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Thread ID: 87356 2008-02-18 05:51:00 Are New Zealanders Bad Drivers? legod (4626) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
641405 2008-02-18 05:51:00 www.nzherald.co.nz

IMO there are a few good drivers here. But NZ has far more than it's fair share of bad ones.
The overall standard of driving here is Third World at best.
Biggest problem I see is the number of people driving like there is no tomorrow. Insane and needless overtaking, tailgating, texting while driving, failing to give way and driving too fast for the conditions.
legod (4626)
641406 2008-02-18 06:07:00 I've seen a few courteous people out there who gives way to old ladies, cars stuck on the side etc.

But I have had the misfortune to nearly crash with 2 useless idiots who don't seem to understand what the term "Give Way" means.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
641407 2008-02-18 06:16:00 Not as bad as some places...cough Asia cough --Wolf-- (128)
641408 2008-02-18 06:17:00 Coming from Dunedin, I can't comment on bigger cities in NZ, but having driven around Australia and parts of the US, I don't think we're very considerate drivers. . .I found in Australia, for example, that you just have to touch your indicator on the freeway, and people drop back to let you in. I think over here, drivers don't really have an awareness of other vehicles in relation to theirs.

Frankly, having my first vehicle as a motorcycle has made me a much better car driver - you learn to treat every other driver as if they're out to kill you! :D
nofam (9009)
641409 2008-02-18 06:23:00 Not as bad as some places...cough Asia cough
Say it loud and proud.

Back in Indonesia there is nothing called the give way rule. It's whoever dares to go first.

Oh, and the only risk to speeding is crashing. Cops? Pah. Give them a cigarette or 20 bucks and they're off your back.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
641410 2008-02-18 07:01:00 Actually, reverse one of the no's... I'm the master of not reading the question properly. So many shockers. The asian driver stereotype tends to hold true too. And older drivers too. Unpredictable, and mind bogglingly slow. Bored of life?
It's so easy to get stressed and try to hurry somewhere though. You gain maybe a minute (if there are traffic lights), and you triple the chances of killing yourself, not to mention others. But 7th world roading systems don't really help a lot. Need smooth, four laners in more places than just Auckland. The bypass has done a bit in Wellington, but not nearly enough funding has made it a bit of a joke for the price. Bottle necks all over the place, right idea, not far enough though IMO
Thebananamonkey (7741)
641411 2008-02-18 07:55:00 Well, having lived at a few places in NZ, heres my :2cents:

Tauranga..... I think they need to have a special question added to the road code "Where in your vehicle is the turn-signal switch located?"

Taranaki..... where else in NZ does someone drive at 80k on the open road, and then speed up to 115 as soon as they hit a passing lane? (and then slow back down). Also, the amount of needless passing here is unbelieveable... you see cars taking wicked risks to overtake someone at or near the end of a passing lane, then turn off about 200m later down a side road

Auckland.... yes, you know how to use an indicator, but blink and you'll miss the car that just squeezed into the gap [you didn't think it was possible to fit a car] in front of you, or the other car that indicated to go left, then shot across 2 lanes in front of you to turn off into the off-ramp

I would say that drivers in NZ need to think ahead a bit more and be more considerate to others (though I must admit in most cases the 'merge like a zip' rule works pretty well). They should remember that not all drivers are as big an idiot as they are
</:2cents:>
Myth (110)
641412 2008-02-18 08:00:00 Taranaki..... where else in NZ does someone drive at 80k on the open road, and then speed up to 115 as soon as they hit a passing lane? (and then slow back down)

Abso****inglutely everywhere.
roddy_boy (4115)
641413 2008-02-18 08:08:00 Say it loud and proud.

Back in Indonesia there is nothing called the give way rule. It's whoever dares to go first.

Oh, and the only risk to speeding is crashing. Cops? Pah. Give them a cigarette or 20 bucks and they're off your back.

Good times... Same in India
beeswax34 (63)
641414 2008-02-18 08:10:00 Bad driver?
No! I pay someone $1.60 to take me to work.

Oh and on the subject of bad driving, my older brother is terrible. He tailgates, he's always in a hurry, switches to the fast lane then when you have 500 metres to the off ramp, switch to the slow lane. Always in a hurry. Can't stand slow cars, impatient.
bob_doe_nz (92)
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