 21:45

Recently on a tour of the South Island, part of which went through the McKenzie country, my brother in law and I came up with the following idea. (I mentioned it briefly in a short post elsewehere but thought it would be worth it's own thread.) The McKenzie Coutry for those that don't know has some pretty long and open straights - a tad boring at 100km/h.

I reckon we should be able to BUY a temporary licence to exceed 100km/h!

The licence would NOT be an exemption to ride like an idiot just simply to allow motorcyclists to travel up to 140 - 150km/h something like that, on selected open roads during tours etc.

Despite the usual moan and groan from locals, I understand NZ has pretty good roads overall with plenty of variation after travelling only a short distance. I think people from overseas would flock here if they knew they could travel good roads at a good speed legally, even if they had to pay some $$ for the pleasure.

The argument? At the end of the day, a good proportion on bikers exceed the maximum limit anyway. The Government also gets nothing for that unless they get caught and a ticket issued! If a licence was granted - they'd get some money every time!! Governments always want money don't they.

What do people think - should we float that one to LTNZ at some point - or is it gonna sink big time? Me thinks the later but I still like the idea.

**kickingzebra** · 2nd May 2006, 21:50

Brilliant idea all right, but you know our nanny state. If the pressure is kept on speed limits evenly for several elections we may be able to see something done.
I always liked the idea of testing people to speed proficiency, IE if one is capable of travelling at higher speeds, they should be allowed dispensation to do so, but conversly, if someone is incapable of travelling at high speeds, they are approprately censured. Cost of setup, and adequate polcing would be phenominal, besides which, if granny drivers where restricted to 80 km, it would hardly speed the highways up.

**Sketchy_Racer** · 2nd May 2006, 21:52

Nope sorry will never happen.

It would be super cool, But it is Politically inccorect to exceed 100kph Full Stop.

**Burger** · 2nd May 2006, 21:57

If you do it for bikes, then you have to do it for cars, which is where it gets scary.

The thing with riding a bike is that everything is in your hands, there is no safety margin. If you choose to speed then your life is quite literally in your hands (usually your right hand). Cars offer a margin of error, you have protection, which creates a sense of security, which creates lapses in judgement.

Such a law would be a nightmare to manage. How would you feel if your wife was wiped out on her scooter and killed, by a boyracer who was legally travelling at 140k+ ?

Speed limits are there to cater for the lowest common denominator, people who cannot drive defensivley. It's a limit which has been accepted by society in order to both keep the pleasure and convenience of driving, and keep it sensible.

Speed doesn't kill, stupidity does. Usually it's the stupid decision to speed outside the limits of your riding/driving and the lack of ability to forsee events.

So no, I do not agree that it would be a good idea

**Jantar** · 2nd May 2006, 21:58

In general I like the idea, but I would rather take it one step further and rate individual vehicles with a maximum legal speed, then take kickingzebra's idea and test riders/drivers ability to see what grade of licence they qualify for.

However on the down side with any of these graduated speed ideas: They would be almost impossible to police. Take two riders, both on GSXRs travelling at 140 kmh. One is licenced to ride at that speed and one is not. How is the poor cop going to know? Does he stop them both and piss off the one who is legal? Or does he leave both of them alone, just to have the less experienced rider lose it in a sudden side wind gust? There is no way he is going to be able to tell who is legal and who isn't at those speeds.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 22:52

I do not at all like the idea of coming off a bike at more than 70kph, which is about the fastest its happened to me twice over the years. Also some of us remember when the speed limit was only 80kph and theres talk of bringing it back I believe. Hence perhaps the introduction INITIALLY of 30kph speed zones in city CBD's.. Local paper hinted today in a report that these new zones may be extended to include other areas. Do you know how hard it is to keep below 30kph in 2th gear?? I see alleyways fill of speed cameras ready to make heaps of revenue in the name of saving motorists going over the dreaded 30kph speed limit and killing themselves and/or any idiot whom steps in their way. They certainly wont hear them coming at that speed. Bugger the buses whom caused all this.

**Ixion** · 2nd May 2006, 23:05

But why should I be put at risk because you can afford a special licence? Without any proof your your ability ?

If one were to get complicated about speed limits , I would prefer bands, with the onus changing for each band.

So, under 80kph (all this on the open road) , as at present. You can't get a speeding ticket, per se under that speed.

80 to 120kph you normally will be "safe" , but you CAN get a ticket, but it is incumbent upon the cop to show some special reason why the speed was unsafe. call it a charge of inappropriate speed. So, normally you would be safe, but under special circumstances you could still be charged with inapproriate speed. The circumstances would need to be shown to be "special", but could be quite braod and cumulative. It was night, the roads were wet, visibility was poor, traffic was heavy, the driver young and inexperienced, etc.

120-160 kph you can expect a ticket. But, you may present evidence to show that , under the special circumstances, the speed was NOT inappropriate. Which might include some form of advanced drivers licence. Visibility was good, the road straight and wide, no other traffic, good conditions, an advanced driver's licence etc.

Will never happen though, no complex scheme will. It is all too hard for the powers that be .

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 23:15

What would roads look like if everyone was trying to go at different speeds ? You would have some cars doing 80 and some doing 120. Now what do the guys wanting to do 120 have to do to keep at that speed?? besides the obivious road rage factor, Boy.... I would hate to be riding anything less than a 1000cc in that situation. But I also agree that there are some roads where at least 120kmph COULD be allowed. We have some very good roads off SH's which people use as shortcuts which are truely open roads and lets face it, most of us dont keep exactly to 100 or 110kmph when on a long tour and on an empty open road on a nice day. What stuffs you in the end is those plains clothed policecars with front facing speed cameras...

**SwanTiger** · 2nd May 2006, 23:17

Originally Posted by Ixion

But why should I be put at risk because you can afford a special licence? Without any proof your your ability ?

If one were to get complicated about speed limits , I would prefer bands, with the onus changing for each band.

So, under 80kph (all this on the open road) , as at present. You can't get a speeding ticket, per se under that speed.

80 to 120kph you normally will be "safe" , but you CAN get a ticket, but it is incumbent upon the cop to show some special reason why the speed was unsafe. call it a charge of inappropriate speed. So, normally you would be safe, but under special circumstances you could still be charged with inapproriate speed. The circumstances would need to be shown to be "special", but could be quite braod and cumulative. It was night, the roads were wet, visibility was poor, traffic was heavy, the driver young and inexperienced, etc.

120-160 kph you can expect a ticket. But, you may present evidence to show that , under the special circumstances, the speed was NOT inappropriate. Which might include some form of advanced drivers licence. Visibility was good, the road straight and wide, no other traffic, good conditions, an advanced driver's licence etc.

Will never happen though, no complex scheme will. It is all too hard for the powers that be .

I quite enjoyed reading that Ixion, it almost felt like a good novel.

As for the temporary license, I'd hate to see it fall into the hands of the wrong people, which it would.

As for Mr. Ixion's representation of a better world, I quite like the idea.

100kmp/h - 120kmp/h is a very reasonable speed.

Most cars only do an average speed of 80kmp/h anyway so it works.

Pity it'll never happen.

**Ixion** · 2nd May 2006, 23:18

Originally Posted by Lord Derosso

What would roads look like if everyone was trying to go at different speeds ? You would have some cars doing 80 and some doing 120. ,,.

You have that already. Half the traffic is people pushing the existing limit to 115-120. The other half are the Interchangeable Mabels doddering along at 80, so as to make certain they don't inadvertently exceed the speed limit.

It would just mean that it would be easier for the fast traffic to overtake the slow ones.

**Lord Derosso** · 2nd May 2006, 23:27

Yeh... it would work if we had four lane motorways to everywhere but I am totally amazed at how bad the driving is on our roads now compared to seven years ago. I take great care in the city and on the motorways.... just let the speeders go pass me. I think our first priority is to get better roads then perhaps they might look at having areas of higher speed. After all modern cars also find 100kmph slow, its just that our road maintenance is at least a decade behind and needs to catch up.

**sAsLEX** · 3rd May 2006, 00:49

Originally Posted by Ixion

80 to 120kph you normally will be "safe" , but you CAN get a ticket, but it is incumbent upon the cop to show some special reason why the speed was unsafe. call it a charge of inappropriate speed. So, normally you would be safe, but under special circumstances you could still be charged with inapproriate speed. The circumstances would need to be shown to be "special", but could be quite braod and cumulative. It was night, the roads were wet, visibility was poor, traffic was heavy, the driver young and inexperienced, etc.

Special Circumstances include the following :

You are a male
You are a 15-25 year old male
wrong time of month - female cop
nice sunny day and cop stuck in car

**scumdog** · 3rd May 2006, 01:14

Originally Posted by Felicks

Recently on a tour of the South Island, part of which went through the McKenzie country, my brother in law and I came up with the following idea. (I mentioned it briefly in a short post elsewehere but thought it would be worth it's own thread.) The McKenzie Coutry for those that don't know has some pretty long and open straights - a tad boring at 100km/h.
I:

Those straights use to be pretty good for top-end 'test' runs way back in the '70's before speed limits were invented there (It was the Nevada of NZ).

Mt Cook turn-off back to Twizel was a favourite

Reckon I near got a sonic boom from one of my vehicles once.

**_intense_** · 3rd May 2006, 01:21

Wow what a can of worms, Ixion i like your thoughts mate well put.
Living in Timaru i quite often "nip round the lakes" on a nice day off, and the roads (waitaki valley) are open, and in good conditions 140 is wht i sit on, and its safe, pesonally, if theres traffic i drop it to 115 as soon as i see a car (keeps me safe(ish) from a ticket to) But of course evry one ruides differently.

Im a young-un 23, and in the "highrisk" bracket, yet having so much power on hand has taught me great respect for what a bike can do, and from time to time i like to hoon, but i take great cares to do it WHEN AND WHERE I AM NOT ENDANGERING ANYONE ELSE BUT ME. the problem is, that not every one has such"conservative' speeding philosophy, (waffling now) so whats to stop reckless speeders getting the exemption, whilst the ppl who take the care to take care pay the same for the privelage.

IMO you cant realisticly introduce something along these lines because its to vague in its nature, and allows people who aren't necessarily skilled/mature (and i dont mean physical age) enough not to misuse the privelage.

Doing track days arent an answer for the speed fix either, they dont present the same joys/challenges that a long ride on an ever changing road can present.

I think the best solution to allowing a legal (and therefore taxable) system of allowing a faster speed limit for select motorists would be to have a test which basically requires godly bike handling skills, tested over a couple of days , covering every possibkle condition, scenario non the road, accident prevention, anticipating oncoming hazzards etcetc. and i dont just mean a scratchie test. and the gear you r ride must also be up to the same standard. ie johns old drum brake equipped hand shift rusty '87 kawaondazuki wont be a suitable candidate, but say if he did it on an '02 cbr600 F4i....

well thats my 83 cents worth, any comeback on this? i curiouse to see other peoples ideas