Lost in the rush

[steveb64]

BRONZ has raised the question of the blinding corner signs with Transit. They have promised to review their design and location. For whatever that mayn be worth

Nice to know it's not just me having problems with them...

[scumdog]

You also need to have speed before you can go anywhere.
What's wrong with accident AVOIDENCE? You know - where you jam on the brakes to scrub off some speed, then let go of the brakes, and SWERVE around the obstruction - or at least aim for a less hazardous target?

It doesn't matter what speed you're doing - if you don't hit anything!

Re your 1st question: Nothing at all - but most just brake'n'crash.

Re your last comment - if you do, it does!

[steveb64]

Re your 1st question: Nothing at all - but most just brake'n'crash.

Re your last comment - if you do, it does!

Uh, yeah, well, I'd have to agree with that too...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...1&d=1197982547

[mstriumph]

i believe that 'lack of attention' is responsible for most accidents

closely followed by 'failure to drive to road/weather conditions and vehicle/driver capability'

'speed' is a loooooooooooong way down MY list - after all 5kmph is a 'speed'

but what do i know
i'm just a road survivor [on several continents for more years than i prefer to own up to] ............
i'm no 'expert' no, not me .............
my opinion and a coupla dollars wouldn't buy you a cup of coffee

[Mikkel]

Speed kills - your brain cells! Stay off the fucking amphetamines ok...


Anyway, I agree wholeheatedly with what somebody have said about your ability having to be factored into "your driving/riding conditions" and you having to adjust your speed in relation to this.

However, if I have a gripe with anything it's the fact that it's just too fucking easy to get a license. It's too damn easy to be allowed legal responsibility of what is a deadly weapon if handled badly. If you can't go around a corner at the posted suggested speed in a normal car/bike while being calm and confident then you don't belong on the road - period. Am I the only one who would actually like to be able to trust the competence of my fellow motorists. Not whether they are sober or drunk. Not whether they are speeding or not. But the simple fact that they just know and remain within their own personal limits. I'm against drink driving for the simple fact that I believe that people loose the ability to judge their own ability to operate anything more complex than corkscrew.
However, if people are capable motorists I won't give a fuck if they decide to carve up the road at 200+ km/h - I trust competent people to not jeopadise neither themselves nor other roadusers. Too many people just don't have the basic intellect to make that call and shouldn't be allowed on the road even IF they are so sensible that they just decide to stick to the speed limit.

[scumdog]

However, if people are capable motorists I won't give a fuck if they decide to carve up the road at 200+ km/h - I trust competent people to not jeopadise neither themselves nor other roadusers.

That's the crux of the matter Mikkel - EVERYBODY thinks they're 'capable' and 'competent' and is safe at speeds over what the law says are legal.

When was the last time you heard somebody say "Ah, yeah, well, actually I'm not really a good rider/driver at all and I've done some dumb-arse shit on the roads due to my incompetence"?

[yungatart]

When was the last time you heard somebody say "Ah, yeah, well, actually I'm not really a good rider/driver at all and I've done some dumb-arse shit on the roads due to my incompetence"?

Umm, er... that would be me.
But then I'm not normal...I actually ask competent people for advice, then I listen and take it on board.....

As you were...

[vifferman]

When was the last time you heard somebody say "Ah, yeah, well, actually I'm not really a good rider/driver at all and I've done some dumb-arse shit on the roads due to my incompetence"?

Ah, yeah, well while I'm a reasonably good rider, I do occasionally do some dumb-arse shit on the roads, due to my mental condition. Like this week, I'm REALLY tired (having had a proper night's sleep in weeks), so I have to concentrate extra hard not to do dumb-arse stuff. Like riding into the back of cars through momentary inattention/distraction.
Or not coping with simultaneously having to brake, turn, and push the gargre door opener.
Or not paying attention to feeling tired and light-headed and deciding that undertaking on the verge is a good idea.
Or giving the throttle an extra bit of a twist because I'm enjoying the buzz of riding. (That last one is OK, but not if you exceed the posted speed limit and enter the "Prepare to Kill!" zone.

I'd give it away, but then what would I do?
Bicycle to work?
Take a bus, and another one, and one more, and then walk the last half km?
Shoot myself?

[cooneyr]

That's the crux of the matter Mikkel - EVERYBODY thinks they're 'capable' and 'competent' and is safe at speeds over what the law says are legal.

When was the last time you heard somebody say "Ah, yeah, well, actually I'm not really a good rider/driver at all and I've done some dumb-arse shit on the roads due to my incompetence"?

This is an interesting topic. I know that studies have been done on this and from memory 81% (something of that order) of drivers think they are better than average drivers - uhh :spudwhat:

Cheers R

[warewolf]

I know that studies have been done on this and from memory 81% (something of that order) of drivers think they are better than average drivers - uhh :spudwhat:

Yeah, that's normal. But mathematically 50%-1 are actually better than average. Or better than the mean? median? whatever, you get the idea.

[warewolf]

That's the crux of the matter Mikkel - EVERYBODY thinks they're 'capable' and 'competent' and is safe at speeds over what the law says are legal.

No it isn't. The crux of the matter is that speed has nothing to do with it. The rest of your statement is on the money.

Bad drivers are unsafe at any speed. The current roading policies do not weed these drivers out. The message to the policy makers is: Stop being so fixated on speed being the root of all evil, and start working on actual driving skills.

[steveb64]

That's the crux of the matter Mikkel - EVERYBODY thinks they're 'capable' and 'competent' and is safe at speeds over what the law says are legal.

When was the last time you heard somebody say "Ah, yeah, well, actually I'm not really a good rider/driver at all and I've done some dumb-arse shit on the roads due to my incompetence"?

Does this mean that we're all incapable and incompetent to travel at 100kph then? Given the current push by authorities to reduce the speed limit back to 80kph... - and given previous 80kph open road speed limits.

Surely it would make more sense to train AND test drivers to ensure that they ARE capable and competent - at whatever speed? Well - OK, within reason... (... say <120 - 130kph). Such basic training would have prevented at least 9 accidents outside my driveway over the past 3-4 years alone.

And remember SD - just because its a law - doesn't necessarily mean it's sensible - or justice. Given your occupation, I'd figure you must run into such cases from time to time?

PS - I don't know about dumb-arse shit due to incompetence - but EVERYONE does something dumb-arse sooner or later , regardless of how competent or skilled they are. It's called human error, and it only takes a split second of inattention/loss of concentration to happen. Comes with not being machines. Then it's up to experience/training as to whether a recovery is possible - hence point 2 above... better training - not MORE laws.

[James Deuce]

Does this mean that we're all incapable and incompetent to travel at 100kph then? Given the current push by authorities to reduce the speed limit back to 80kph... - and given previous 80kph open road speed limits.

Yes. I've met one capable driver and couple of capable motorcyclists in NZ.

A UK village with a population of 50 has more competent and capable drivers than all of NZ.

Everyone else could do with a lot of work, practice, study, and most of all ECT to damp down the aggressiveness.

[scumdog]

Yes. I've met one capable driver and couple of capable motorcyclists in NZ.

A UK village with a population of 50 has more competent and capable drivers than all of NZ.

Everyone else could do with a lot of work, practice, study, and most of all ECT to damp down the aggressiveness.

Jim2s on the money.

Mikkel reckons more/better training would be the way to go - and he's right,
But who is going to pay for this (expensive) training? - o.k. you and I would be quite happy but the broken arses moan they can't afford a licence already so how woud they afford the additional cost of the training??

They'd moan 'it's unfair, it's discrimination' etc and the politicians would not push it through 'cos it would lose them the vote of everyone on a benefit and/or low income. (which in this country is a shitload)

And warewolf, speed has everything to do with it - if you turn looose incempetent drivers on the road then you want to make sure they don't plough into each other at too high a speed, makes more of a mess donchaknow.

[Ixion]

,,,

And warewolf, speed has everything to do with it - if you turn looose incempetent drivers on the road then you want to make sure they don't plough into each other at too high a speed, makes more of a mess donchaknow.

Actually, if you abolished speed limits completely, the incompetent drivers would drive slower.

In the absence of a speed limit, most drivers drive at a speed that reflects their competence. Especially the experienced but incompetent ones. They feel nervous going faster. But if you put in a speed limit , Doris feels obliged to drive up to it. Or at 90 anyway. But take away the limit and she'll slow down to 70.

Boi racer will drive too fast, cos he doesn't know WHAT he's doing. But that's cos of inexperience, so you have a speed limit for him, like the 70kph one for 6L. (which does mean P plates, yes).