Teen motorcyclist dies in Palmerston North (11 April)

[scumdog]

Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?

Possibly

Possibly not.

But at least they would have had a few basic rules made known to them.

Not just knowing which end of the car the steering wheel was located and which pedal makes the car move.

[motorbyclist]

Not wishing to hijack BUT: I wonder if/how long for the unlicenced drivers parents had been turning a blind eye??

Sad for all invlove but so preventable, makes me effinpissedoff.

the father of the unlicenced and unsupervised girl that did a u turn infront of my brother right outside her own house, writing off my fxr in the process, told us to "f*** off" or he'd "bash" us. then the mother told the police officer that "oh no it's ok, my daughter is learning". they also gave the constable false details including phone number, despite the fact the cop was standing in their house talking to them!

girl got disqualified for sitting her licence for 6 months, which i doubt would have stopped her driving that dented (assumedly from similar incidents) 4wd of hers, a four figure fine which she gets to pay off $10 a week, and after 3 successful visits to small claims we get nothing for our bike which only had 3rd party on it. $3 grand gone, two years past and brother still has problems with his wrist

Does anyone feel that the standard of the licence test is such that possesion of a licence would give any assurance that the car driver's behaviour would have been any different ?

well if the young driver was actually following the rules, not only could he have known the road code (if he didn't already) but there would've been a fully licenced supervisor in the car to yell at him to stop when he moved forward.

[skidMark]

the father of the unlicenced and unsupervised girl that did a u turn infront of my brother right outside her own house, writing off my fxr in the process, told us to "f*** off" or he'd "bash" us. then the mother told the police officer that "oh no it's ok, my daughter is learning". they also gave the constable false details including phone number, despite the fact the cop was standing in their house talking to them!

girl got disqualified for sitting her licence for 6 months, which i doubt would have stopped her driving that dented (assumedly from similar incidents) 4wd of hers, a four figure fine which she gets to pay off $10 a week, and after 3 successful visits to small claims we get nothing for our bike which only had 3rd party on it. $3 grand gone, two years past and brother still has problems with his wrist



well if the young driver was actually following the rules, not only could he have known the road code (if he didn't already) but there would've been a fully licenced supervisor in the car to yell at him to stop when he moved forward.

You know where she lives you know what car she drives..

[Str8 Jacket]

Name is released. Here is the NZ Herald article:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10504036

[1200custom]

Condolences to the family & his friends.

Tragic!



Has there been a name release yet?
Hoping it's not one of my Dannevirke cousins son, they have lost to many close family members already in the last few years.

name has been released.....woops didnt see last post

[PrincessBandit]

Nope.



Why did the parents let him drive, parents do seem to step back alot these days

Parents have a particularly shitty job at times juggling the demands of their children, the restraints put on them by the law (wow, the smacking debacle just jumped into my mind then), do-gooders who jump on them at every turn. Isn't it enough to just about put you off having kids?
All power to parents who do their best, especially the ones who some how have to salvage hope and courage out of a tragedy such as this.

[Dodger]

EDIT: I think the motorcycle license age needs raising to 18

No, the Car license age needs to be raised.
I think this is done in a few places overseas (maybe South Africa) so what happens is people get their bike licenses first, learn to ride and become aware of the hazards around them.

Then after a few years they are able to get their car licenses and are much more aware of what's going on around them.

[motorbyclist]

+1

germany i hear has a similar system

but since when did the NZ government take successful policy from overseas? using all the banned/failed policy like cheesecutters is much more fun!

[Thumper]

No, the Car license age needs to be raised.
I think this is done in a few places overseas (maybe South Africa) so what happens is people get their bike licenses first, learn to ride and become aware of the hazards around them.

Then after a few years they are able to get their car licenses and are much more aware of what's going on around them.

Yip, in South Africa you could get your motorcycle learners when you turned 16 and you could not get your full until you were 18. There was no restricted level. During this period you could not carry a pillion, ride on a motorway or ride a bike with an engine size greater that 125cc (this was actually 50cc when I did my learners way back when but was lifted to 125cc in the 90’s I think).

A learner car license was only available when you turned 17 with a full being available at 18 years of age.

A huge number of kids road motorcycles to school because we weren’t old enough to drive a car. This meant that by the time we got to drive cars our road skills and general perception of traffic was highly tuned.

The problem of boy racers did not exist at all.

No government would implement this sort of change in NZ as it would alienate them from the next generation of voters (just call me cynical).

[motorbyclist]

No government would implement this sort of change in NZ as it would alienate them from the next generation of voters (just call me cynical).

well there's talk of moving the licence age to 18 anyway, but of course even if that happened the bike age wouldn't stay low

[SDU]

name has been released.....woops didnt see last post

Thanks. He isn't related but I'mstill sad for his family & friends

[Boulder]

Yip, in South Africa you could get your motorcycle learners when you turned 16 and you could not get your full until you were 18. There was no restricted level. During this period you could not carry a pillion, ride on a motorway or ride a bike with an engine size greater that 125cc (this was actually 50cc when I did my learners way back when but was lifted to 125cc in the 90’s I think).

A learner car license was only available when you turned 17 with a full being available at 18 years of age.

This makes a lot of sense to me. Raise the age to 18 for full license bike riders. From 16 to 18 limit bikers to 125cc. Then there is the problem of the born again riders who return to bikes after 10 20 or 30 years and I guess they should do a practical test again even if they had a full when younger. Yes it would be unpopular with voters, so it should be decided outside of party politics or somehow with an independent group.

[cowboyz]

or maybe incorperate a driving test in the renewal of licences. I just renewed mine for another 10 years. All I had to do was go read a few letters and pay them money. They have no idea if I can still drive or not but happierly handed me a new licence.

[adamh]

I got my car learners first but only to ride a 50cc scooter. But afew months later I was bored of the scooter so got my bike licence and so I learned full road safty on the 50cc scooter and a 150cc motorbike. I now have restricted car and am gonna get my restricted bike licence when I get a new bike...
But for now I drive a ute and know safety in heavy traffic conditions and I always make sure no bikes are coming at intersections.

[Livvy]

Poor guy. Feel sorry for all involved.

As for raising car/biker licence I'm fully agreed, despite how young I myself am. Having lost one of my best friends, Katrina, in a car accident in April, I realise the driving age is way too young. I won't even go get my licence because I don't know if I can trust myself in charge of a car yet. Bike, perhaps, car... less so.