More restrictions and speed limits coming up. Announcement 13 December

[Ixion]

Actually, one of the biggest factors in the reduction in the death count, is changes in what happens immediately after the crash. Wide availability of cellphones , and air ambulances , together with technical improvements in critcal injury care have greaty incresed the number of people who survive after serious injury.

Whereas once, after a crash, the injured person would wait, dying, while someone went and found a landline phone, then wait while an ambulance made its way there, then the trip to the nearest hospital, which like as not didn't have anything flash in critical care facilities. It all took too long when people were really badly hurt. Now, the first person along probably has a cellphone, and helicopters can get there much quicker than an ambulance stuck in the traffic jam. And take the injured person directly to a major hospital.

Those that know speak of the "golden hour". The hour immediately after major trauma, if the injured person can be gotten to critical care facilities within that hour , their chances of surviving increase enormously. Now, far more crash victims are getting there within that hour.

Hence, I think, what we see - more hospitalisations, but fewer deaths.

The drop in the death rate isn't due to road law - it's due to better ambo and communication services and more advanced nursing and medical treatment.

[Swoop]

This is a good point. I'd like to know where the figure of 300 comes from.

I would also like to know how NZ gets this figure. In Russia this is the DAILY figure!

[jimbo600]

Well I don't pay attention to the current laws so changing them won't make a bit of difference to me.

[vamr]

In Russia this is the DAILY figure!

...a country that has 35 times the population of NZ with some of the worst roads short around without naming third world countries.

[Ixion]

Population 35 times, death rate 365 times? (if the figures are true)

[Lou Girardin]

Padre is right, the rule is; make 'em expect the worst - then they will be relieved when they are only slightly sodomised.

[doc]

the 1950's? we had a 80kmh limit in the 80's

I think they dropped it in the 70's the first oil shock. Those were the days only 1 dollar to fill the ole Commando, just enough to get you to the next petrol station except in the weekend when they were closed.

[davereid]

Yeah they bought in carless days at the same time. You had to nominate a day of the week that you wouldnt use your car, and you got a sticker to say what day it was.

Pissed off the people who only had one car in the family, but petrol heads like me had several cars so it was a waste of time.

[Ixion]

Bump. Thursday night. 6:30 pm (there's some screwy thing in the calendar that displayed it as 7:30 even though the time was entered as 18:30 start.) It's 6.30 pm , half past 6.

Danish House Rockridge Rd Penrose. Directions and map below/above .

Lots of people complain about the roads. Too much gravel, not enough signs, cheescutters , potholes. Here's the chance to establish a dialog with the people who can do sometime about it. So come and take part . Put up, or shut up.

[Toaster]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3892510a11,00.html

Brace yourself.

Oh flippin' heck! Next we'll have to ride wrapped in cotton wool with seatbelts fitted and a tank airbag! Or maybe 'super' sports bikes will be classified as 'dangerous weapons'.

On the serious side... I hope it makes positive changes making it easier to enjoy a safer ride.

[Toaster]

Accidents are caused by one thing - someone making a mistake.

RAVE OVER

Good comments Dave. To add to that, it's very clear and well known that poor driver behaviour is rife, especially in Auckland.... many people I talk to from the UK can't believe how poor our driving standards are.

Ride safe people!

Article today in Herald about cyclists not wearing helmets.... "They are designed to prevent serious head injuries, but it seems helmets are a turn-off for would-be cyclists worried about messing up their hair."

Isn't that just typical of peoples shallowness and short-sightedness when it comes to safety on the roads!

[Toaster]

Hence, I think, what we see - more hospitalisations, but fewer deaths.

The drop in the death rate isn't due to road law - it's due to better ambo and communication services and more advanced nursing and medical treatment.

Bloody good point!

[Toaster]

I'm all for compulsory insurance. Gives the other party some comeback instead of being left to dry with reparation almost never being awarded and when it is , you rarely get paid out. So much for the Victims Rights Act....

[Dai]

I'm all for compulsory insurance. Gives the other party some comeback instead of being left to dry with reparation almost never being awarded and when it is , you rarely get paid out. So much for the Victims Rights Act....

My experience with compolsory insurance is from the UK where they have such.

The insurance companies milk it for everything they can get. Even down to having different classes for bikes.

My ZZR 1100 for 3rd party only was costing me 1000 UK pounds a year. I had fully comprehensive for 1500ukp p/a. With excesses and then a write off (when a car hit me) and a stolen bike. My premium went through the roof.

Finally couldnt afford to keep paying these prices. Just before leaving UK I rode for 6 months with out insurance. Got caught by the cops in a random check and taken to court. Fined and a criminal record.

[Roadrash]

Changes to the age you can get your licence or making it harder to get your licence doesn't work, speeking from experience the majority of people on the road who drive like they shouldn't be on the road either havn't ever had a licence or are disqualy or suspended drivers, its the attitude to speeding that needs to change, people in big 4wds fly down 50 km areas next to school and
then get flashed by people coming the other way warning them that theres a speed camera or cop ahead, yet if that 4wd accidentaly lost control and wiped out a kid the driver would be a monster.
People think speeding is fine until someone dies and then it's ooohhh where were the cops when you needed them, yet 5 minutes before they were flashing other traffic warning of a speed camera , the road toll will change wgen the publics attitude change.