Moron effing tourists

[fliplid]

So, given the weight restrictions etc, how do these beggars get around driving a "campervan", and tow loaded trailer/4WD?

[Grahameeboy]

So, given the weight restrictions etc, how do these beggars get around driving a "campervan", and tow loaded trailer/4WD?

I often think the same about Kiwi drivers

[Bikernereid]

I sadly/happily have not has the experience of riding/driving in NZ. I have spent a fair bit of time pillioning and being a passenger in a car and truck and one thing that I did notice is that like so many of the Brits a huge amount of a lot of Kiwis who drive car/4WD DO NOT INDICATE. For the love of God do these morons not realise that it is observe, indicate, manouver not manouver, near miss a motorbike and then look and indicate!

Tourists may have something to answer for but by the looks of it your driving instructors have a hell of a lot to answer for too.

And we assume that all camper van drivers are from overseas.

NZ driving standards are poor compared to the States, UK, Europe, Aussie and sad to sad even Africa, all places that I have driven in.

Having said that you just get used to it and drive accordingly.

Last year a guy went to change lanes and saw me just in time. He put his hand up to say sorry, at the lights he wound his window down and apologised again...........he was an Aussie. In 9 years, that is the first time someone has acknowledged they were wrong instead of the ususal arrogant look....."what are you doing in my space"

We have one freak accident involving a tourist..............and Kiwi's find a way to say that they are not bad..bit like a year ago when it was Asians to blame.

[Grahameeboy]

I sadly/happily have not has the experience of riding/driving in NZ. I have spent a fair bit of time pillioning and being a passenger in a car and truck and one thing that I did notice is that like so many of the Brits a huge amount of a lot of Kiwis who drive car/4WD DO NOT INDICATE. For the love of God do these morons not realise that it is observe, indicate, manouver not manouver, near miss a motorbike and then look and indicate!

Tourists may have something to answer for but by the looks of it your driving instructors have a hell of a lot to answer for too.

I have been here 9/10 years and although I have not been back for a few years it is so nice to drive in the UK.........drivers are couteous, less near misses....

[Bikernereid]

I think you should talk to sAsLEX about driving in the UK he found it somewhat frustrating to say the least. And I have to agree with his attitude. If you are in the fast lane then bloody stick your foot down or move over.

Some of what you are saying is right but as someone who does put my hand up to say thanks is is quite rare for others to do it. People here are becoming less and less courteous, maybe cos more cars are on the roads and people are getting more & more pissed off with congestion.

After riding to Grantham from Pompy on tomorrow I will let you know how it goes and how many near misses we have.

I have been here 9/10 years and although I have not been back for a few years it is so nice to drive in the UK.........drivers are couteous, less near misses....

[cold comfort]

As reported, 3 tourists have killed 6 NZer's in the last 6/52, 5 of whom were bikers. Unfortunately (as the photos in the ODT sho) it is not only tourists who are guilty of occupying the wrong lane, though their transgressions have horrendous consequences and, from what i can see, are not being adequately addressed. Bikers continue to be sacrificed on the altar of the almighty tourism (the same one which gives us giardia, rocksnot, pollution and unrestricted sale of NZ land to foreigners).
It was also reported the wrong lane issue was also due to recidivist drunk drivers and cellphone users. Yet while locals can expect their licences to be pulled for exceeding the speed limit by a relatively small margin, these obvious killers fail to be dealt to.

[Grahameeboy]

I think you should talk to sAsLEX about driving in the UK he found it somewhat frustrating to say the least. And I have to agree with his attitude. If you are in the fast lane then bloody stick your foot down or move over.

Some of what you are saying is right but as someone who does put my hand up to say thanks is is quite rare for others to do it. People here are becoming less and less courteous, maybe cos more cars are on the roads and people are getting more & more pissed off with congestion.

After riding to Grantham from Pompy on tomorrow I will let you know how it goes and how many near misses we have.

Maybe but if you compare number of cars in UK and NZ then why are drivers in NZ so bad when there is hardly any traffic and it is easy street and they have an appalling road toll per head of pop in comparison.

[Grahameeboy]

As reported, 3 tourists have killed 6 NZer's in the last 6/52, 5 of whom were bikers. Unfortunately (as the photos in the ODT sho) it is not only tourists who are guilty of occupying the wrong lane, though their transgressions have horrendous consequences and, from what i can see, are not being adequately addressed. Bikers continue to be sacrificed on the altar of the almighty tourism (the same one which gives us giardia, rocksnot, pollution and unrestricted sale of NZ land to foreigners).
It was also reported the wrong lane issue was also due to recidivist drunk drivers and cellphone users. Yet while locals can expect their licences to be pulled for exceeding the speed limit by a relatively small margin, these obvious killers fail to be dealt to.

How are they killers? That multi fatality tourist accident was a freak accident, not even partially intentional like say a drunk driver.

People are going to die on roads with lumps of metal whizzing around.

And that camper van lady was dealt with. Okay she may still have her licence but she paid $'s and still had to deal with the consequences of what she did.

[scumdog]

Maybe but if you compare number of cars in UK and NZ then why are drivers in NZ so bad when there is hardly any traffic and it is easy street and they have an appalling road toll per head of pop in comparison.

Cos nobody taught most of 'em to DRIVE.

They just somehow learned to steer (mostly) the car and use the pedals a bit in a rudimentry fashion.

FFS some can't even drive a manual, a lot don't even know how to change a tyre or check the oil.

End of driving lesson

[Grahameeboy]

Cos nobody taught most of 'em to DRIVE.

They just somehow learned to steer (mostly) the car and use the pedals a bit in a rudimentry fashion.

FFS some can't even drive a manual, a lot don't even know how to change a tyre or check the oil.

End of driving lesson

But what do the Ltsa do???

I agree to some extent that automatics make driving lazy....although to me it should mean you concentrate on the road more as you have less to think about but for some reason that is not true.

But with a manual it is harder to drink your latte, use a mobile phone etc

In India, the test involves going along a straight stretch of road.

[Bikernereid]

I guess you guys do have a hell of a lot more automatic cars but as far as I understood automatics don't yet indicate by themselves!! I don't quite know what you driving lesson requirements are but maybe if you made it as hard to get a car license as you do to get on a bigger bike then maybe this might assist in an improvement in driving skills.

Or maybe if everyone who wanted a car licence has to have a bike licence (250cc) first then it might foster a better awareness of road conditions, other road users and improvement in driving capabilities when they do get in a car.

As for Indian drivers, don't even go there.

But what do the Ltsa do???

I agree to some extent that automatics make driving lazy....although to me it should mean you concentrate on the road more as you have less to think about but for some reason that is not true.

But with a manual it is harder to drink your latte, use a mobile phone etc

In India, the test involves going along a straight stretch of road.

[maxworldbiker]

How slowly do you ride that a campervan needs to overtake you on a bend??

Its not a question of how slowly I might be going, or how slowly my newbie friend might be going on her l-plate, its more of a case of how quickly some of those twats are trying to take the bends. Reality check - some of those campers are big and bulky but they can also tramp, when the foot goes down, so don't be stupid enough to make the mistake of thinking big = slow, coz it aint necessarily so, and such an assumption can cost you your life.

Incidentallly, in using the term "tourist", I was actually including those kiwi people who drive the damn things too. In a crippling fit of self doubt this afternoon, after reading the responses here which seem to assume I meant foreigners only, I consulted the God of Syntax - my trusty monolithic Collins Complete and Unabridged - for its definition of "tourist". Not only does it have splendid definitions of the F word, the C word, and that rather nasty American M word, it does endorse my own use of the term "tourist" to mean holiday makers in general, not necessarily specifically foreigners. Deffo reads: a person who travels for pleasure, usually sightseeing and staying in hotels So kiwis who want to get to and from places, without the added cost of hotelling it, get campervans too. Its probably cheaper per night than hotels for the whole family + petrol etc. So it aint just the foreigners we need to be afraid of... its the home-grown tourist, too!

They're just as guilty, no argument there! What the hell, lets blow em up anyway!!!

[Usarka]

Isn't Finn touring in a campervan?

[cold comfort]

How are they killers? That multi fatality tourist accident was a freak accident, not even partially intentional like say a drunk driver.

People are going to die on roads with lumps of metal whizzing around.

And that camper van lady was dealt with. Okay she may still have her licence but she paid $'s and still had to deal with the consequences of what she did.

These forum reposts seem to be like txt messaging in that few seem to get the point/intent of the comment. I did not single out tourists as "killers" and acknowledged locals, including the drunk and terminally incompetent/stupid cell phone users (who don't indicate) as people who habitually drve on the wrong side of the road!! Its the DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD that is the killer for all of the above reasons and others. It is this that needs more focus than it is currently receiving, in my opinion

[tri boy]

Perhaps the solution is to require kiwi drivers (certified and approved by various authorities, of course) to cheauffer them on that road? Gainful employment for kiwi's and also allows more gawping time for the tourists and their cameras.

I humbly offer my "Skills" to the Swiss/Swedish, and Brazillian female Olympic gymnastic and diving teams if they ever wish to tour NZ.
Payment can be arranged before, during and after the tour.

More seriously though, the more popular we become as a tourist destination, the more tolerant and aware m/cyclists need to become. It, (the masses of vans) are not gunna go away, so we need to adapt, and stay alert.