Dangerous road markings

[oldrider]

I agree entirely, I've been wondering whether the overenthusiastic double yellows contribute to the road toll by causing frustration for a while - I can easily see it happening.

It would be nice if something could be done about this, either by a mass submission of signature stating that this is madness, or (2nd best) by adding a number of 'slow vehicle' bays or more passing lanes. The issue with slow vehicle bays is that half the slow vehicles seem to think they're traveling more than fast enough and don't pull over.

I haven't myself seen the 'keep left' arrows on the apex of corners, but if that's the case then that's just pure madness and someone needs to smack the line painters one. Preferably at the same time as beating shitless the red-tape-mad official who who insisted they be painted everywhere.

They won't be satisfied until there is a continuous set of double yellows from North Cape to the Bluff and these arrows every 100 metres each way to boot!

It sure is a whole lot cheaper than real road maintenance!

[Mom]

I enjoy a bit of speed as well as the next man, but if I know that there are more than the usual hazards about, I can still quite happily "cruise" along.

Well even in your cruise mode you would be at risk from some of the hazards I saw this weekend on the road. Man made ones these things, I am not talking about the fallen rocks, or the washed gravel from the roadsides due to heavy rain.

Safe riding is all about being aware of on road hazards, however there is no excuse for poor workmanship, and some of the road repairs in Northland are well below standard. The simple act of sweeping the road upon the contractors return to remove signage should be a part of the standard these repairs are completed to. It is quite usual to see fine gravel on some of these corners months after the repair. To run a new surface half or three quarters of the way around a corner and there to be 20 - 30mm difference in height is not acceptable, to run seal covering only 3/4 of the width of the lane is not acceptable, yes all these things are visible and a hazard, no they have not as such caught me out, but one of the roads specifically loose ship some months after the repair caused at least three bike to be written off in the same area over the summer. So in my eyes the contractors and council need to be taken to task.

Amen! Bloody dangerous roads up this way. Hmmmmmmm, wonder if I can interest ACC in improving our chances of safely negotiating the rural roads up this way. Damn sure I can convince them that road condition can be an injury category, perhaps then we may get some action.

[schrodingers cat]

No, they simply speed up for fear they will be beaten by someone overtaking them. Can not count the number of times I have given up attempting to overtake something that has sped up exponentially once they are in the left hand lane of a passing oppertunity.

The 'Dog and Lemon Guide' once had an interesting peice of editorial. Long story short, research had shown that the greatest factor contributing to road user speed (or lack thereof) was road design. If the road FEELS/SEEMS narrow then most people slow down. When it opens up they FEEL more comfortable to drive faster.

It is frustrating but I think this type of road user (all too common) isn't even aware that they are doing it.

Interstingly it also said that road design was the greatest factor in road fatalities. Our politicions and Police are well aware our road are crap. The SLOW DOWN message is cheaper than fixing the roads

I think its a shame that they don't run a campaign that says 'Get out of the fucking way!'
Also affix that message to every campervan in the country...

Unfortunatley, I'm sure many people feel they are saving your life by restricting you to their idea of a 'safe' speed

I've always taken the view to let people past and if (god forbid) they have that accident then its on a different piece of road to what I'm on.

It a pity the Police don't spank a few of these non-speeders and give them a curry up. In terms of good will it would go a looooooong way to building goodwill

[Mom]

It a pity the Police don't spank a few of these non-speeders and give them a curry up. In terms of good will it would go a looooooong way to building goodwill

I have only seen that once. Coming back from Paeroa a while ago and we were caught in the endless que of traffic doing 60-70kph. Was such a long line of vehicles (we were in the car) we culd not see the start. Once we got out on the straights we saw a house bus simply dawdling along totally oblivious to his discourteous driving. He was also oblivious to the cop a few cars behind him who had obviously been following him for a while. When the bus did not pull over to let the rest of us get on the cop flicked on his lights and pulled the bus over. We were a fair distance back but as we came alongside the bus I am sur I could hear the cop reading the riot act to the driver pointing out the number of vehicles he had held up. Hope the fine was HUGE!

[sunhuntin]

they have those arrows down south, but ONLY just outside rest point entries and exits, the places where tourists are most likely to stop and then pull out on the wrong side. i never saw any on corners. course, its been a couple of years, so its probably changed by now.

who decides that road markings need to be done, and their placement? certainly someone needs to be pulled up about it. in the wet, those corner arrows could be fatal even for a car driver, never mind a biker.

[Swoop]

The Yellow Paint Monster will cause the same effect as fluro vest wearing. Too much, and the message is lost.

Giant arrows pointing to the left should be painted on the straight roads. Useless fucking kiwi drivers who cannot keep left to save themselves...

[george formby]

I've just sent a letter to our council up here about the the gravel not sweeped from the corners where they have done repairs, specifically the Tutakaka Rd and the old Russell Rd. Also mentioned in the letter the placement of directional arrows near corners and the potential hazard these create to Bikers. Trouble is I'm just one person, and it's easy for the powers that be to ignore. Actually I would dearly love to see or be in a position to fund some legal action against the council & contractors who don't complete their work by clean / sweeping the lose chip after such repairs, along with their latest little habit of sealing around a corner but only 3/4 of a lane leaving a lovely ridge to ride up and down whilst leaned well over. That might make them rethink the poor and often uneven repairs they complete.

PM me if you would be interested in discussing a Northland safety group type thingy so we can get a bit more weight brought to bare on these issues. The whole region suffers the same lack of diligence.

[george formby]

I reckon the arrows on the road have little effect on overseas drivers, they always seem to be looking at the scenery. Signs at the road side stand out far better.

[Berries]

who decides that road markings need to be done, and their placement?

For state highways NZTA or their consultants. These double yellows going in appear to be more for enforcement reasons than visibility issues therefore I suspect the Police have a hand in it.

I reckon the arrows on the road have little effect on overseas drivers, they always seem to be looking at the scenery. Signs at the road side stand out far better.

Signs get shot to buggery, and what would it say other than two opposing arrows ? I think arrows marked on the road can act as a good reminder, particularly if you are on the wrong side when you go over one the 'wrong way'. Hopefully you go over the arrow and realise your mistake before a logging truck comes round the corner.

[Hypobru]

These reminder arrows to keep to the correct side of the road are common in some European countries, but they are generally painted in the center of the road where the broken white lines are. The idea of these arrows has merit, but like many good ideas, something gets lost in translation. I'd imagine that it would be feasible for a 4 wheeled vehicle to lose traction in poor conditions if it hit road paint in a corner too so it seems a bit thoughtless on the part of the road painters to put any paint at all in a corner. apologies to anyone out there who does this for a crust, but if 'thought' was a strong point I doubt they'd be making a living painting lines on our roading system.

[Berries]

In the UK those arrows on the centre line are used ahead of no passing lines to tell you you need to get back on your side of the road - the same meaning as the five yellow stripes before solid yellow lines over here.