What would you do to make the roads safer?

[Genestho]

I write a few lines and get a tome in response but trying to get this monolith back on topic I'll risk it ....

having cavassed a few claims people with more than just a little experience in aggregate (oh heck I know I'm going to regret this) it would appear that the percentage of motoring claims that involve a DUI is a shade over 1% (including both parties) ... oh shit now I've done it

can you keep the response to less than a page please ?

Ouch the tone on you. Bit of a rude way to get your point across?

I dont disagree that there are other factors that kill.
We are entitled to speak, educate and campaign on DUI matters, and DUI is a contributing preventable factor of road fatalities, so we are on topic.

I recon along with the kick in the guts, I earned that right when I buried three friends - yes my Husband was a friend too - in one go, some poor bastard nearly buried me.
I believe Candor buried her mother.

Claims where, Insurance? Nationwide? What are YOU talking about?
References please, was it you who said..

Put up, or shut up - but don't post compost and claim it's based on facts.
Break it on down brother

[scumdog]

Additionally the penalities available to the courts for DUI are severe and quite severe enough if their full weight is brought to bear.

Mwahahah, ya forgot to type 'if' in capitals sonny.....when the hell has ANYBODY received the full weight of the law for drink-driving.

First timer fine limit is $4,500, in reality it won't be more than $500, read the Court news, you will see a close link between the breath-alcohol level and the fine. (ie Blow 550mcgm and get a $500 fine)

And the only reason the disqualy is six months is because the law says it HAS to be six months...and as for jail...forget it!

[Quasievil]

Roads will never be safe so who cares, use them at your peril.

[FJRider]

actually - i really LIKED those suggestions about automatic fines for SLOW drivers and reducing the speed limit when it's raining

i'd like more emphasis put on suiting driving speeds to conditions .... this could include RAISING limits on good, open road ...

i'd also like to see a system of graduated licencing where skilled and experienced drivers were allowed to drive 30kph over the limit in areas that weren't built up

dreams ....

Impeding the flow of traffic does get instant fine...
Who gets to decide who is skilled and experienced... ???
Dreams...

[candor]

having cavassed a few claims people with more than just a little experience in aggregate (oh heck I know I'm going to regret this) it would appear that the percentage of motoring claims that involve a DUI is a shade over 1% (including both parties) ... oh shit now I've done it

IF you are speaking of insurance claims not claims of sobriety by m8s you surveyed who have crashed (?) on track etc...

maybe consider that as there is no entitlement to insurance if you were blung then it would be a fool who tries claiming. There are special niche market insurers who cover high risks like those with prior dui's, I'm betting that' not who you got your info from. And the dead tend not to file claims.

Your 1% is way off the mark (again) if it's bad not trivial crashes you speak of - we're looking at 28% of fatals with impairment factoring for official LTNZ figures. Official figures are known to underestimate - being based on incomplete raw data due to 12% of bods being non tested as too frazzled/cooked to get blood from, non testing of many suspects in non injury and some fatal crashes and there is non testing for drugs by Police whose advice informs official figures, due to legalities). Unofficial but good sources put sus substances at round 50% of serious crashes.

There are so many sources to back these ballpark figures up - from court records, to studies, to media reports re the stats... that I find it amazing you persist with your "DUI is an overblown myth" theory. Why would you...

OK I go with don't believe everything you read - but trust me you have grabbed the wrong end of the stick here, and run an Olympic marathon with it. I have to think you're only 1% serious. C'mon an issue that only resulted in 1% of a problem would never ever ever have gained or kept up any traction or public support!

Quite a few on this website have lost to impaired drivers - we're not 1%.
Say the upper estimate is 200 killed in the toll yearly are felled due to impairment out of a total of 20000 yearly deathsof all causes (Statistics NZ), then your chance of dying in a dui related way (as opposed to alternative means like Cancer) over 50 years exposure of hanging out on the road would rise to one in twenty, just by a quick reckoning.

[scumdog]

Roads will never be safe so who cares, use them at your peril.

Damn right, they are used by people - and amongst people you will find a plethora of fuckwits - the same ones you share the roads with.

[Genestho]

I dont think Motor Vehicle claims are indicative of the true numbers.

The Muppet who was indefinately disqualified, wouldnt have been able to get insurance paid out, even if it was his car..and the car that killed was not insured to begin with.
Without going into detail, there were 4 dead people in this case that didnt claim Motor Vehicle insurance.

And what about the number of passengers per 100 drink drivers killed?
Still, Im interested in what is said

(Minus the tone thanks)

[manicmedic]

Through my work I see far more drivers involved in accidents that have had some mind altering drug (usually alcohol) than those who are sober. Some are serious some are not. If you can't give the road your full attention for whatever reason, you should consider wheather to drive or not. We are preaching to the converted. How can we actively do something rather than just giving the keyboard a workout? 2c given.

Manic

[mstriumph]

...........Who gets to decide who is skilled and experienced... ???

.. the independant panel of Bikers who run the system of graduated testing/licencing of course ....

[this ALSO means that 90 year old short blind asian lady drivers will be rated too low to drive their volvos ...... hey - this gets better and better ]

[slofox]

Regarding whether or not the legislation is strong enough re drink driving:

I have just re-read this entire thread and have this to say......
For some, I don't think it really matters what the law says - there will always be lunatics who will go out and drive drunk regardless of how many prior convictions they have or what the law says or what risks they pose to themselves and other road users. Lock 'em up? Sure, but they get out one day. Confiscate the car? Not hard to get another from a mate or family member or just pinch one. Ban them from driving for life? They ignore it.

The only way to prevent these drivers doing their thing is to either lock 'em up forever (expensive for us all) or maybe fit every vehicle with an alcohol lock..(and I am sure the more inventive ones would find a way round that as well......).
I doubt we will ever stop drink driving completely. BUT I would have to say that in my lifetime the public attitude towards drink driving has changed dramatically and that can only be for the good. We have made some progress. We certainly need to make more. I'm just not sure how to get through those concrete heads.......

[ckai]

Regarding whether or not the legislation is strong enough re drink driving:

I have just re-read this entire thread and have this to say......
For some, I don't think it really matters what the law says - there will always be lunatics who will go out and drive drunk regardless of how many prior convictions they have or what the law says or what risks they pose to themselves and other road users. Lock 'em up? Sure, but they get out one day. Confiscate the car? Not hard to get another from a mate or family member or just pinch one. Ban them from driving for life? They ignore it.

... I'm just not sure how to get through those concrete heads.......

Agree. As has been mentioned. By the sounds of it, the drink drivers the do the majority of killing, are repeat offenders. That means they don't care about the law or their responsibility to protect other road users.

You can try and educate them all you want but there is always those that "know it won't happen to them" so don't give a shit.

Starting by better education of the new drivers/riders will drastically improve overall road usability for everyone. By educating the new, they are in a better position to avoid possibly danger from others. Yes, accidents will still happen but I believe this will help minimise the damage caused.

Until then, raising speed limits and the like, will not help make the roads better. We are protected from the minority of idiots. I'm the first to admit our speeds are bollucks but I don't want some young kid flying around a corner at the new "target" taking me out because he can!

Educated people educate others. It's as simple as that. Better drivers/riders breed more better drivers/riders. A very simple example, I'm no greeny, but being the age I am, I'm quite into recycling. Now I've changed my parents attitude to be that way also.

Educate, educate, educate - then the snowball will begin.

[FJRider]

.. the independant panel of Bikers who run the system of graduated testing/licencing of course ....

I'm independant..... I'm a biker.... (Panel beaters keep your distance...)

I'll be totally unbalanced...oops ... unbiased, but totally susceptable to bribes... when do I start... ???

[AllanB]

I'd ban hot women in tight/small clothing - dam distracting and dangerous when your blood is directed away from your brain while riding/driving.

[FJRider]

I'd ban hot women in tight/small clothing - dam distracting and dangerous when your blood is directed away from your brain while riding/driving.

I'd activly encourage it... enough dicks on the road now, we can afford to "lose" a few...

[Genestho]

Since the death of my Husband, one of the things I do now, is to raise awareness of both the consequences of drinking and driving and recidivist drink drivers.
I admit I am a work in progress myself.
I do not disagree there are other factors that kill innocent road users.
What this thread has taught me, is that we all believe in the way we believe, some are more passionate than others (I’ll stick my hand up!)

Im just an everyday person like anyone here at KB, a Mum really.

I make no apologies that I believe in what I do and I educate and campaign using my husbands story and the knowledge of the history of a recidivst drink driver and the people around him who could’ve stopped this if theyd thought about the consequences of their actions.
I know this has caused a huge amount of sadness and suffering for a lot of people.

Legislatively and personally it could’ve been avoided. I will never change my thoughts on this.
I know that my Husbands message has reached and changed alot of peoples habits (at this point)..and thats all I want here.

I want to avoid a circular debate and save repeating myself.

A forum like this is a great place to get info out to the general public, and only a minute part of what I do.

I guess if anything, I hope anyone that reads this thread can understand, that at the end of the day we are responsible for ourselves and our behaviour on the roads, but also that we can also take responsiblilty when others are unable to do so.

I wish to take this moment, to thank everyone for their input and opinions.
Go Safe, Merry Xmas.