It is forbidden to overtake on the right !?

**Wolf** · 7th March 2005, 08:14

Originally Posted by saiko

A 7.62mm round would have given more satisfaction...

5.56mm - pissy round that's less likely to kill outright, so you'll just have to shoot 'em a few more times...

**NordieBoy** · 7th March 2005, 08:25

Originally Posted by SpeedMedic

It's St John. But point taken.

The St John spelling police

Gets up my nose too.

The St John spelling police enforcement division

**vifferman** · 7th March 2005, 08:27

Originally Posted by Ixion

Haven't actually smashed any headlights since my Triumph days - been tempted a few times but it's not so easy now I don't carry a massive chain around my shoulders ("Oh I quite understand how you didn't see me mate. It's so easy not to see things. Oops, just like I didn't see your headlamp just now as I was idly swinging my security chain. Just didn't see it mate")

You sound like a guy I used to work with - he rode a Triumph and smashed some old guy's headlights with his chain because he U-turned in front of him.

Is this part of a Triumph ownership thing?

**bear** · 7th March 2005, 08:40

What about a pre-requisite to have good command of the english language?
Are these people driving on an international licence, maybe a brief exam on entering the country and a small reminder notice to place on the windscreen somewhere to remind then what side of the street to drive on.

**Wolf** · 7th March 2005, 08:45

Originally Posted by bear

What about a pre-requisite to have good command of the english language?
Are these people driving on an international licence, maybe a brief exam on entering the country and a small reminder notice to place on the windscreen somewhere to remind then what side of the street to drive on.

Saw a couple of rental bikes when I last visited Rotovegas and they actually had bright fluoro markers on them to point at the side of the road you should be on and warning labels to boot - I think they were multilingual, too.

Never seen anything like that in any rental cage - kinda surprising they'd put warning labels for someone as intelligent as a biker and not have bigger, clearer, simpler ones for cagers.

**outlawtorn** · 7th March 2005, 08:48

Maybe the government should make everyone who comes into the country re-take their driving test. Currently it's only a theory test and off you go, I've still got to do mine sometime to convert my SA driving license to a NZ one.

But I reckon it would be good revenue generation for the country and would make sure that everyone who has a license has passed a test.

And the test should be done in a manual car.........he he he

**vifferman** · 7th March 2005, 08:50

Originally Posted by bear

What about a pre-requisite to have good command of the english language?
Are these people driving on an international licence, maybe a brief exam on entering the country and a small reminder notice to place on the windscreen somewhere to remind then what side of the street to drive on.

Apart from "Keep Left" and left-pointing arrow stickers in the rental vehicles, there are now also big white direction arrows painted on many roads near tourist spots, as an aide memoire to foreign drivers immediately after they stop somewhere to do the touristy thing.

**Ixion** · 7th March 2005, 08:52

Originally Posted by bear

What about a pre-requisite to have good command of the english language?
Are these people driving on an international licence, maybe a brief exam on entering the country and a small reminder notice to place on the windscreen somewhere to remind then what side of the street to drive on.

He was clear enough about driving on the left, but still thought that on a multilane road the right lane was the slow lane and the left lane(s) were for overtaking. So he was driving in the right hand lane and every time he came up to someone slower he'd dive over to the left of them overtake and dive back to the far right. It was on one of his "return to base" dives that he nearly collected me. He thought that I was undertaking him (in the far right lane!). I just couldn't explain it to him. It was actually quite weird.

**Ixion** · 7th March 2005, 09:03

Originally Posted by vifferman

You sound like a guy I used to work with - he rode a Triumph and smashed some old guy's headlights with his chain because he U-turned in front of him.

Is this part of a Triumph ownership thing?

No, I knew Beeza and Matchy guys who did the same.
Some cagers, then as now, have an attitude that "Who cares, it's only a bike, out I go".

Back then (big) bikers were more ballsey than now. So we made a point of getting the message through to cagers that dissed bikes (deliberately doing Very Bad Things) that bikes were something that they wanted to watch out for.

Most of the "didn't see you" is cr*p. They actually see, their minds say, "Bike, no danger, who cares", and the bike doesn't register.

We made them think "Oh oh bike, danger, take notice".

Bet the guy who had his headlight busted didn't have any more SDSY moments.

**vifferman** · 7th March 2005, 09:22

Originally Posted by Ixion

Most of the "didn't see you" is cr*p. They actually see, their minds say, "Bike, no danger, who cares", and the bike doesn't register.

We made them think "Oh oh bike, danger, take notice".

Not just drivers, either.
A pedestrian crossing the road this morning forced me to stop in the corner - saw me coming around the corner, and could have stopped in the middle of the road and waited, but just looked at me and carried on walking.

I was very tempted to park the bike, run after her and tell her what happened to the last pedestrian that walked in front of me: leg busted in two places, and a week's holiday in hospital.

**bear** · 7th March 2005, 09:23

Originally Posted by outlawtorn

Maybe the government should make everyone who comes into the country re-take their driving test. Currently it's only a theory test and off you go, I've still got to do mine sometime to convert my SA driving license to a NZ one.

But I reckon it would be good revenue generation for the country and would make sure that everyone who has a license has passed a test.

And the test should be done in a manual car.........he he he

Probably a reciprocal agreement type thing with other countries, wonder what impact this would have with NZ drivers going to other countries and driving?

**Lou Girardin** · 7th March 2005, 09:26

Originally Posted by Ixion

Just tell them to hand them over, and tell them they can collect them at the nearest police station, "once you're fit to drive "

Then take them to the nearest cop shop and leave them with the watch officer. Tell him the owner will be in to collect them "once he's sobered up"

No intent to permanently deprive, so not theft. Actually no offense at all. And since I'd only do it when the "victim" was very much in the wrong, they're in no position to complain. He may have some explaining to do though when he collects the keys. So much the better

Haven't actually smashed any headlights since my Triumph days - been tempted a few times but it's not so easy now I don't carry a massive chain around my shoulders ("Oh I quite understand how you didn't see me mate. It's so easy not to see things. Oops, just like I didn't see your headlamp just now as I was idly swinging my security chain. Just didn't see it mate")

Actually there probably would be a couple of offences committed there. And, yes, you probably would be charged. The official line is 'better no justice than vigilante justice'.
As far as restrictions on tourists driving here, just remember that we'd be subject to the same restrictions when driving O'seas. I'd be a little pissed off if I had to pass a language test if I wanted to drive in Europe, or even the US. I'd have to learn to talk like George Dubya. Damn. Or is it Dayum?

**Lou Girardin** · 7th March 2005, 09:34

Originally Posted by Ixion

He was clear enough about driving on the left, but still thought that on a multilane road the right lane was the slow lane and the left lane(s) were for overtaking. So he was driving in the right hand lane and every time he came up to someone slower he'd dive over to the left of them overtake and dive back to the far right. It was on one of his "return to base" dives that he nearly collected me. He thought that I was undertaking him (in the far right lane!). I just couldn't explain it to him. It was actually quite weird.

The left lane is the 'fast' lane on Auck motorways. No-one uses it, you can go the length of the Takanini straight on some days and have it to yourself.

**Ixion** · 7th March 2005, 09:37

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Actually there probably would be a couple of offences committed there. And, yes, you probably would be charged. The official line is 'better no justice than vigilante justice'.

Collared a guys keys, handed them in, watch officer said "Thanks - good deed". Admittedly I did know in that instance that the guy was tanked.

I can see the public outcry now if the police tried a charge in that sort of case " Man charged with preventing drunk driver from killing people !!" .

(Actually I think that I've read this as official police advice - don't let your mates drink and drive, take their keys)

And if someone is doing something abysmally bad, I will assume that they are either drunk or under the influence of something else.

Nought to do with vigilante justice , just doing my public duty. (The smashed headlamps would be vigilante justice - but MY line is Fiat justicia , ruat coelum)

**Wolf** · 7th March 2005, 09:39

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Actually there probably would be a couple of offences committed there. And, yes, you probably would be charged. The official line is 'better no justice than vigilante justice'.

Just takin' the strain off'n the over-burdened police force, your honour.