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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
314305	2005-01-15 09:13:00	Sure - if you're deliberately blocking someone's path then that's just silly. But if your say doing 100 and minding your own business, why the hell should you pull over out the way just to let some loser tosspot who's sat 2 metres off your bumper past who can't wait a couple of ks for a straight bit of road or a passing lane. More to the point, alot of roads are so narrow or windy that there is nowhere to pull over. If someone is tailgating me at 100, I slow down (gradually) and pull left (without driving off the road). I find they are more inclined to make a move and overtake that way. If they're going to go up the back of me I'd rather they did it at a slower speed than at 100k. And if they get irritated at me slowing down, well that's their own fault. There's enough going on in front of me to worry about without having to worry about a possible shunt from the idiot behind. The reason traffic jams occur is often due to tailgating and people not just sitting back and being a bit more patient. Being impatient and taking a risk just to shave a few seconds off your journey is more murder than just happening to be the frustrating car in front.	manicminer (4219)
314306	2005-01-15 09:15:00	Well if you don't bring up any statistics of asian drivers in NZ your arguement has no relevence. I'm no statistician outside the basic statistical knowledge, and I'm certainly not stats trawling for some insignificant intarweb conversation. My personal experiences as a road user are what I am basing this one. I've been hit twice, both times were completely avoidable, both times were by young asian males. In my university time, none of my european classmates wrote off a car or were involved in significant accidents, but a number of asian students in the same hostel did. I draw my own conclusions/generalisations from that, my own experience, which I am perfectly entitled to do so.	ninja (1671)
314307	2005-01-15 09:18:00	I don't see why they just don't get everyone to resist their licence every ten years, written and practical. At least then mostly everyone would know the rules. They're talking about doing that in the UK but it would be a logistical nightmare. Not enough driving instructors over there for a start to cope with the population. Perhaps it would be more effective if they just made the test incredibly difficult to start with.	manicminer (4219)
314308	2005-01-15 09:29:00	This thread seems a bit pointless without some statistics To that end where would one find info on the ethnicity of those that cause accidents I'm sure there has to be a little Pleb in Wgtn that justifies his existence by compiling such info Well here are all sorts of stats www.ltsa.govt.nz None relating to ethnicity though, probably far too unPC to be considered for compilation I have to say though, having first hand experiences that every foreigner should have to sit & pass a NZ License "IN ENGLISH" before driving on our roads The number of foreign drivers on our roads that cannot speak english is ridiculous. If they don't know what a roadsign says they are a death (or someone elses) waiting to happen	bartsdadhomer (80)
314309	2005-01-15 09:30:00	I draw my own conclusions/generalisations from that, my own experience, which I am perfectly entitled to do so. Fair enough :thumbs: if you take out generalisations that is ;) I've known a fair number of asians myself and none have been in accidents, so well ...meh.. :p	Raikyn (6293)
314310	2005-01-15 09:34:00	Perhaps it would be more effective if they just made the test incredibly difficult to start with. Probably not. The economy needs people to travel freely and easily. What we need is drivers with an uptodate knowledge of current rules.	Raikyn (6293)
314311	2005-01-15 09:36:00	I wonder how much light will be shed by this thread, but however, some thoughts . When I was in China, I talked to our Chinese guide about perceptions of Asian drivers in NZ . He said to us - "Look at the way people cycle here - remember that this is the way all people start out on the road in China, and realise that the way they cycle is the way they will drive their cars . " Now that was a bit scary, after watching the way the crowds of cyclists were riding! However, I also think that in this country an Asian driver stereotype exists, and it is reinforced whenever we see 'an Asian driver' doing something we disapprove of . We all see 'non Asian drivers' doing things we disapprove of every day but it doesn't get marked down as "oh, there goes another ( . . . ) driver", because they are 'ordinary Kiwis' . In my youth, the stereotype was "Pommy drivers", but they were harder to identify! Asians are much more convenient for stereotyping . In my opinion as a motorcyclist, the worst people have usually been people driving the company car . I also had a bad run with the twats that drove newish turbo boosted cars (rather than the stereotype "hoon in a clapped out Holden" who never gave me grief) . In Oz, the bad driver stereotype amongst motorcyclists is Volvo drivers, and I have to admit to sometimes thinking that might be a truth rather than a simple stereotype . . . Secondly, in case Terry is implying (or I am inferring from his posts) that in his opinion, English drivers are superior to Kiwi drivers, I would have to strongly disagree . On the basis of a recent month's driving in Britain, I would have to say that they have far more aggressive and poorly behaved drivers than I have ever seen here . The only exception I found were professional truck drivers (well, except for Tesco drivers who seem to think they are King of the Road on A roads) . I found that truckies were truly, deeply, madly, scary for a start by the way they ride your back bumper, but I learned that they were absolutely trustworthy and courteous, and always signalled what they were going to do, and signalled to let you know it was safe to join their queue or to pull out . And as for English roundabouts - they are insanity on wheels (no pun intended) . We met an American couple who were so terrified of these perversions of road engineering they had given up their rental car . I soldiered on, but I think I may have brought back an ulcer . Shudder . As for English drivers signalling - what a joke . I prefer the system here that Terry abhors - at least you have a fair chance of knowing what Kiwi drivers are going to do when they signal like that at a roundabout . Not in England! I personally don't think that drivers in NZ are any better or worse than those in any country in the world I have driven in . In fact, I used to think that Wgtn drivers were wonderful and clearly the best in the country in terms of courtesy, but Wgtn taxi drivers dispute that now, and I defer to their professional opinion . Sydney is one of the best places to drive in IMHO, provided you are on the ball and prepared to drive fast, indicate properly, and immediately act on your indication . A Sydney taxi driver once told me "In Sydney, if you indicate you intend to pull into a lane, drivers will pull back to let you in, provided you do it within 20 seconds of signalling . In Melbourne, as soon as you indicate, drivers will close up the space to stop you merging into their lane . In Adelaide, drivers will say 'what's a lane?' . " ;) I don't think anything I have said proves anything, but I just thought I would hang my ill informed prejudices out with everyone else . :p	John H (8)
314312	2005-01-15 09:40:00	...stuff... I don't think anything I have said proves anything, but I just thought I would hang my ill informed prejudices out with everyone else. :p Best stuff I've heard so far :thumbs:	Raikyn (6293)
314313	2005-01-15 09:42:00	Probably not. The economy needs people to travel freely and easily. What we need is drivers with an uptodate knowledge of current rules. True although it would be a start if they learned the rules and developed the skills in the first place. I'd be interested to see everyone in NZ take a proper driving test and see how many would pass/fail. In fact I'd be interested to take a practical test here myself, just to see how easy/hard it is compared with the British test. Having moved here with a British licence I only had to sit a basic theory test.	manicminer (4219)
314314	2005-01-15 09:55:00	Makes sense. I mean, if you drive in Brit, you probably know how to steer, use the clutch etc. So road code is all that's needed. What a negligent attitude! Make em do a proper test ***	george12 (7)
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