NZ vs rest of world: Toughness and enforcement of traffic laws

**spudchucka** · 20th June 2008, 11:51

Originally Posted by Macstar

I think we all have a fairly good grasp of the current situation in NZ. I researched and posted some facts last year in another thread:

*In the last 12 months there have been 408 deaths on NZ roads, Police want to reduce this to 300.
*The instances of Police recorded speed camera offences (classified seperately to Traffic Offenses / infringements) have increased marginally from 363,578 in 1996/7 to 394,585 in 2005/6.
*The number of traffic offenses / infringements have increased from 513,563 to 1,064,489 in the same period.
*In 2004/5, (12 month period) a total of 1.6 million traffic infringements were issued (speed cameras and cop issued). If you consider that around 50% of Kiwis drive vehicles on the road (underage and old geezers), that means about 80% of NZ drivers received a traffic fine that year.

Question is, do other countries give 80% of their driving citizens traffic infringements on an annual basis?

This says more about the stupidity of the average motorist than anything else.

**Macstar** · 20th June 2008, 11:56

Originally Posted by spudchucka

This says more about the stupidity of the average motorist than anything else.

"Stupid" for not evading the law? or "stupid" for not complying?

**Swoop** · 20th June 2008, 11:58

Originally Posted by Macstar

*In the last 12 months there have been 408 deaths on NZ roads, Police want to reduce this to 300.

That is never, ever going to happen. Period.
The road toll sits around 500. The population has grown substantially, yet they still trot out the old propaganda of "under 400" (or whatever the favourite number of the day is).
They are attacking the sympton but not the cause, and the brainwashed cannot see this.

**vifferman** · 20th June 2008, 12:01

Originally Posted by Macstar

*In the last 12 months there have been 408 deaths on NZ roads, Police want to reduce this to 300.

Firstly, is that the Polis, or the bureaucrats?
Secondly, the statistics regarding road deaths and injuries are BOLLOCKS.
They should be stated as Deaths/injuries per vehicle kilometres traveled.

Originally Posted by spudchucka

This says more about the stupidity of the average motorist than anything else.

Not necessarily; it might mean that the laws (or enforcement thereof) are out of step with the will of the general public.
Aren't our civil servants (politicians, bureaucrats, and polis oroficers) supposed to serving US, and following the will of the people (at least, in theory)? If a large proportion of the public are deliberately choosing to disobey said laws, what does that tell us?

**vifferman** · 20th June 2008, 12:06

Originally Posted by Swoop

They are attacking the sympton but not the cause, and the brainwashed cannot see this.

Yup.
The Gubmint supposedly has a plan to lower the road toll (or is that Rode Troll?!?)
It's Education, Engineering and Enforcement.
Education consists of bullshit ads about if you speed, you're a criminal, and if you speed, you will die.
Engineering consists of robbing us blind with rad taxes, and NOT spending them on improving the roads. And if they are spent on roading, it's on cheescutters.
Enforcement consists of a blind focus on speed, not on other things that endanger our safe motoring, such as following too closely, inattention, driving a Japanese import, or being a braindead moron. 'Enforcement' should be renamed 'Extracting', as in "extracting dollars to finance election year bribes".

**Headbanger** · 20th June 2008, 12:08

I can't see anything wrong with having a target to aim for, And if reached, lower it again.

That aside, IMO safer roads and modern wagons have more to do with lowering the road toll then any police action, No matter how many tickets the policy hand out it doesn't take the "human" out of the equation. Speed doesn't kill, crashing does.

**vifferman** · 20th June 2008, 12:11

Originally Posted by Macstar

What are your thoughts on NZ's number of traffic laws

Too many, some of which are unnecessary, duplicating existing laws. Like, we don't need a law banning cellphones while driving - it's already covered under careless / dangerous use of a motor vehicle. If you cause and accident while wanking on on your cellphone, that should cover it.

The GreatUnwashedMasses have become brainwashed: every time something 'untoward' happens, they cry, "There should be a law against it!'" (Or, alternatively, "The Gubmint should do summat about tit!"

Fuck off! There are already too many laws, rules and regulations, and not enough of taking personal responsibilty for your own actions.

**Swoop** · 20th June 2008, 12:14

Originally Posted by Headbanger

I can't see anything wrong with having a target to aim for,

Yup. I have a target that I would like to arrive in my bank account (each week)...$10000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000.00

Glad I have a realistic target to strive for.

**firefighter** · 20th June 2008, 12:15

Originally Posted by Tank

Depends - I think in general that NZ is BETTER than most of the UK and US.

Ive driven a lot in both.

In the US - yep cities etc as mentioned above are not too bad - but drive between cities and every little hick town will try and get ya - its their main revenue stream and local coppers get cash bonuses for it.

In the UK you get pulled over a lot less - BUT there are over 4000 fixed speed cameras alone. In london they are everywhere.

Anyway -0 Ive driven here the best part of 15 years and only been pulled over twice - and Im not slow in the car. Im guessing its more how you drive - time place and all that

Well I drove from Las Vegas (Nevada) to Arizona, back up to vegas, up to Utah, back down to vegas, to L.A (California) and then up to San Francisco and hardly saw anyone getting tickets. I'd have to disagree on it being less harsh here than the states, we cruised at between 10-15 mph over the limit everywhere, 10 mph is 16 km/h and 15mph is 24 km/h, and here we get pinged at 11km/h over in a passing maneuvere......I'm pretty sure it's safe to say it's way harsher here......

**Forest** · 20th June 2008, 13:48

I've been around the world, and driven in many different countries.

In my opinion, the biggest problem with NZ isn't the enforcement of traffic laws but rather the absolutely shitty driving. Seriously, NZ has some of the worst drivers I have ever observed in first world countries.

I don't know why this but I expect it is a consequence of many separate factors e.g. inadequate driver training, easily obtained driver licenses, cheap import vehicles, entrenched hoon culture etc

**Swoop** · 20th June 2008, 13:56

Originally Posted by Forest

Seriously, NZ has some of the worst drivers I have ever observed in first world countries.

NZ is a first-world country?
Buahahahahahahahaha

Tui time!

**popelli** · 20th June 2008, 18:12

I left over 9 years ago

used to collect 2-3 speeding tickets a year in NZ and get stopped 2-3 times a year in random breath tests

havn't been stopped or ticketed once in 9 years of riding in the uk or europe

visited nz about 5 years ago, plods every where, driving standards totally appalling, worse than most third world countries and the traffic in auckland was more congested than wher eI live in the uk