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Thread ID: 53359	2005-01-15 05:49:00	Kiwi Drivers...	manicminer (4219)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
314405	2005-02-27 08:55:00	Just had a look at the ltsa page. Still got that panel beaters dream of giving way to opposing traffic wanting to turn right when you are turning left. I arrived in this country 15 years ago & couldn't beleive my eyes. I even watched an intersection to see how the rule was supposed to work. I know now, it's random. The trouble is you are trying to watch out whats going on out front whilst sitting on your 3rd eye. Glad I'm not the only one to think the same :) That rule came in about 1978 or 79 from memory, we hadn't been here very long. Now Kiwi drivers accept it as the norm, and cannot see anything wrong with it. Two years ago, the LTSA had it up for a proposed change among other sensible changes, and submissions were invited. The present government sometime late last year, decided that to change the rule was in the too hard basket, and so it has been left as is, together with other proposed related changes. In its place $150 instant fines and tinkering around with making guidelines mandatory has been introduced, instead of tackling the real issues of the give way at intersections and the stupid merging into a fast lane when turning right. An example of the latter is in Upper Hutt with the so-called "Gull Wing" intersection. Traffic turning onto the bypass road where traffic is doing 100 kmph, merge from the right into the flow from 0 kmph, with the 100kmph traffic passing by on the left, then the 2 lanes very quickly merge into one lane :eek:	Terry Porritt (14)
314406	2005-02-28 08:57:00	Well, I've just returned to Auckland from Wellington and I have to say I was very scared... However, in doing a bit of driving around Wellington I ntoiced that the roads are terribly designed! The road from Wellington to Upper Hutt is like a motorway... like a motorway... BUT WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS!!! ***!!! It's like 120kmph to 0kmph!!! It's ridiculous and dangerous!! And theres many many places where the lanes merge with little warning. On the way home from wellington, there were people overtaking on a tiny stretch of road before blind hills and corners... its all very well if you have a turbo or a V8 but, 4cyl n/a cars.... i sure as hell weren't gonna overtake... Out of all the roads on the course I took, (welly>sanson>bulls>taihape>taupo>tirau>maramarua>bombay>takapuna>silverdale) i would have to say the roads round taupo to be the nicest to travel, and perhaps the safest... lots of passing lanes so no road rage, lots of clear strates... not so many yobbos...	hamstar (4)
314407	2005-02-28 09:14:00	Given the average reaction time is 3 ms ... Wow. 3 milliseconds. Your average perhaps, but the average human is about 300+ ms	godfather (25)
314408	2005-02-28 09:29:00	i would have to say the roads round taupo to be the nicest to travel, and perhaps the safest... lots of passing lanes so no road rage, lots of clear strates... not so many yobbos... Funny that. Every time I look in the paper it seems there's been another crash around the Taupo region. They seem to have alot of smackups around there. Sometimes I think it would be better, although it sounds ridiculous at first, to have no passing lanes and no overtaking allowed whatsoever. Then people would know they just HAVE to sit and wait and keep left. With passing lanes, people are always up your arse pushing you to pull over left. And alot of idiots dont wait for a passing lane to overtake.	manicminer (4219)
314409	2005-02-28 09:37:00	Bizarre isn't it. The weekend they change a few roadrules all in the name of making our roads safer (and I think we all know it really won't make a blind bit of difference), this happens: www.stuff.co.nz A nightmare weekend on the road. Many more lives lost and ruined. And all these people wanted, was to get from A to B. It's all very well trying to improve the road rules, but not much good if no-one knows them, or adheres to them. My question for this thread now is this: What should the government really be doing about the road toll? Are they doing enough? Is there anything they can do? There are probably no easy, practical answers, or quick solutions. But in my view, that's no excuse for the problem being shelved to the "too hard basket".	manicminer (4219)
314410	2005-02-28 21:14:00	I spend a lot of time on North Island roads and drive around the Tauranga area quite a bit . As as ex motorcycle road racer I believe that altho' I'm not a teenager any more, I have adequate skills for most conditions and altho' I'm not a slow driver, I am a cautious one . I read this thread from Go to Woah and notice that some think it used to be easier to get a licence in "the old days" . This isn't true really . In the late 60s we had to show some driving skills . We had to parallel park, do a tight three point turn, stop and start on a steep hill and display some knowledge of road rules when we were being tested . I allowed my licence to expire a while back and three or four years ago, re-sat the test . What a debacle! The written paper (multi choice) showed the tick's tails so 100% was guaranteed!! My car was given a curbside inspection that would've challenged the toughest WOF inspector . (But ya get that if ya drive a Citroen :cool: ) The driving test was more of a memory test in that one needed to remember what had happened and identify the hazards on a previous intersection . (Er, 'scuse me, but shoudn't I be more concerned with what's happening Right Now?) There were no driving SKILLS tested at all . Attention was paid to staying within speed limits even though on a 20kph road works area, everyone behind me passed me . I was shocked that I didn't even have to park a car! So many people have NO idea where the corners of their cars really are and this would help to identify those people who believe they cannot fit thru' a large gap left when someone pulls over and then sit out in the extreme right of the lane to hold up the traffic for miles . The recent test I did tested nothing but blind obedience to the speed limit and memory . The test I did in the '60s was harder and proved I had at least, basic skills . Are we "dumbing down" the tests to ensure passes?? WTA? I also worry that young people are not permitted to lock up their wheels at any time without risk of losing their cars . How else does one learn what happens when all wheels lock up in a slide, skid, or crash? Sure, we can't have everyone out there doing doughnuts on the road, but could we not provide areas where people CAN learn what happens in these situations? I worry that the person in front of me or behind me has never experienced a real lock-up and won't know what to do when it happens . Not everyone can afford to hire a race track to ensure they are capable . I'd like to see more meaningful testing which proves a new licensee will be able to cope out there, can park, knows where the edges of the car really are,does not "dither" at intersections and roundabouts and has some degree of skill both in driving and understanding road signs . This "speed kills" mantra is seen by most as revenue collecting nonsense and with that attitude, driving habits become worse . Speed doesn't kill . Bad driving kills . I am also annoyed that the money we pay in petrol and road taxes is not spent on roading . The roads around Tauranga are too narrow with too few passing lanes for the huge numbers of people now living and working there . People speed up to 130kph for all the passing lanes and then drop back to their own comfort zones as soon as the lane runs out which is frustrating if you have the skills to drive beyond 80kph . I'd like to see trucks limited to the left lanes on motorways rather than using them all . I'd also like to see slow drivers who will not pull over, educated . Actually, I'd like to see a whole lot more driver education on TV rather than the "speed kills" nonsense . It's a great forum for education yet we use it only to sell silly ideas and products . Surely someone could make a short movie which teaches skills rather than merely parrotting catch phrases that are meaningless? Thank you for the opportunity to share ideas! kakapo	kakapo (5362)
314411	2005-03-01 00:29:00	I've driven cars in Canada, USA and Russia. I find that all of these places, the roads are very straight. It is not like here in New Zealand where drivers need skill to make the bend, or get the gear in right before the steep hills. We can not blame ourselves because we have to continuously drive racing tracks. Transit need to make the roads safer. Kakapo, about keeping the trucks on the left lanes at all time. This seems like a great idea, but some trucks are very slow, while others are fast, almost like a car... you can't categorise trucks to make them all drive in the left lane because they all vary in speed capabilities. However, as far as I am concerned, it is forbidden to drive a truck in Germany on a Sunday. Often truck drivers rush to get to a truck stop before midnight on Saturday. They then have a day break before continuing again on Monday. This is an excellent idea as we cann all go for our sunday drive without having to worry about trucks.	mister harbies (5607)
314412	2005-03-01 01:04:00	well the other problem of having all trucks use the left lane of the motorway is the traffic coming onto the motorway will have to try and squeeze in around a large amount of trucks, not to mention the trucks couldn't use a righthand lane offramp. Actually, I'd like to see a whole lot more driver education on TV rather than the "speed kills" nonsense. to right. most of the time its not the roads that are the problem but the drivers useing them. which is why they have been REMOVING passing lanes because drivers are to dumb to use them properly. hopefully with these new rules they will start catching those ****er type drivers who deliberately cause mayhem on our roads for their own small minded childish amusment.	tweak'e (69)
314413	2005-03-01 01:09:00	Imo trucks should be banned off the road apart from midnight to 6am. Bring back rail. This of course goes down well seeing as the family bizzo comprises of a fleet of trucks.......	Metla (12)
314414	2005-03-01 04:30:00	Imo trucks should be banned off the road apart from midnight to 6am. Ban cars while you are at it. We will just have motorcyles and bikes. Wouldn't that be great :@@:	dolby digital (5073)
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