Is it too easy for tourists to come here and kill people?

[oneofsix]

You do have some weird views. Without commenting on the crash in question, if you are happily rolling along at 100km/h and you see a car on a side road heading towards a crossroads intersection ahead and he does not look like he is slowing down at all then you would be a complete idiot to just keep going at 100km/h. You don't need to stop, but you do need to be not at the intersection at the same time as him. There would be no traffic chaos.

This type of crash happens all the time, the fact this one had a tourist driving means everyone jumps on tourists when it could just as easily have been a local. So many rural crossroads are laid out poorly with one shitty sign competing against shelter belts and power lines that take your eyes straight through the intersection.


Totally agree with your comments re sunstrike, but that sign had absolutely nothing to do with the crash in the picture.

The stop signs are often put at intersection because the vehicle with right of way has no hope of seeing the vehicle approaching on the side road and the vehicle on the side road has little chance of seeing if the way is clear with out stopping.
That said I get pissed off when they put stop sign where there should be give ways and approaching a stop sign I can see the way is clear unless I stop, enough time providing I don't stop, but because it is a stop sign I have to stop and wait for the queue stuck turtle.

[R650R]

How many people could seriously react in time anyway with how common late braking is with busy lives these days.
A trucky mate of mine demolished a rural post van that rocketed out of a driveway. He saw it coming down the hill and assumed it would stop.
But with no driver it wasn't stopping, postie had turned around and pointed it at road and forgot to put handbrake on!!!
But yeah as others have said be aware for anything alright.

[Katman]

I also get the impression that some tourists feel that their campervan will roll over at the merest hint of a corner, the tension is palpable when your stuck behind them.

Ensuring one doesn't add to their nervousness is always a good move too.

[george formby]

Ensuring one doesn't add to their nervousness is always a good move too.

Heh, I keep my distance and stay in the mirror. Not gonna create a problem for meself and I'm not in a hurry. A bit of courtesy goes a long way. The majority of slower vehicles, trucks, buses etc indicate to let me pass when it is safe. As it should be. Campervans, home grown grey nomads or otherwise, considerably less so.

[swarfie]

Concur. But I would guess that your intuitiveness with other road users is very conscious & constant. Spidey sense. You jump on the bike & tune in. I don't think this is the average mentality of road users, years on a bike with an open mind & the ability to learn kind of make us a bit different.
On a recent ride with a mate & my n00b G/F I spotted an elderly gentleman about to exit a golf club. All the alarm bells rang, I knew he was going to pull out, sure as the sun comes up. My mate who was tail end charlie felt the same thing. My G/F thought he might but was sure he would not..... I was well out of dodge but my G/F stuck to her guns & ended up being forced out of lane as he barged his way out. No harm done but the only difference between the 3 of us was attitude. 2 assumed he would pull out & were proactive, 1 assumed he would not & had to be reactive.
Just another day on the road.

+1
Out for a ride with my daughter on pillion on Saturday . She's been driving but not riding for 12 years now and made comment (helmet intercom) on how I backed off the throttle when cars were coming up to us on intersections. Until I am sure they've seen me I'm careful to position myself in a defensive place on the road. That attitude has saved me numerous times. Same on my pushy on my daily commute to work, you wouldn't believe how many cagers don't see you....oh sorry...DON'T LOOK

[AllanB]

I see on the news tonight a 16 year old exchange student has lost control and driven into a house in Auckland. She does not hold a license and it was a 200sx Nissan she was driving...... so after mummy and daddy are told to pay costs will she be deported?

[unstuck]

I backed off the throttle when cars were coming up to us on intersections. Until I am sure they've seen me I'm careful to position myself in a defensive place on the road. That attitude has saved me numerous times. Same on my pushy on my daily commute to work, you wouldn't believe how many cagers don't see you....oh sorry...DON'T LOOK

Yep, safer to assume that they are not going to give way, and lose a second or 2. Live longer that way, and enjoy the ride more.

[unstuck]

I see on the news tonight a 16 year old exchange student has lost control and driven into a house in Auckland. She does not hold a license and it was a 200sx Nissan she was driving...... so after mummy and daddy are told to pay costs will she be deported?

Sold to the mob as an "Escort" more likely.

[unstuck]

So if you were the judge in this case you would charge the guy in the right for not giving way??? You have a real sick attitude if you ask me.
For all you know he could have had a truck and trailer behind him and if he had given way the outcome would be the same would it not as they don't have the stopping ability of cars.

Driven a few trucks have you? Surprising how quickly you can pull up a rig these days.

[Virago]

So if you were the judge in this case you would charge the guy in the right for not giving way??? You have a real sick attitude if you ask me.
For all you know he could have had a truck and trailer behind him and if he had given way the outcome would be the same would it not as they don't have the stopping ability of cars.

Has anyone told you that you're completely unhinged?

[george formby]

So if you were the judge in this case you would charge the guy in the right for not giving way??? You have a real sick attitude if you ask me.
For all you know he could have had a truck and trailer behind him and if he had given way the outcome would be the same would it not as they don't have the stopping ability of cars.

You are an argumentative, simplistic, fantasist.
Or, put another way.
You post a load of cobblers.

[bogan]

Driven a few trucks have you? Surprising how quickly you can pull up a rig these days.

Must be on acount of the many roundy rubbey thingos...




Check out this shit, that last one especially, in the wet no less

[unstuck]

Bloody great technology in those new volvos. The old F10 would have still been going after going over the top of that car.

[scumdog]

Whilst I take your point Mr Dorsetcase, it is also true that we hear little about the thousands of kilometres that tourists here travel without mishap.

I have seen plenty of really fucking stupid driving by locals too. And have had a few near misses (and one crash) at such hands.

Having said that, I doubt I would drive at all in a country that used the opposite side of the road. Too used to driving on the left - I'd probably fuck up at least once with who knows what consequences.

Never had an isisue with that in the U.S. - on both 'bike and car.

[george formby]

The problem with your theory is that traffic on all side roads are often obscured by hedges and trees and you would have to stop and give way at all those intersections too. So while it has theoretical merit in practise it would be unworkable on all roads. If it is something people fear they just need to buy a bigger safer vehicle perhaps as I did after being an innocent victim in a head on collision.

The only unhinged ones are those who want drivers with right of way giving way. Lucky people like you are not part of the justice system.

Those posts together scare me.