NZ Police: Safety or $$$ (A little fuel to the fire)

[duckonin]

Every person applying for or renewing their licence should be made to attend a defensive driving course along with a practical run in a suitable vehicle, rated 1-10 if you do not exceed an 8 or better no licence, this should be mandatory for both.....
There are to many people that do not know the road rules and are a liability at whatever speed they drive at, most drive powerfull vehicles outside of their capabiltys hightened when they unlease the power on the open roads after having spent all year in a suburban environment..(loss of control) using the power to pass (yep I can do it) WHAMO another head on....
Caught using a cell, eating your lunch combing your hair at the lights or what ever, or doing anything else which would take your attention off the job of driving, instant bus ticket handed to u to use for the next six months, no good fineing most as they either do not or cannot pay any way, make people realize they will be stung hard...Those that can afford a fine think it is a joke to be fined a couple of hundy pay it then back into it, remove the problem that caused the problem there would be a lot of moaning pricks riding around on push bikes with ample time to think out what they will do when they get their vehicle back..

[bomma]

Every person applying for or renewing their licence should be made to attend a defensive driving course

i did a defensive driving course and seriously it was a COMPLETE wste of time!!! you learn nothing because all ou do is sit there and copy missing words into a book....it is basically pointless....

...along with a practical run in a suitable vehicle, rated 1-10 if you do not exceed an 8 or better no licence, this should be mandatory for both.....

but i like this idea though!!! in fact, i reckon there shud be mandatory testing every 2 years or something just to ensure that people on the road arent a danger to those around them and themselves!! i wudnt mind being tested every second year if i knew that it was ACTUALLY helping to make the roads safer for me

[light]

but i like this idea though!!! in fact, i reckon there shud be mandatory testing every 2 years or something just to ensure that people on the road arent a danger to those around them and themselves!! i wudnt mind being tested every second year if i knew that it was ACTUALLY helping to make the roads safer for me

I would mind, its at a cost that this would happen. A waste of money if you are a good driver.

The best idea I read in here is the "green wave" one. I have over in europe and i have questioned why this isnt in place in NZ quite a lot. Not only does it stop the frustration of driving in cities but it also allows traffic to flow more freely.

I got a ticket recently on the way down to rotorua from auckland, it was for doing 111km/h in a 100km/h area. Now as some have said "your over the speed limit" which is true. My arguement is this... Back roads behind Hamilton, long straight roads with few cars on it. I saw the lights of 2 cars ahead and slowed down as they got closer to me because thats just what I do as a safety thing on open roads with cars coming towards me. She turns and pulls me up. asks me why I slowed down when I seen her. My responce was i didn't slow for her I slowed for oncoming traffic as a safety precausion.
Now I think I may have been doing a little higher than 111 originally but like maybe 115, I slowed more and more as i got closer to them to the point I passed them at about 95ish. she gives me a ticket and tells me that if the roads were dry she wouldnt have pulled me up.
ok so there is a 10km/h grace where it takes into account that your speedo might be out slighty, I slowed down more as they came closer to me for safety reasons and I still get a ticket with a half ass responce like "cos of the weather" I mean honestly!

/rant over

[DougieNZ]

Now as some have said "your over the speed limit" which is true.

Now I think I may have been doing a little higher than 111 originally but like maybe 115,

/rant over

Hmmmmmm......

So I guess I'll put you in the:

"I'm SAFE when I speed - everyone else is UNSAFE when they speed"

or

"why are the cops picking on me?"

camp then.

You were over the limit. You got pinged. Where is the problem?

[swbarnett]

Secondly, if you really are against the government getting your hard earned cash for their coffers there is an easy way to avoid them getting their hands on it. Slow down.

This is like saying if you didn't want the Gestapo to shoot you you shouldn't have joined the resistance. Two words - Civil Disobedience. If enough people act against a misguided law there may be a chance it will be changed into something more sensible.

[DougieNZ]

Civil disobedience...

OK - You go first. Speed everywhere and don't stop for the cops if/when ytou get detected. Let me know how you get on - that's of you are still alive of course...

The gestapo comparison is perhaps a little thin my friend....

However, we are all entitled to an opinion....

[swbarnett]

Hi All,
With all the talk about stats - How do you measure the amount of people that get given a speeding or other ticket, take stock of their driving and DON'T get killed on the road...

I've had a few tickets and the only time I've ever changed my driving behaviour after being pulled over I was not given a ticket. Personally I don't believe the fine system is any type of deterrent at all.

[scumdog]

I've had a few tickets and the only time I've ever changed my driving behaviour after being pulled over I was not given a ticket. Personally I don't believe the fine system is any type of deterrent at all.

Neither do I.

[avgas]

How many tickets does it take to save a life?
Could all of you who have died while speeding or due to speeding related causes please speak up, we are trying to argue the situation!!!
Oh my

[Brian d marge]

Civil Disobedience. If enough people act against a misguided law there may be a chance it will be changed into something more sensible.

This is NZ we are talking about

Last time they got up set was over Rugby , and they failed to notice someone buying up NZ dollars

Which led to SIR Douglas having a go , which led to the mess its in today

Nope ...Keep going NZ ... doing well




Stephen

[DougieNZ]

How many tickets does it take to save a life?
Could all of you who have died while speeding or due to speeding related causes please speak up, we are trying to argue the situation!!!
Oh my

But surely you only mean the "unsafe" speeders?

Not the "safe" speeders - they will never have an accident.......

Hmmmmmm

[swbarnett]

Civil disobedience...

OK - You go first. Speed everywhere and don't stop for the cops if/when ytou get detected. Let me know how you get on - that's of you are still alive of course...

Change usually starts with a lone voice. Over time a ground swell develops and you get to the point where like minded individuals start rebelling en mass. Eventually the voice of the people is heard by the Government and laws are changed. Idealistic I know. In NZ the lone voice is allowed to be shot down because of general apathy.

If you put a frog into boiling water it sill jump out. If you put a frog in cold water and slowly heat it to boiling the frog will die.

The gestapo comparison is perhaps a little thin my friend....

However, we are all entitled to an opinion....

I agree that the comparison is thin, but it is there. They knew the consequences of their actions but did it anyway. Doing a reasonable speed for the conditions that just happens to be above the speed limit is the same. I know it's illegal and don't complain if I get caught but I reserve the moral right to live my life as I see fit with no harm to anyone else.

[Grahameeboy]

I think Northumberland took out their Cameras and noticed a drop in the road toll................

We cannot blame the state of the roads. They aint that bad plus you drive to the conditions.

You would also be surprised at how low the average speed x injury / fatality's is....certainly less than the speed limit.

However, speed is the only tangible way to ticket people, unless they have an accident and of course stopping someone for speeding at 11k over speed limit may pick up a drunk driver, unlicenced, disqualified driver so in one respect there is a positive.

What the Govt should do is tell the Police to just give warnings for 6 months, instead of dishing out speeding tickets and see what effect this has on the road toll......my bet would be either no difference or lower but who knows.

Then you would have your evidence and answer.

Cannot remember where it happened now but a long while back in the Uk the cops stopped controlling traffic during peak times and traffic actually flowed significantly better.

Cops just doing their jobs...............when we often complain when they don't.

[geoffm]

I think Northumberland took out their Cameras and noticed a drop in the road toll................

We cannot blame the state of the roads. They aint that bad plus you drive to the conditions.

Mate, you have to get out more. NZ roads are crap, and getting worse. They are noticeably better in the South Island than the NI. I noticed the difference as soon as I go off the ferry after living for 2 years down south, with regular trips between Akl and Chc. They have also got noticeably worse over the years I have been riding bikes. Riding to the conditions means 10kph with a guy and a red flag in front, to warn you of the potholes, gravel, unsignposted slips, washouts, ripples, diesel, etc, etc.

[swbarnett]

However, speed is the only tangible way to ticket people,

So speed is penalised because it's easy to spot, not because it's actually a safety factor? What about black vehicles? A ticket for being invisible perhaps?

unless they have an accident and of course

This is the ONLY empirical way to tell if someone is truly dangerous. Anything else is subject to opinion.

stopping someone for speeding at 11k over speed limit may pick up a drunk driver, unlicenced, disqualified driver so in one respect there is a positive.

So does random stopping and I don't like that either.

What the Govt should do is tell the Police to just give warnings for 6 months, instead of dishing out speeding tickets and see what effect this has on the road toll......my bet would be either no difference or lower but who knows.

Then you would have your evidence and answer.

This would probably do a world of good for Police reputation and morale.

Cannot remember where it happened now but a long while back in the Uk the cops stopped controlling traffic during peak times and traffic actually flowed significantly better.

This make perfect sense.

I think Douglas Adams said it best:
While plummeting backward through time in the flag ship of the admiral of the space fleet -
Trillian: "Hey, that sounds better, have you managed to make some sense of the controls?"
Ford: "No, we just stopped fiddling with them."