4 kph tolerance for February - WTF?
Discussion
So the police have decided to adopt a 4 kph tolerance for all of February (and beyond???).
Cue dozens of vehicles lined up to have a pop at overtaking the doddery 85kph Suzuki driving twunt in the approaching overtaking lane, only to find, as always, he speeds up to 99 just as the lane arrives and the wary motorist at the front of the line agonisingly inches his way past at a frightening 103kph. Only one car gets by before the lane ends and everything backs up even further - tempers rise.
People are dying because of this law not despite it. How the f
k do the police justify encouraging drivers to expose themselves to more danger by staying in the oncoming traffic lane for longer. When will they see sense and understand that anticipation, driving to the flow and conditions are more important than soporific speedo watching.
I watched a police Commodore SV6 hurtle down a busy narrow street in Christchurch City today and I heard it as it was nailed flat out all the way through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd until it hit 4th- that's at least 150kph in a 50 limit.
I'd accept that (generally, but my heart was in my mouth with this one today) if it wasn't for the outrageous hypocrisy.
fking idiots.
Who's promoting real safety here?
Cue dozens of vehicles lined up to have a pop at overtaking the doddery 85kph Suzuki driving twunt in the approaching overtaking lane, only to find, as always, he speeds up to 99 just as the lane arrives and the wary motorist at the front of the line agonisingly inches his way past at a frightening 103kph. Only one car gets by before the lane ends and everything backs up even further - tempers rise.
People are dying because of this law not despite it. How the f
k do the police justify encouraging drivers to expose themselves to more danger by staying in the oncoming traffic lane for longer. When will they see sense and understand that anticipation, driving to the flow and conditions are more important than soporific speedo watching.I watched a police Commodore SV6 hurtle down a busy narrow street in Christchurch City today and I heard it as it was nailed flat out all the way through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd until it hit 4th- that's at least 150kph in a 50 limit.
I'd accept that (generally, but my heart was in my mouth with this one today) if it wasn't for the outrageous hypocrisy.
f
king idiots.Who's promoting real safety here?
cheddar said:
Cue dozens of vehicles lined up to have a pop at overtaking the doddery 85kph Suzuki driving twunt in the approaching overtaking lane, only to find, as always, he speeds up to 99 just as the lane arrives
Every fg passing lane, I've been very lucky to not have been caught but I can guarantee that 90% of the time I overtake someone on a passing line I'm touching 140 (road and weather conditions taken into account)Police officers are obviously highly trained in high speed driving to be capable of driving at high speed unlike the rest of us who are struggling to control our cars as quick as 104kmh.
I do generally work on the basis that the quicker I get past the safer it is rather than spending a lot of time across the center line at 102kmh inching past.
I do generally work on the basis that the quicker I get past the safer it is rather than spending a lot of time across the center line at 102kmh inching past.
Edited by Oscar the Grouch on Thursday 2nd February 08:23
cheddar said:
Cue dozens of vehicles lined up to have a pop at overtaking the doddery 85kph Suzuki driving twunt in the approaching overtaking lane, only to find, as always, he speeds up to 99 just as the lane arrives and the wary motorist at the front of the line agonisingly inches his way past at a frightening 103kph.
Well there's only one thing for it then. Forget the passing lanes. Wait for some windy road and get the slow coach under brakes. 
Or change vehicle types so passing while moving slow is fun.
Actually, is there a law against the excessive use of your horn and flashing your headlights during the hours of daylight?
MOVE OVER &#@...Although I must admit I seldom have a problem with slow motorist when in the Atom. There must be something quite menacing about it's presence. It is quite remarkable, especially on tight roads how many indicate and pull to the left when I've been quietly following them for a few minutes. A friend once remarked that it was like riding in an emergency services vehicle.
Couldn't agree more, IT'S NOT THE SPEED THAT KILLS, IT'S THE APALLING DRIVING AND LACK OF ATTENTION !!
Sorry, but I had to shout, it truly p*sses me off.
If you're going to overtake, do it AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, bacause the greatest risk has to be whilst you're on the wrong side of the road. Except of course for these morons/w*nkers in f**king Subarus who overtake around blind bends where they can't possibly see what's coming
the other way.
I have just once got away with a ticket when I gave the officer my point of view on overtaking, and he did see that I slowed down quickly (and not because I saw him either), but have also had one who just wouldn't listen, and I said to him "Can't rock the boat, eh ??" but he was too dumb to understand and just looked blank.
I move over for obvious lurkers who want to overtake, whatever speed I'm doing, yet other idiots still potter along in a world of their own......
NB. there IS a law against horns and Hlamp flashing in UK, but don't know if it's in NZ too...
Sorry, but I had to shout, it truly p*sses me off.
If you're going to overtake, do it AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, bacause the greatest risk has to be whilst you're on the wrong side of the road. Except of course for these morons/w*nkers in f**king Subarus who overtake around blind bends where they can't possibly see what's coming
the other way.
I have just once got away with a ticket when I gave the officer my point of view on overtaking, and he did see that I slowed down quickly (and not because I saw him either), but have also had one who just wouldn't listen, and I said to him "Can't rock the boat, eh ??" but he was too dumb to understand and just looked blank.
I move over for obvious lurkers who want to overtake, whatever speed I'm doing, yet other idiots still potter along in a world of their own......
NB. there IS a law against horns and Hlamp flashing in UK, but don't know if it's in NZ too...
Edited by RCK974X on Friday 3rd February 20:03
And here's the article on stuff. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6369544/Mont...
I've just come back to Christchurch after a weekend in Dunedin, saw eight feds on the way down on Fri afternoon, and two on the way back on Sunday. I set the cruise control on 105 per the GPS and just let it go, figured that was a good safe speed. Amazing how many people were sitting on 90, maybe it's over reading speedo's or the whole road toll message is scaring people. And every trailer of boat I seemed to come across seemed to be sitting at 100.
Funnily enough typical Italian speedo on the Alfa said I was doing 115!
It was nice to go to a city where all the shops are actually open and the roads are smooth. Oh and people were friendly too. Makes you really see how it's affected this place.
I've just come back to Christchurch after a weekend in Dunedin, saw eight feds on the way down on Fri afternoon, and two on the way back on Sunday. I set the cruise control on 105 per the GPS and just let it go, figured that was a good safe speed. Amazing how many people were sitting on 90, maybe it's over reading speedo's or the whole road toll message is scaring people. And every trailer of boat I seemed to come across seemed to be sitting at 100.
Funnily enough typical Italian speedo on the Alfa said I was doing 115!
It was nice to go to a city where all the shops are actually open and the roads are smooth. Oh and people were friendly too. Makes you really see how it's affected this place.
I did an Ashburton run at 6.30am Saturday morning - expected to be held up by the Suzuki brigade doing 85-95 but ironically found myself at the rear of a well driven 6 car convoy cruising at 115 to 130. I stayed well back because I could just see the Highway Patrol getting super frothy at the mouth given such dangerously hideous speeds on deserted straight smooth roads.
They'd still be having their coffee and donuts at that time!
Actually that's it! That's why they eat round food, no sharp edges to hurt themselves on!
Yeah the road south along the coast only really starts to get interesting after Oamaru really. I roped the steering wheel to the gear stick up until then and had a snooze
Actually that's it! That's why they eat round food, no sharp edges to hurt themselves on!
Yeah the road south along the coast only really starts to get interesting after Oamaru really. I roped the steering wheel to the gear stick up until then and had a snooze
Fulvisti said:
They'd still be having their coffee and donuts at that time!
Actually that's it! That's why they eat round food, no sharp edges to hurt themselves on!
Yeah the road south along the coast only really starts to get interesting after Oamaru really. I roped the steering wheel to the gear stick up until then and had a snooze
Made me chuckle......Actually that's it! That's why they eat round food, no sharp edges to hurt themselves on!
Yeah the road south along the coast only really starts to get interesting after Oamaru really. I roped the steering wheel to the gear stick up until then and had a snooze
It would make a lot more sense to get rid of speedos, and everyone could drive to the conditions at all times. There would only be an offence of dangerous driving - which could be doing 40k past a school at certain times, driving at 65 on the open road holding up traffic, trying to do 104 on a busy motorway.
Can't prove dangerous driving? no offence.
I'll carry on dreaming.
Can't prove dangerous driving? no offence.
I'll carry on dreaming.
caziques said:
It would make a lot more sense to get rid of speedos, and everyone could drive to the conditions at all times. There would only be an offence of dangerous driving - which could be doing 40k past a school at certain times, driving at 65 on the open road holding up traffic, trying to do 104 on a busy motorway.
Can't prove dangerous driving? no offence.
I'll carry on dreaming.
So true.Can't prove dangerous driving? no offence.
I'll carry on dreaming.
It's dangerous to text and drive.
It's dangerous to adjust you radio/iPod while driving.
Why must we be continually checking an instrument cluster.
Both eyes on the road all the time is best.
Sorry officer, painted over my speedo as it was distracting me from focusing on other traffic.
SkylineObsession said:
Agreed. I spend probably half the amount of time looking at the speedo (on the open road/motorway) as i do looking out the window at the road. Not good.
That's a Damn good point, me too. It can't possibly help when you're speedo watching so much.It still amazes me that there's no (apparent) focus on driving standards instead of speed. Almost every time I drive I see somebody do (or doing) something stupid. I still see idiots on the phone whilst driving, eating, looking at the map, lack of indicators, the list goes on....
The other day I had a car coming towards me cut across in front of me without warning then stop diagonally across my side of the road (forcing me to almost stop as well) before crawling up over the kerb into a park (of the grassy variety). Absolute morons, but hey they were below the speed limit so they can't have done anything wrong!
lestag said:
can i suggest a car with cruise control sir, works for me 
, but boredom can set in 
I don't have any stats to back this up, but I guarantee if everyone had cruise control the number of sleeping at the wheel accidents would go through the roof., but boredom can set in I see in todays news the police are telling us they are considering making the tolerance limit permanent, based on reduced numbers of crashes during the trials and 'international evidence'. No mention of the death stats during the trials of course - could this be because that bit of evidence doesn't support the agenda?
Omerta said:
I don't have any stats to back this up, but I guarantee if everyone had cruise control the number of sleeping at the wheel accidents would go through the roof.
I see in todays news the police are telling us they are considering making the tolerance limit permanent, based on reduced numbers of crashes during the trials and 'international evidence'. No mention of the death stats during the trials of course - could this be because that bit of evidence doesn't support the agenda?
The tolerance reduction will initially focus people's minds, get them to wake up and actually take notice of what they're doing, it's a natural reaction to a change, born about by fear, in this case, fear of prosecution, this is what's needed all the time, every journey by every driver and, I believe, is what reduces the road toll during these periods - however, once they're used to it and have re-tuned, adjusted and callibrated they'll return to their same old complacent ways of driving without focus and anticipation.I see in todays news the police are telling us they are considering making the tolerance limit permanent, based on reduced numbers of crashes during the trials and 'international evidence'. No mention of the death stats during the trials of course - could this be because that bit of evidence doesn't support the agenda?
We'll see a dip, the police will pop the champagne corks, pat each other on the back and think they've done a fine job. Soon after the accident stats will return to their previous levels.
The UK, an island 15% smaller than New Zealand has a population of 65 miliion and an incredibly congested road network, they are about to implement a motorway speed increase to 130kph with tolerance allowing 140kph. I don't hear of any other country implementing open road speed limit reduction.
The New Zealand Transport Agency's focus on speed is a big disappointment to me. Their own data showed that open road speeds have been dropping over many years and this has had no correlation with crashes or the road toll. Inattention is usually the key factor, whatever the reason for it - drunk, tired, drugged, stupid...
I believe that police funding comes partly from NZTA, who in return get to dictate what it is spent on - blitzes on speeding is one. The revenue then gets carved up. Perhaps the speed tolerance reduction is more to do with less people speeding recently thus creating less revenue - so the threshold is reduced to keep the revenue up.
Unlike Europe the only regulation controlling speedo accuracy in NZ is this: "The speedometer must be in good working order and operate while the vehicle is moving forward."
There is no mention of under-reading and 'good working order' is not defined anywhere. This doesn't align well with such a tight tolerance.
I believe that police funding comes partly from NZTA, who in return get to dictate what it is spent on - blitzes on speeding is one. The revenue then gets carved up. Perhaps the speed tolerance reduction is more to do with less people speeding recently thus creating less revenue - so the threshold is reduced to keep the revenue up.
Unlike Europe the only regulation controlling speedo accuracy in NZ is this: "The speedometer must be in good working order and operate while the vehicle is moving forward."
There is no mention of under-reading and 'good working order' is not defined anywhere. This doesn't align well with such a tight tolerance.
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