Tougher restrictions on foreign drivers in NZ

[Karma]

Plus... indicators.

Do they remove them from cars over here or something? It's so bad that I'm actually shocked now when people indicate to turn.

[bell]

aaah, don't start me on indicators....did I hear someone mention roundabouts?

[SlowHand]

I want all wimin to have special licences, since all my crashes and close calls have been caused by them. yes im mature.

[boomer]

Chukles.... Bloody Tourists!!! Shoot 'em all.

[Ghost Lemur]

Hehe This threads funny.

It's gone from bashing "foriegn" drivers. To admitting how badly NZ drivers are thought of Overseas.

Personally I hate bad inconsiderate drivers. Full stop. Couldn't give a shit which country they were born in or the colour of their skin. It's just a shame there is no shortage of them (especially here in Christchurch).

But then again there is a train of thought that suggests keeping ourselves alive on the roads is "our" responsibility. And if we're in a certain circumstance in which we're not able to avoid a homicidal cager then we should have been doing something different.

While I don't think that is necessarily the case. I do think it is a good attitude to have in order to learn from others (and one's own) mistakes and increase our survival rates.

Anyway Glad you're ok sAsLEX.

[dhunt]

Plus... indicators.

Do they remove them from cars over here or something? It's so bad that I'm actually shocked now when people indicate to turn.

Nope - you use the horn. Much better - when in doubt use the horn. Going round a blind corner - use the horn, turning use the horn etc ...

I know in some cases people with licenses have never ever driven the vehicles their licenses say they can drive. I.e you pay the money you get the license. Then when they actual coming to do the driving the suck at it even though they've got the proper license etc. Not much you can do about things like this unfortunately due to corrupt governments etc. Money can buy anything.

[TwoSeven]

Hehe This threads funny.

It's gone from bashing "foriegn" drivers. To admitting how badly NZ drivers are thought of Overseas.

I suspect many 'foreigners' could make one or two observations about the local driving ability and the other way round.

[limbimtimwim]

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 he (...) have a full NZ bike licence even though I've been riding less than people on learners.

That's not what the LTSA says.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/factsheets/56.html

Scroll down to "Does everyone sit the practical test?"

[Karma]

You don't have to sit the practical test if:

you have a licence from Australia, Canada, Norway, a member state of the European Union*, South Africa, Switzerland or the United States of America, and
your licence is current (or has expired within the past 12 months), and
you've held that licence for more than two years.
Notes

If you are in this group, you still need to pass the theory test. If you don't pass the theory test, you cannot drive.
Some countries have driver licensing systems that are very different from New Zealand's. People from these countries do have to sit a practical test. Phone our Driver Licensing Call Centre to find out more (freephone 0800 822 422).
*Applicants from the European Union are only exempt from the practical driving test if they have held, for two years or more, a licence that was issued from the country while it was a member of the EU.

Ok ok... perhaps I should have been more clear...

I don't have to sit the practical car test... same as the EU and some other countries.

[Switch]

I agree with the testing. At least just a simple test, e.g. read english (for road signs etc), be able to drive etc. If they were simple (possibly cheap) then they could save some lives.
I live just off Symonds street and the driving on that road, (infact all roads around here) is just terrible, i get a good view of an intersection out my window and some of the driving is...kinda scary. I hear tooting constantly, sometimes i even set up my webcam to record, just incase i catch one on video.

[sunhuntin]

had an american couple in at work the other week...wanted to get to waiouru i think. i showed em on their map and told them to go via the paraparas. being as they were foreign, i told them to take their time going that way etc etc.
bugger me if they dont pull off the forecourt onto the right hand side of the road and preceed to go around a very busy and very big roundabout the wrong way. poor buggers....never heard of an accident, so im guessing they got there! just lucky it wasnt busy, that 'bout can be back logged when it is [5 roads lead up to it]

[Flyingpony]

It's funny though that people often specify SOUTH korean isn't it?
because I certainly have never seen a north korean anywhere...

I've met exactly one, in Nelson City. He was an ex-air force guy build like a brick of muscles, good English and great personality. He got on well with the south Korean’s (maybe because he's military?) though didn't understand more than 80% of their language, but still enough to get the gist.

[Lou Girardin]

I want all wimin to have special licences, since all my crashes and close calls have been caused by them. yes im mature.

The definitive oxymoron.

[Lou Girardin]

I agree with the testing. At least just a simple test, e.g. read english (for road signs etc), be able to drive etc.

So you'd like to kill our tourism industry overnight.

[Skyryder]

So you'd like to kill our tourism industry overnight.

If you restricted tourists from driving it would have very little impact on the tourist industry as a whole. Rental cars etc would be hit the hardest. Most Asians come in groups and travel by coach. There are many older tourists who also travel by coach. I came across some figures some time ago, not too sure of the percentages but coach tours delt with the most tourists by far. Many fly too. The problem with tourists driving is that they see themselves as tourists first and drivers second. They need to understand that when they are behind the wheel it is the other way round.........drivers first and tourists second.

Pesonaly if it was up to me making the rules they would have to pass a simple test on road sighns. These are internationaly recognised and if they can not pass that then I would asume they have never held a licence.

Skyryder

Skyryder