If your job was to reduce road deaths what would you do?

[The Stranger:Me]

The way NZ have the rule imo is correct.

Oh dear, a heretic.
How dare you apply common sense and logic.

[Mikkel]

I think the way NZ have it is much safer.

What you think and the statistics shows seems to be somewhat at odds...

Countries that drive on the right-hand side of the road still use the same system we do. Left turning traffic give way to all.

Obviously they are not using the same system if they are driving on the right-hand side of the roads and left-turning traffic has to give way. I may be wrong, but I do believe that NZ is the only country in the world where people drive on the left but gives way to traffic coming from the right - and neither there is there any countries in the world where people drive on the right and gives way to traffic coming from the left. (That's of course disregarding give way signs and assuming that there are any traffic rules.)

The main issue, with how it is here in NZ, is that the person turning left has to divide their attention three ways between oncoming drivers wanting to turn right, potential cyclists on their left-hand side and traffic passing on the right-hand side coming from behind that will block the motorist trying to turn right. Given the powers of observation of the average motorist that is asking a lot.

[light]

Obviously they are not using the same system if they are driving on the right-hand side of the roads and left-turning traffic has to give way. I may be wrong, but I do believe that NZ is the only country in the world where people drive on the left but gives way to traffic coming from the right - and neither there is there any countries in the world where people drive on the right and gives way to traffic coming from the left. (That's of course disregarding give way signs and assuming that there are any traffic rules.)

When I say the same system I mean you don't have to change anything you already know when going to a country that drives on the right-hand side of the road. Road rules are the same. Yes they are on the right side so turning left is the opposite to us due to them being on the other side of the road. The rules are the same tho. when turning left they give way to all.

You think that if the changed it to right hand turns give way to all the powers of observation change at all? You still have to watch for on coming traffic and not getting in the way of the traffic flow + looking out for the left turning car and ped's + bikes etc. The difference is that you are in the middle of the road waiting for everyone else to work in perfect unison so you can cross over the lane of traffic to get into the right hand road.

Left hand turners only have to pull over to the left hand side as much as they can... and make sure no one is turning right into that same road. If it's clear they go if it is not then wait. They are off to the side of the road stationary and only have to worry about some one rear ending them due to being blind. Also if they have cars coming up behind them thus stopping the right hand turning car... they can make a safe left hand turn freeing up their lane again.

It just means the right hand car... once he has a gap to get into that right hand lane can do so knowing he doesnt also have to give way to the left hand turning car.

Geeez I hope that made sense.

[Mikkel]

Geeez I hope that made sense.

You hope in vain.

[The Stranger:Me]

What you think and the statistics shows seems to be somewhat at odds...

There's stats for this? Do tell, do tell.

[SPman]

I have driven in europe for about 3 years and obviously in NZ also and I think the way NZ have it is much safer.

So do I - it makes sense when you think about it. I still find myself trying to do it in country roads over here.....

[magicmonkey]

Being a pom and coming over here, I've been shocked by the appalling driving standards. The standard is so low that you frequently see people coming around a blind corner of the wrong side of the road (I've mainly seen cars doing this but a couple of bikes as well).

1: Raise the age for getting a license, 15 is way too young to be on the public roads,. Around the 18-20 mark should be about right in my mind.

2: Revamp the written test. No more 'idiot' questions on the theory test which you could answer with no training. If you're going to test, test for something more than a pulse

3: Revamp the practical test. All driving tests should have a section in busy business districts during rush hour and have a section on the motorway, possible with these being two separate tests. If you want to know how sensible a driver is, force them to pay attention to other drivers (rush hour) and see how they handle speed (motorway).

4: policing. In the UK you can get pulled over for nothing, it's quite totalitarian but when you're driving around in something quite capable of killing someone it's good to know that there are people out there making sure you're doing it right. Over here you can get away with anything from busted brake lights to cutting people up so long as you don't go over the speed limit. seems like there's far too much focus on making 'revenue' and not enough on actually making the roads safe.

Excuse the rant, road safety tends to be a bee in my bonnet!

*EDIT*

Another thought, not sure if you have this over here or not but every driver should be able to prove they can perform basic maintenance on their vehicle. The simple sutff like checking oil and water, checking tread depth, basic understanding of engine components etc. Getting properly maintained vehicles with drivers who have a clue how to keep them that way is almost as important as knowing how to drive in my book...

[imdying]

2: Revamp the written test. No more 'idiot' questions on the theory test which you could answer with no training. If you're going to test, test for something more than a pulse

So very bloody true

But then we'll be discriminating against retarded Asian migrants that can't spell their name in English let alone read tests or road signs.... we can't have that now

[magicmonkey]

So very bloody true

But then we'll be discriminating against retarded Asian migrants that can't spell their name in English let alone read tests or road signs.... we can't have that now

pah, I say you should discriminate against idiots regardless to their skin colour

[MarkH]

4: policing. In the UK you can get pulled over for nothing, it's quite totalitarian but when you're driving around in something quite capable of killing someone it's good to know that there are people out there making sure you're doing it right. Over here you can get away with anything from busted brake lights to cutting people up so long as you don't go over the speed limit. seems like there's far too much focus on making 'revenue' and not enough on actually making the roads safe.

Here in NZ we get the occasional blitz on WoF & Reg, the rest of the time you can easily drive around all the time with neither. If you don't speed then you don't even need a license. I would love to see more policing of traffic lights & give ways - too many retards think that speeding through a red light that changed a couple of seconds ago is OK. Red light runners & people that fail to give way or pull out without looking carefully are often responsible for injuring motorcyclists - cops should do something about shit like that.

It really pisses me off that the police put so much effort into fining the driver going 11kph over the limit and so little effort into catching burglars & car/bike thieves. I think that anyone that has had a vehicle stolen would agree that more focus on catching thieving scum rather than bothering motorists that are safely driving along a little above the speed limit would be a bloody good idea.

[magicmonkey]

Here in NZ we get the occasional blitz on WoF & Reg, the rest of the time you can easily drive around all the time with neither. If you don't speed then you don't even need a license. I would love to see more policing of traffic lights & give ways - too many retards think that speeding through a red light that changed a couple of seconds ago is OK. Red light runners & people that fail to give way or pull out without looking carefully are often responsible for injuring motorcyclists - cops should do something about shit like that.

It really pisses me off that the police put so much effort into fining the driver going 11kph over the limit and so little effort into catching burglars & car/bike thieves. I think that anyone that has had a vehicle stolen would agree that more focus on catching thieving scum rather than bothering motorists that are safely driving along a little above the speed limit would be a bloody good idea.

And the lights thing is so easy to police; they don't even need actual people (cameras do this job in the UK) and they're a revenue earner (more important for them than me but if it needs selling to them, this is the way to do it)

Heh, I could rant about other drivers all day, still doesn't make me perfect though. My reggo is overdue at the moment (got the WOF though as that's a road safety thing rather than just a tax) I will head down and get it some time soon but I've just been far too busy

[nosebleed]

Being a pom and coming over here, I've been shocked by the appalling driving standards. The standard is so low that you frequently see people coming around a blind corner of the wrong side of the road (I've mainly seen cars doing this but a couple of bikes as well).

1: Raise the age for getting a license, 15 is way too young to be on the public roads,. Around the 18-20 mark should be about right in my mind.

2: Revamp the written test. No more 'idiot' questions on the theory test which you could answer with no training. If you're going to test, test for something more than a pulse

3: Revamp the practical test. All driving tests should have a section in busy business districts during rush hour and have a section on the motorway, possible with these being two separate tests. If you want to know how sensible a driver is, force them to pay attention to other drivers (rush hour) and see how they handle speed (motorway).

4: policing. In the UK you can get pulled over for nothing, it's quite totalitarian but when you're driving around in something quite capable of killing someone it's good to know that there are people out there making sure you're doing it right. Over here you can get away with anything from busted brake lights to cutting people up so long as you don't go over the speed limit. seems like there's far too much focus on making 'revenue' and not enough on actually making the roads safe.

Excuse the rant, road safety tends to be a bee in my bonnet!

I've got bit of a lead foot problem in the car which will probably head over onto bikes as well so I think that 'gutless' might not be such a bad place to start, it's keep me out of trouble a lot more than something with more kick!

Having said that I may well find myself changing my mind down the road!

careful...teh internetz is watching!

[Grahameeboy]

LOL... golden handshakes! But what about all that free travel? And money to live in your own house?

To reduce road accidents, we need to:
*Raise the driving age from 15. Frontal lobe development isn't even close to complete. Agree
*Crack down way harder on drunk drivers. Yep and no ACC pay outs
*Make driving tests more comprehensive and make them more regular for older drivers. Agree
*Get rid of Cheesecutters!!!!!! Not sure this has caused many deaths to date
*Massive advertising campaigns teaching people how to indicate at roundabouts...agree but easy to avoid
*Massive advertising campaigns telling people to watch for bikes..and cars...it's not just bikes that have near misses
*Phase in mandatory ABS and TC for new bikes from 2012...cost!! We already complain about Registration etc
*Improve road surfaces everywhere...they are not that bad..ride to the conditions
*Get in line with the rest of the world and change the giveway rule to the person turning left has the right of way over the person turning right. Agree, causes too much confusion...
*Make motorcycle lanes on the motorways...silly idea...125's v 1000's fighting for the same lane
*Get rid of 70km/h limit for learner bikers..yep..don't do it for cars
*Crack down harder on idiot drivers/riders racing in the streets....just those racing!!
*Govt subsidies for race track use....$150 - 200....yeah right. Why should Govt pay for our fun
*Ban gangs under 'conspiracy to commit crime' laws....is that a safety issue or had you run out of ideas

Enough for ya? Man, I'd better get back to work!!

...............................

[Grahameeboy]

So very bloody true

But then we'll be discriminating against retarded Asian migrants that can't spell their name in English let alone read tests or road signs.... we can't have that now

And Kiwi's can read signs.........at least Asians (and they are not bad) have an excuse

[imdying]

It's not an excuse in an English speaking country.