I THANK a cage driver!

**What?** · 18th August 2003, 06:47

Originally posted by Marmoot
Although, don't forget, some (a lot) western drivers are just as bad. Lookout for middle-aged 3-piece-suit man with chained-glasses in a BMW 5.

Woman, any age, driving (?!?) a Volvo, any age.

**Coldkiwi** · 18th August 2003, 12:47

although this is about thanking cage drivers... I;'ll diverge into cage driver bashing anyway .. because I have a few theories (reduced in dribble for your convenience)

1) bikers are often better because they are generally more interested in self improvement. Not all bikers are (ie. some Ulysses members who have ridden for years but have not tried to advance their riding skill (skill being different from speed!)) interested in self -improvement but a much higher percentage than the car drivers who are driving because its a convenience thing. Bikers are riding because its generally an interest thing.

2) Problems relating to asians driving in New Zealand may well be linked to the way their culture in asaia operates. It can be seen in the way Asians excell in activities requiring concentration on rote learnt activities. Asian students typically do very well at sciences and mathematics where large amounts of information and formulae need to be remembered, but are often not as successful in activities requiring a very lateral 'outside the square' approach... such as art. The guts (as I think I see it) is that when confronted with a panic situation, an asian driver may well resort to what they know how to do rather than considering all the options available.: 'I'm going too fast therefore I hit the brakes as hard as I can to stop as fast as I can'.

While this may be the best course of action in some situations, a better solution that many of us (as alert and paranoid bikers) would contemplate is :

'I'm going too fast, brake to get off as much speed as I can without locking up and loosing control, start moving into my emergency area I've already decided on and then start looking for other cars doing unexpected things"

thoughts?

**Big Dog** · 18th August 2003, 13:54

I think it is a cultural thing. I know in some countries drink driving causing an accident only carries a fine, unless someone dies, without a permanent record! It is no worse than speeding!

Then they don't even need to learn our road code to drive here.

I try to be aware of these differences but still swear in my helmet a lot

Also a lot of immagrants are used to driving in countries where they are on roads so packed that forcing their way in is the only way.

I have to say my driving was nowhere near as good before i Got into bikes

And it has in my mind any way gotten better with each class of license i have achieved, because you become more aware of the short comings of each type of vehicle. Some bikers will disagree because I am now a much more cautious driver (read that slower).
I like thailands rule that the smallest vehicle always has right of way. Hence so many mopeds and bikes.

With this in mind should it be a requirement to get a Motorcycle license before you are allowed to drive a 1/2 -2&1/2 ton killing machine?

Hell no!
Could you imagine the acc levies!

But this is all

A big thanks to the four cars and two motorcyles who stopped to help me down in Puke.

Particlarly the single female who stopped in the middle of nowhere at 7oclock at night to help a pair of 100kg plus bikers

And the silver Triumph

**jrandom** · 18th August 2003, 13:58

Originally posted by Coldkiwi
I have a few theories

1) bikers are often better because they are generally more interested in self improvement

Right on bro. Cages are all about hauling stuff from A to B, and people take that mindset when using them. How excited do you get about dragging shopping round the supermarket in a trolley? 'coz that's all there is to cars unless you're roadracing or rallying (and I'd *still* rather race a bike, or go motocrossing). Bikes offer almost limitless opportunity for skill advancement and personal enjoyment, no matter where you're riding them. Most riders take advantage of that, and it affects their general attitude toward road usage. QED.

2) Asians excell in activities requiring concentration on rote learnt activities... not as successful in activities requiring a very lateral 'outside the square' approach

thoughts?

Well, dude, living in Howick, you'd know, wouldn't you?

Any resident Asians on the forum (yoohoo, Mr Tse...) care to comment? I really have no idea whether this is just a popular stereotype, or if there is actually a cutural bias toward rote-learned, 'in-the-mold' behaviour.

Tell you what, though, when a car wanders onto the motorway sideways going 40kmh too slow, or jumps out in front of me through an intersection without looking, 80% of the time it's an Asian driver.

And the only guy I know personally who had a multi-vehicle accident (ie, not a highside/lowside/dumb drop) on a bike had it when he T-boned a Korean student in a Skyline turbo after said student pulled out in front of him as he (on the bike) was going straight through an intersection with ROW.

He didn't have any trouble getting dough out of the guy to pay for the damage to his VFR, though... try having that much luck with your typical scruffy white westie bloke

**SPman** · 18th August 2003, 20:59

Originally posted by Marmoot
ah, KK. You're still young
Once you're 25 you'll realize how hard it is for old people to RELEARN something

Well....speak for yourself!

**MikeL** · 18th August 2003, 20:59

My observations about Asian drivers:
They fall into 2 main categories:
1. women and older men: they tend to drive quite slowly and with an expression of great concentration on their face; they obey all traffic regulations except watching out for other traffic - the concentration often doesn't extend to checking that nothing is coming towards them with right of way. I ride through the Royal Oak roundabout every day and at least once a week I would get knocked off by an Asian (woman) driver if I didn't anticipate their action. The expression of utter amazement on their face when I sound the horn and flash my light is priceless!
Because generally they drive so slowly, their frequent accidents don't usually have serious consequences.
2. young men, usually students, driving cars way too powerful for their very limited experience. These are the ones who kill themselves and others at an alarming rate. 19 or 20 years old, away from home for the first time, driving on roads very different from their home country - if indeed they have had any experience at all. It's a good thing that generally they're not interested in motorbikes. According to a dealer I spoke to who occasionally gets an enquiry from a young Asian, they are basically uninsurable. He told me that of 2 or 3 that he knows of who bought a bike, the average survival time was about a week.
In case anyone thinks this is just an Asian-bashing rant, I should explain that my work brings me into contact with Asian students every day. Once you get past the language and cultural barriers, they are just ordinary young people with similar hopes, worries and concerns as Kiwi kids. It's just that their background hasn't prepared them for the freedoms and choices (and responsibilities) that we are brought up with.

**Big Dog** · 18th August 2003, 21:11

One Indian I sold a car to told me he has to buy a new car every month on average for his malaysian wife, usualy cause of an accident.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

**SPman** · 18th August 2003, 21:25

My observations about Asian drivers:

FEK!

SCREECH!

SKREEEK!

CRUNCH!

"Why you fall off? I stop!"

F**$@#!!!!!!!

X 2 !

**Marmoot** · 18th August 2003, 22:46

I am now qualified as Asian Boyracer with overpowered rear-wheel drive sports car

**Dave** · 19th August 2003, 09:57

After reading this thread i got curious and did a google search on asian drivers-seems its not just an nz problem-complaints from all over the states and canada. I particularly liked the story about the car that pulld out of a driveway onto the wrong side of the medium barrier and proceeded to drive the wrong way up the road going against the oncoming traffic. or is that Tlaffic.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 19th August 2003, 20:15

ahahah dave

reckon.

this is actually not a bad thread

maybe we should make a proper one titled to suit? lol!

**Coldkiwi** · 19th August 2003, 21:42

Originally posted by Marmoot
I am now qualified as Asian Boyracer with overpowered rear-wheel drive sports car

possibly... but from what I've seen you clearly have some damn decent road skills and I'm sure motorcycling has made you one of the more aware road users in NZ!

lets face it, we're all a menace to society (my boy racerish flat mate assures me I am no exception and he's quite right!) ... some drivers just manage to menace society and damn near kill everyone around them too!

**Marmoot** · 19th August 2003, 22:18

Originally posted by Coldkiwi
possibly... but from what I've seen you clearly have some damn decent road skills and I'm sure motorcycling has made you one of the more aware road users in NZ!

lets face it, we're all a menace to society (my boy racerish flat mate assures me I am no exception and he's quite right!) ... some drivers just manage to menace society and damn near kill everyone around them too!

Thank's Rich, but I have to admit I'm much worse in cars than on bikes.

I can tell you, driving cars well is much more difficult than riding bike. Although, riding bike safely is the most difficult thing in the world (second to riding bike safely and fast).

**Lou Girardin** · 25th August 2003, 08:38

A couple of years ago I did driver testing for the AA. The Asians that had prof instruction were fine. The others, my God!
What really bugs me is, making eye contact with Asian drivers and they still pull out into your path.