Our "so called" licensing system (rant)

**matt420** · 11th August 2003, 12:52

Hi All,

Ive been lurking around for a bit but havent posted anything until now....

I decided it was time to get my restricted after a couple of years of being on a learners, after paying the $88 to the "testing station" I was booked in.

From the LTSA site I was expecting a 20 minute test, where at the end they would evaluate my riding and tell me what was dangerous etc etc.

After purchasing a L plate on the way to the AA and fixing it to my plate with cellotape

I was ready for the test.

A guy from the AA checked out my bike etc and gave me some brief directions of where I should ride. My suspicions were immediatly arised when I saw he was driving a SUV.....No ear piece for me either.

I rode out of the Westgate car park and then onto Don buck Road. Turned down Royal Road and then through a stop sign. He then pulled me over and said "well thats it you passed"..took about 6-7 minutes. After he had finished writing out my licence I said "well was there anything dodgy that I did or should I have done something different?" His (slow) responce was " No your sweet mate". I then said "You do have experience with riding bikes dont you?"

His answer was "NO"

What a f****en joke!!!!!! As bikers we are expected to pay extra on our regos for "ACC levies" and the morons (well this one) testing us dont even have a clue...have I missed something here or what???

Just my thoughts anyway if anyone is still reading this rant

Any one with simalar stories out there?

**mangell6** · 11th August 2003, 13:09

The joys of a graduated licence system.

Could be like some states in the US where if you are 21 or over you can purchase a Suzuki 1000 or a Hayabusa as your first bike and have NO real riding experience.

But I guess that your point is that a real test should be completed for your 88 dollars. I would guess that eight of your dollars goes to the tester for their time (6-7 minutes).

Probably find that they have an eighty dollar an hour charge out rate. Could he see you checking in your mirors, observing traffic, explaing all you actions - all this they do when the do the car test.

But at least you have passed

and can move on to another bike, like a HD!

Mike

**jrandom** · 11th August 2003, 13:37

Originally posted by mangell6
But at least you have passed and can move on to another bike, like a HD!

Mike

Nope, 'e can't.

He's just moved from a 'learner' to a restricted. The only benefit will be that if and when he gets pulled over now, he won't be facing a $400 fine for not displaying an L-plate (does anyone actually wear one of those all the way through their learner's license?)

Now it's another 18 months before he can get a 'real' license. (6, if he's over 25...)

**georgedubyabush** · 11th August 2003, 14:40

yeah, and that extra 30kmh.

he'd probably be the same guy to test you for a warrant of fitness too, and wouldnt know a brake from a clutch lever.

Has anybody done the defensive riding course or whatever to cut their restricted down to twelve months? I really want to travel Europe with a full international licence in my pocket.

The guy at AA that processed my licence was most of the way through doing it for the full when it was meant to be a restricted before he unfortunately realised.

Chances are the computer woudve told him anyway

**NZred** · 11th August 2003, 14:51

Would you have prefered a harder test ,.. and then be failed due to some tiny pathetic reason.

The guy has tested you not only on your limited ability,.. but also your manner and approach to other road users. After reading your RANT,.. maybe he was wrong.. or.. maybe he has allowed you the freedom to grow and appreciate riding your bike.

Ideally a propper testing facility would be nice.. .. but .. in what suburb,.. and would you then like to travel to it to have that test?

Enjoy the privalage

Its the cars that need a tougher test !

**matt420** · 11th August 2003, 16:29

Originally posted by NZred
Would you have prefered a harder test ,.. and then be failed due to some tiny pathetic reason.

True, when I took my cage driving test years ago they were quite picky about dumb things like the interior light being on etc etc. At least I didnt have to "describe hazards etc etc.." on the fly. Though it was spitting a bit and I wondered if my L would stay on

The guy has tested you not only on your limited ability,.. but also your manner and approach to other road users. After reading your RANT,.. maybe he was wrong.. or.. maybe he has allowed you the freedom to grow and appreciate riding your bike.

Ideally a propper testing facility would be nice.. .. but .. in what suburb,.. and would you then like to travel to it to have that test?

Enjoy the privalage

Its the cars that need a tougher test !

No argument from me on this one!!! remember they ARE out to get you..the text messaging drivers are the ones that disturb me.

cheers

**Antallica** · 11th August 2003, 16:42

Sweet, my restricted will be a breeze then

**Kokopelli** · 11th August 2003, 16:51

Originally posted by matt420
Hi All,

A guy from the AA checked out my bike etc and gave me some brief directions of where I should ride. My suspicions were immediatly arised when I saw he was driving a SUV.....No ear piece for me either.

I rode out of the Westgate car park and then onto Don buck Road. Turned down Royal Road and then through a stop sign. He then pulled me over and said "well thats it you passed"..took about 6-7 minutes. After he had finished writing out my licence I said "well was there anything dodgy that I did or should I have done something different?" His (slow) responce was " No your sweet mate". I then said "You do have experience with riding bikes dont you?"

The way I see it the SUV was part of the test. He followed you and saw that you didn't panick and run the stop sign (you did stop for it , right?) I am sure you don't need to ride youself to have some idea if a person has control over their bike, you obviously did.

On the otherhand, I would've liked to see the following:
A short trip onto the motorway to observe you merging and indicating correctly and maybe change lanes a couple of times.
A short distance over land to watch you take control of your riding space.
A hill start.
A stoppy
A wheely.

just kidding (the last two anyway)

**mangell6** · 11th August 2003, 16:55

Keep forgetting thats how the licencing thing works, must be an age thing.

IMHO all vehicle drivers should learn to drive on gravel and slippery surfaces. This way people will learn to control their vehicle. Just like a lot of people used to before they started straightening roads because people couldn't stay on them.

Many years ago when I decided to get a licence the cop followed both of us all the way, about 5km in a car, yet when I did my car test a few years later he stood on the steps of the building and told me to drive up to the intersection, turn right, do a U turn and come back and park. He could observe the whole area from the steps.

I thought that was cool and refrained from using the hand brake when doing the u-turn.

Times change and personal responsibility gets eroded even more.

Mike

**Motu** · 11th August 2003, 17:17

I'm with NZred too,you showed you had confidence in your riding ability,showed your bike handling skills - he knows you can ride,now you are let loose on the roads to LEARN! You couldn't see him,you don't know what he was doing - he was sitting high,that was a good choice of chase vehicle...apart from the fact he admitted to knowing stuff all about bikes,sokay,you passed.

I did a figure 8 in a parking lot - I looked over at the cop and was talking to someone else...that was over 30yrs ago,I guess I got the hang of it.

I failed my truck and trailer twice - first time got all the questions wrong,second time stuffed up backing the artic into a parking place - I got down on my knees in front of him and pleeded mercy...after awhile he gave a big sigh and with a silly grin gave me a full license.

Ya just gotta know how to please these guys.

**Coldkiwi** · 11th August 2003, 17:26

yes.. despite LTSA's licencing guidelines, I have yet to hear of someone actually get given an earpiece and have the licencing expert follow them and do all the hazard avoidance questions etc as is done in a car.

I still think you should get your restricted automatically after 9 months if you can proove you've been commuting in auckland traffic and haven't been killed by a cage. If you can survive the next 6 months commuting that also includes two 300km rides on NZ main 'highways' you should get your full!

**georgedubyabush** · 11th August 2003, 19:23

Originally posted by Motu

I got down on my knees in front of him and pleeded mercy...after awhile he gave a big sigh and with a silly grin gave me a full license.

Ya just gotta know how to please these guys.

youre leaving yourself open to interpretation a bit there arent you?

'pleaded mercy'???

is that what they called it back then?

**MikeL** · 11th August 2003, 20:29

Originally posted by georgedubyabush
youre leaving yourself open to interpretation a bit there arent you?

'pleaded mercy'??? is that what they called it back then?

Oi, none of that, thank you. Impressionable and innocent young minds like KK might be reading this...

Serious point: there does appear to be a discrepancy between the riding and driving tests. Car drivers (especially the young) are routinely failed on athe most ridiculous grounds. My son, a very competent learner (guess who taught him??

) was failed because at one stage he didn't keep his hands on the steering wheel in the approved "ten to two" position. The testing officer and I almost came to blows over that...

**georgedubyabush** · 11th August 2003, 20:47

Originally posted by MikeL
Oi, none of that, thank you. Impressionable and innocent young minds like KK might be reading this...

Serious point: there does appear to be a discrepancy between the riding and driving tests. Car drivers (especially the young) are routinely failed on athe most ridiculous grounds. My son, a very competent learner (guess who taught him?? ) was failed because at one stage he didn't keep his hands on the steering wheel in the approved "ten to two" position. The testing officer and I almost came to blows over that...

An amputee would be shit out of luck huh

**NZred** · 11th August 2003, 21:37

Gezzz Goerge

My son, a very competent learner (guess who taught him?? ) was failed because at one stage he didn't keep his hands on the steering wheel in the approved "ten to two" position. The testing officer and I almost came to blows over that...

That is a bit rough,..

10 to 2 is not a legal requirement.. is it ?

Bugger .. I would fail that test too..