Article in today's Herald (Feb19) NZers driving mentality

[PrincessBandit]

As I sat sipping my latte in Newmarket this morning, i had a squiz through the first section of the Herald as there was an article that looked too interesting to pass up reading. Reviewing NZers driving skills and attitude. Basically the bottom line was that while, generally speaking, the skill level of our drivers was not too bad (ok, not that great either) very few had ever completed any formal training designed to improve their existing abilities; and that it was far too easy to get that initial piece of plastic entitling a person to be in control of a potential weapon. Yet that didn't seem to be so much the issue as our attitude once behind the wheel - the standout word was "competitive". Generally we seem to get this overdose of competition mentality as soon as we get behind the wheel of our car. Yes, it was done from a cage perspective; don't think motorbikes rated a mention. But it doesn't take too much of a leap of intuition to wonder if the same mentality applies to other forms or motorised transport.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, surely wouldn't apply to motorbikes though ay?

[No FX]

Dont worry Princess- 95% of NZ drivers are better than average

[Sanx]

I simply don't know where this theory that NZ drivers are too 'competitive' comes from. Based upon my highly scientific (i.e. what I've happened to notice) observations over the last six and a half years, and comparing it to the way people drive in the UK, Europe and the States, the only competition going on is one to see who can be the slowest and most indecisive.

NZ drivers are generally too slow, have little idea what's going on outside the confines of their cage, cannot keep a consistent speed and have no idea about looking ahead or anticipation.

If I had a dollar for every time I've been stuck (when in a cage) behind some fuckwit in a Mazda Bongo who takes half a mile to accelerate up to 50, I'd be a pretty rich man. Likewise, the number of times I've seen someone come to a complete stop at a giveway sign before actually looking to see if the junction's clear. Likewise, the number of times people pull out of junctions without the slightest look in the direction of oncoming traffic.

Competitive? No. Fucking useless? Absolutely. Put these people in London, Paris or New York for a day, and the murder rate would go up considerably. And with good justification.

[Ixion]

I'd agree with that. My observation is that NZ drivers are , to an excessive extent, disassociated from driving. They don't pay attention, don't think, don't take any notice of their surroundings.

I suspect the complaints about "competativeness" actually come from the dozy twits who object to others being focused on what they are doing.

[skidMark]

Stop sipping your latte and get on your bike, i do not read newspapers for the fact it is rarely anything positive.

life is depressing enough facing death at the end to be reading about all the worlds problems. Reading about things that will never ever have any effect whatsoever on me is a waste of time.

like this thread, as i say better things to do.

[Mikkel]

If there is no proper driving training there's only "monkey see, monkey do" left to teach people how to drive and colour their motoring attitude.

Where does that leave us if a significant percentage of roadusers are either poor drivers and/or have an inconsiderate and competitive attitude.

I do disagree with you Sanx and Ixion. A lot of Kiwis are very competitive drivers - noone is going to pass them. But hey hey, don't go breaking any laws! What it boils down to is this:

-It's a race - whoever gets there first wins and the stakes are high!
-There are traffic laws to be ignored and speed limits to be observed!
-If you can win over someone (no matter how petty!) and it pisses them off it's all good.

End result: People hogging the passing lanes at 5 km/h below the speed limit (just to be sure), people passing other vehicle with a relative speed of 2-10 km/h, a complete unwillingness to keep left and let people who want to drive faster get past (if I'm not breaking the law, then neither are YOU!), and the list goes on and on and on.

[Pwalo]

I think it's pretty simple. Lack of attention, and lack of good manners. And a bit of impatience. (Which is probably tied up with the manners bit).

[jonbuoy]

Meh - I've seen worse - Spain, Italy, and the M27 on a Monday morning aint much better........

[MSTRS:Me]

As I sat sipping my latte ....

That was your first mistake. A large chardon-ay would have been much more useful...improves your driving ten-fold.
Actaully, I partly agree with what you are saying...insofaras NZ drivers for the most part are not 'up there' in terms of driving skill and road etiquette. Not so sure about the competitiveness thing tho...for me, I like to be in front because I can't stand being dictated to when to brake etc. Those speed advisory signs are just a guide (for all except trucks) and they are veeeerrryyy conservative. There is nothing more frustrating than being caught behind Mabel who thinks that 10kph below the posted speed is just right.

[ElCoyote]

Dont worry Princess- 95% of NZ drivers are better than average

In their own mind........right?

[Ixion]

If there is no proper driving training there's only "monkey see, monkey do" left to teach people how to drive and colour their motoring attitude.

Where does that leave us if a significant percentage of roadusers are either poor drivers and/or have an inconsiderate and competitive attitude.

I do disagree with you Sanx and Ixion. A lot of Kiwis are very competitive drivers - noone is going to pass them. But hey hey, don't go breaking any laws! What it boils down to is this:

-It's a race - whoever gets there first wins and the stakes are high!
-There are traffic laws to be ignored and speed limits to be observed!
-If you can win over someone (no matter how petty!) and it pisses them off it's all good.

End result: People hogging the passing lanes at 5 km/h below the speed limit (just to be sure), people passing other vehicle with a relative speed of 2-10 km/h, a complete unwillingness to keep left and let people who want to drive faster get past (if I'm not breaking the law, then neither are YOU!), and the list goes on and on and on.

I agree with you about those effects. But I don't think they're caused by competitiveness, rather by (as you say) incompetence and stupidity. And lack of awareness. So many drivers drive along in a little bubble oblivious to anything outside their steel cage, except for the few feet directly in front of them.

So, when cagers accelerate on passing lanes, is it competitiveness , or just that incompetent drivers slow down when the road seems narrow (scarey) , but feel more secure when it's nice and wide.

Similarly, the dolts who sit in the right hand lanes - I overtake them and motion them leftward (hand motioning behind my back). In my mirrors I often see them look startled and, yes, move left. They just don't THINK.

There are, certainly, aggressive and comeptetive drivers. But you will get some of those wherever you are, human natur ebeing what it is. And I think their number much less than the unthinking unaware incompetent fools.

[The Pastor]

its not stupidity, its lack of awareness and auto pilioting, if it were stupidity, when they think about it they wouldnt be able to change there attitude. it is easier to auto piliot at car (sit and drive without thinking) than to drive the car. the reverse is true for bikes. you just can't auto piliot for very long times on the bike.

[Mikkel]

I agree with you about those effects. But I don't think they're caused by competitiveness, rather by (as you say) incompetence and stupidity. And lack of awareness. So many drivers drive along in a little bubble oblivious to anything outside their steel cage, except for the few feet directly in front of them.

So, when cagers accelerate on passing lanes, is it competitiveness , or just that incompetent drivers slow down when the road seems narrow (scarey) , but feel more secure when it's nice and wide.

Similarly, the dolts who sit in the right hand lanes - I overtake them and motion them leftward (hand motioning behind my back). In my mirrors I often see them look startled and, yes, move left. They just don't THINK.

There are, certainly, aggressive and comeptetive drivers. But you will get some of those wherever you are, human natur ebeing what it is. And I think their number much less than the unthinking unaware incompetent fools.

I don't know. You could be right, but it's hard to say.

One thing that got my blood in a boil was talking to a mate about the lack of lane discipline in NZ. He actually said something to the effect: "It's the city, you can not be in so much of a hurry as to justify speeding. If I'm sitting in the righthand lane I'm not going to move left - and if you push me (indicate you'd like to pass as such) I'm quite happy to slow down a bit to piss you off!"
Mind you, this is coming from an otherwise intelligent and mature fella. I gave him a rather unfiltered piece of my mind on the subject and got a bit offended.

[ambler]

I don't know if competitive is quite the right word, I would say impatient and quick to become confrontational. But definitely a lot of people cannot stand having someone in front of them, so competitive is still a pretty good description.
My biggest gripe is the way people make the motorway rush worse. When the traffic gets slow and crowded I tend to leave a good big space between me and the car in front, since this is a good way to keep the flow smooth and speed it up again (if everyone does it). But as soon as there is a 50m or so space, people from other lanes jam it up again - and of course the car behind me will be right up my arse as well as if to say I'm going too slow!?!? If the car in front of me is doing 60kmh, then the fastest I can go is 60kmh regardless of the space between us. Seems like NZers are still not familiar enough with traffic jams to stop making them worse. And of course having irate cagers making sudden pointless lane-changes is the last thing a biker needs.

[007XX]

Sorry, but I'm with Sanx on this one...

I'd be very pleased to take some of the NZ Road facktards I see around on a daily basis, and throw them in the "Avenue Des Champs Elysees" at peak hour...

They'd really be awakened as to what "Get the F*&k out of the way, ya moron" really means...

I would definitely not call Kiwis competitive drivers. Slow to react maybe, and definitely challenged when it comes to enlist in a defensive driving course...It has been compulsory in many countries to do so before you can obtain a driver's licence, be it for a bike or a car.