Police blast speed cameras.

[scumdog]

His point is that SPEED DOES NOT KILL not that we should all drive like we're on autobahns...stop twisting words. Of course we need speed limits here in NZ and a lot slower than set in Europe...thats because our roads suck arse! Lets fix em then!

Never twisted a single word - just put some balance in.

I could have pointed to third world country's roads and the road-toll there..all achieved at lower speeds than here.

[spudchucka]

Let's stuff THAT plan up - let's drive at a responsible safe level with a bit of courtesy thrown in..

Pfftt.... as if!

[Ixion]

By the bye. Did noone else notice that the cops are to be resnakeficated

From the Harold repor ton the new Police Bill (the new Bill, as distinct from teh Old Bill - every one a gem, eh)

The bill creates the new position of "authorised officer", allowing civilian staff to be given jobs - such as traffic officer and jailer - that are currently reserved for sworn officers.
They also get specific powers, responsibilities and legal protections that only sworn police currently have, including the power to arrest.
The new positions will initially be restricted to police jailers, escorts, police guards, specialist crime investigators, such as forensic accountants, and traffic enforcement police.

So much for amalgamation!

[98tls]

His point is that SPEED DOES NOT KILL not that we should all drive like we're on autobahns...stop twisting words. Of course we need speed limits here in NZ and a lot slower than set in Europe...thats because our roads suck arse! Lets fix em then!

Actually from a motorcyclists point of view i think we have some of the best roads in the world.

[Biggles08]

Pfftt.... as if!

Yeah cause a safe responsible speed...with courtesy chucked no less, in most circumstances in this country, would result in receiving a 'speeding ticket!'

[BIGBOSSMAN]

It's inappropriate speed that kills, obviously it is totally dependant on the type and quality of road what speed you ride at but this country is hell-bent on pandering to the lowest common denominator. Is this story just a coincidence eh?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4484922a10.html

Why should I be tarred with the same brush? I'm a mature rider of a 1000cc motorcycle and every now and again like to explore the machines potential on the open road, where it is appropriate (dry conditions, no cars or houses anywhere, etc).

I rest my case (until riled that is).

[Biggles08]

Actually from a motorcyclists point of view i think we have some of the best roads in the world.

Indeed but they are shared with trucks, cars and anything else on wheels...these vehicles could be traveling on a "main" highway, leaving all the "good" roads to those of us that want to travel for enjoyment.

[98tls]

Indeed but they are shared with trucks, cars and anything else on wheels...these vehicles could be traveling on a "main" highway, leaving all the "good" roads to those of us that want to travel for enjoyment.

Agreed entirely and if there was some forward vision could well be achieveable but there isnt so i guess it wont,while we are talking things that wont happen i would love to see a zillion more your meant to be in this lane arrows on our roads for those that come here to see the sights as on more than one occasion my enjoyment on the good roads has been spoilt by someone that thinks there back home.

[scumdog]

Why should I be tarred with the same brush? I'm a mature rider of a 1000cc motorcycle and every now and again like to explore the machines potential on the open road, where it is appropriate (dry conditions, no cars or houses anywhere, etc).

I rest my case (until riled that is).

Unfortunately EVERY person with a 1000cc bike (and everybody with any car too I vouch) fels the same

But despite their high self-opinion they're proven wrong with thier incessant crashing and dying.

[98tls]

Why should I be tarred with the same brush? I'm a mature rider of a 1000cc motorcycle and every now and again like to explore the machines potential on the open road, where it is appropriate (dry conditions, no cars or houses anywhere, etc).

I rest my case (until riled that is).

Agreed entirely and do the same myself when i consider it appropriate but as a mature rider of a 1000cc motorcycle i know full well that in a nano second my understanding of appropriate could well be flawed,in some ways i guess thats a little of the fun.

[JMemonic]

Take a step back for a second and put it in context. The guy was just responding to the bullshit suggestion that the police as an organisation prioritise traffic enforcement over "Real Crime", a notion based on nothing other than a few people who can't control themselves when in charge of a motor vehicle and who whine like spoilt brats when they get caught.

How often does someone die as a result of a burglary or theft, the real crimes you speak of??

Spudchucker I was the one who had the audacity to suggest that in some cases burglary and other crimes to the general public appear to take a lower priority to some officers than traffic duties, and received the above as part of the reply from Ting Tong, and from his statements in the rest of the post one could easily take it that in his view any crime other than traffic is basicly secondary, yes people die on the road, the situation I mentioned was the fact my partner had been abused by a male in a potentially harmful situation and was told that it was not a priority. It has to be from an officer one of the most stupid statements that could be made, his implication that less people die of burglary or thief than on the road belittles anyone who has lost a relative in this manner. Sure the road toll is a concern but I stand by my statements that visible police are far more effective than a covert camera.

Burglary is a huge priority to police. In the area that I work we have a boss that constantly pushes a hard line against burglars and they have invested heavily in additional staff to specifically target burglary as a strategic priority. The fact that burglary is a priority in no way results in traffic being less of a priority because as was pointed out in the post that seems to have offended everyone, its on the roads where people are dying.

What he said was all factually correct and in no way suggested that burglary is a joke. I understand completely his response in the face of the daily reality of his job and when you read through the ignorant and ill informed rot that gets published on this site, of which this thread is a classic example.

I am glad your area burglary is considered a priority , how ever having been the victim of this crime a couple of time now and been told to go into my local station and file a report, with no police attendance and in one instance I knew who the offender was but without evidence, (which I suspect could have been gleaned from a quick fingerprinting of the area) this person was never questioned thus never charged, not that had he been it would have meant the court system would have enforced any judgement against him, (not the fault of the police).

The original post and start of this discussion was the mention that in Victoria a high percentage of police believe as do the public that speed cameras are not constructive to road safety, I actually made what I feel to be reasonable suggestions but that seems to have been missed. Such is the internet.

[BIGBOSSMAN]

Unfortunately EVERY person with a 1000cc bike (and everybody with any car too I vouch) fels the same

But despite their high self-opinion they're proven wrong with thier incessant crashing and dying.

I have neither crashed nor died, so EVERY person with a 1000cc bike most certainly does not either have a high self-opinion or feel the same.

Given the right conditions, time and place, high speed on a motorcycle is no problem whatsoever.
If high speeds are so unsafe, why then do the Police engage in high-speed pursuits (esp thru surburban areas)?

Gotcha!

[98tls]

Police and priorities is an interesting topic there simply isnt enough police and when you consider that every Friday/sat night in the space of a few hours there's 1700 or so 111 calls made many of them by complete and utter timewasters that are either fucked up on drugs or pissed or just plain fucked up but the cops still have to waste there and the genuine peoples time sorting them out.

[scumdog]

I have neither crashed nor died, so EVERY person with a 1000cc bike most certainly does not either have a high self-opinion or feel the same.

Given the right conditions, time and place, high speed on a motorcycle is no problem whatsoever.
If high speeds are so unsafe, why then do the Police engage in high-speed pursuits (esp thru surburban areas)?

Gotcha!

The point I was trying to make was that EVERYBODY thinks the speed they drive/ride at is safe because they're a good driver, when have you ever heard anybody say "yeah, I was riding at about 125kph on a good road and was shitting myself 'cos I'm not really such a shit-hot rider"?

Some people would be out of their depth in a pedal-car/trike in a supermarket carpark.

[scumdog]

Agreed entirely and do the same myself when i consider it appropriate but as a mature rider of a 1000cc motorcycle i know full well that in a nano second my understanding of appropriate could well be flawed,in some ways i guess thats a little of the fun.

Yep, a lot of dead riders have probably had the same nano-second thought just before their existance on this planet came to an end.