10mph motorway driver given ban

**Grahameeboy** · 5th January 2008, 06:39

A woman has been banned from driving for seven days after she drove along a motorway at speeds lower than 10mph.

Stephanie Cole, 58, of Fishponds, Bristol, repeatedly braked as she straddled the hard shoulder of the M32.
When police caught her there was a sign on her car which read: "I don't do fast. If I'm too slow for you DON'T hoot just overtake!"
Mrs Cole, who admitted driving without reasonable consideration, was also ordered to take another driving test.
Magistrates said they took into consideration the fact that Mrs Cole has multiple sclerosis.
When officers stopped Mrs Cole, she told them she had "no confidence" on the motorway.

Mrs Cole has been undergoing treatment for "fear of driving"

She had been travelling from her home to a Staples stationery store when she was arrested by police on 30 August.
"I really didn't want to go on the motorway, but I desperately had to go to Staples for an ink cartridge," she said.
"I don't know any other way to get to it so I went that way," she added.
"I think it was one of those things you do by mistake and that's exactly it was, I was on there by mistake.
"It just felt awful. I didn't know what to do. I panicked and turned to jelly inside and I didn't know what to do."
North Avon Magistrates' Court had previously heard that Mrs Cole's GP had been treating her for "fear of driving" for the past three-and-a-half years.
Andrew Howard, from motoring organisation the AA, said there had been calls for a minimum as well as maximum speed limit but enforcement of this could be tricky.
"It's something that's often talked about but really is hard to do on a practicality basis. "We know that there are lots of times when the weight of traffic, for example on a motorway, means that you can get nowhere near the proper speed limit, you may even have to stop, and obviously if there was a minimum speed limit there would be a lot of confusion when that happens."

**Grahameeboy** · 5th January 2008, 06:52

Was thinking that this could be a worry for a lot of drivers on the motorways in NZ

**The Pastor** · 5th January 2008, 07:10

speed kills.

**AllanB** · 5th January 2008, 07:10

My horn did some overtime the other day behind a camper-van doing 50 on the open road back from Hanmer Springs. Man there was a huge pile of cars behind that one all bumper to bumper all very shitty - probably did not help when a bike when past the lot!

'See mum motorcycles are cool'

**Grahameeboy** · 5th January 2008, 07:12

Originally Posted by AllanB

My horn did some overtime the other day behind a camper-van doing 50 on the open road back from Hanmer Springs. Man there was a huge pile of cars behind that one all bumper to bumper all very shitty - probably did not help when a bike when past the lot!

'See mum motorcycles are cool'

The driver probably read the story about the Austrian lady.................

**Dave Lobster** · 5th January 2008, 08:22

If people drive too slowly, report them.

**McJim** · 5th January 2008, 08:49

Originally Posted by Dave Lobster

If people drive too slowly, report them.

I think current legislation is that it's an offence not to pull over when reasonably practical if you have more than 4 vehicles backed up behind you.

I saw a fair number of 'Killer Kampers' when I was out on 2nd Jan. Did the Southern Scenic route from Invercargill to Balclutha through Papatowai. Odd how they drive these things with the handbrake on.

**Grahameeboy** · 5th January 2008, 09:09

Originally Posted by McJim

I think current legislation is that it's an offence not to pull over when reasonably practical if you have more than 4 vehicles backed up behind you.

Free parking on the motorway then

**McJim** · 5th January 2008, 09:12

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Free parking on the motorway then

There are no motorways in New Zealand.....just really long car parks!

**BIGBOSSMAN** · 5th January 2008, 09:37

I've driven the M32, even been to Fishponds (no fish). Perfectly good stretch of well designed motorway (unlike the crap ones here).
She should really be euthenased immediately to avoid future problems.

**breakaway** · 5th January 2008, 09:52

What the fuck? She needs to learn some internet and order that shit online for door delivery.

**Ixion** · 5th January 2008, 10:29

I hope the NZ cops don't read that and get ideas. When you ride as slow as I do, the risk of getting an unspeeding ticket is a constant worry. That's why I have a radar detector, so I can speed up temporarily if there's a cop around.

**xwhatsit** · 5th January 2008, 11:35

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Was thinking that this could be a worry for a lot of drivers on the motorways in NZ

Certainly. For instance my commute takes me over Mangere Bridge. Speed limit is 100kph.

The amount of overweight people in people movers sitting at 50kph drives me spare. Coming from the Onehunga on-ramp there's simply not enough time to get up to speed if anybody's doing anywhere near the speed limit in the other lane. About the only time I wish for more power from my bike.

So now I come from Queenstown Rd on-ramp. The difficulty being so many times you get stuck behind a driver doing 80kph in the fast lane, while people are doing 50-60kph in the slow lane. Why? Motorway is near-empty. No traffic about.

Most offenders who take the Mangere Bridge off-ramp turn left towards Favona, not Mangere Bridge. Perhaps they're saving fuel? Or God simply wants them to take their time and piss off the non-believers?

**Ixion** · 5th January 2008, 11:40

They don't have licences. They work on the basis that the slower they go, the less likely they are to be stopped by the police. It works.

**huck farley** · 5th January 2008, 11:50

Originally Posted by AllanB

My horn did some overtime the other day behind a camper-van doing 50 on the open road back from Hanmer Springs. Man there was a huge pile of cars behind that one all bumper to bumper all very shitty - probably did not help when a bike when past the lot!

'See mum motorcycles are cool'

Why should they be in a hurry, they are on holiday. Probably from overseas and paying $200+ a day. NZ drivers have no patience at all, chill out.