N.Z Driving Standard

[GoluBoy]

Iv'e noticed all the posts in the whinge thread revolving around driving.

I hear ya!!!

So I have done the only Honorable thing!.

My rant follows :rant: :rant:=====>

As a professional driver...there are certain things expected of me.Be courteous at all times and obey the road rules.Simple really!.

*tell it like it is*


1- Failure to indicate, period!.I'm not Dr Who!?,and I don't drive the tardis.:nuts:

2- Off ramp merging is like trying to fit a square object into a round hole,go figure!?......sooooooooooo slowwwwwww.:sleepy:

3- N.Z is a nation of "BRAKERS".Period!.Ain't nothing going to change that.Brake-brake-brake. *Take your god damn foot off the the brake and drive the fucking thing* FFS!.:gunz:

4- Tailgaters.Observed a cop driving behind another vehicle the other day in a 'dog van' within 6ft of vehicle in front.Go Figure!.:weird:

5- Trucks "have no option" but to drive in fast lane as other traffic drives like there on there way to Seventh day adventists!.:|

Apart from that!.Gimme England or Germany to drive in any day.....even the OAP's drive in the fast lane!.:D:okay:

^^^^ If this ever changes it's got to be a 'good thing'!

Footnote: Be progressive with your driving!.It's both positive and productive.:)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOek4z32Vg


Failing that!..."the only way is up"!.^^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVeqiCbp7Ug

[Davee]

Not good - :ohno:

My dad thinks he's a hot shot drive - up and down the country he travels - but when he comes over here - he's like a lamb. All his "cool" driving makes him a bit of a country bumpkin.:nuts::lol:

I think NZ's isolation does open up a certain driving methodology and arrogance.

[Svartmetall]

At least Kiwis don't drive like Americans. I've seen enough videos on youtube (and posted in the highway section of this forum) to know that Kiwi drivers can drive infinitely better than Americans! The amount of illegal lane changes, sharp braking and what not on their motorways frightens the living daylights out of me!

[Davee]

I found Americans not to bad in the 6 months I spent in the States - but I suppose it depends where you are.

Britian has it's fare share of dickhead drivers, but generally I think they are good drivers. It must be because of the way they are taught by qualified driving instructors.

[MonsieurAquilone]

I found Americans not to bad in the 6 months I spent in the States - but I suppose it depends where you are.

Britian has it's fare share of dickhead drivers, but generally I think they are good drivers. It must be because of the way they are taught by qualified driving instructors.


Or Top Gear!

[GoluBoy]

Or Top Gear!

lol...I actually believe that Top Gear must give the OAP's a refresher course every 2 years.Because they all drive in the fast lane over in the U.K.....*Now that rocks*.:rock:

The first time I saw that,I did a double take.It blew me away!...I thought,"Hell!"...That would never happen back home.More like driving 75-80 in the slow lane, & holding up every man & his dog.

^^ Which is why us "Truck drivers" have no option but to use the fast lane.We are on a tight schedule.If we drove like everyone else we'd be working till 11 p.m at night <=== not good:ohno:

I not racist at all!.But can someone please shed some light? on the following facts........

1 - Indian drivers drive at 80 kph on the motorway and not a kph more!?.

2 - Asian drivers are "very" hesitant and overtly cautious!.

This makes driving a total BITCH!:ohno:

[MonsieurAquilone]

I believe you are right with Asian hesitiancy. Having quite a few as friends, I notice a number who seem to accelerate then brake, accelerate then break etc.. as they go along their way. Probably due to the 'crass' swerving and general road-rule-forgetting of 'Kiwi' drivers. Haha.

[Mr_kiwi_fruit]

One thing I have noticed since driving here over the last two years.....


1. People either never overtake or they overtake all the time.
2. Average speed on open road - 90km's hr. Means you need to overtake if you want to travel at the speed limit. (In South Africa the average was 140, even though that was 20 above the speed limit.)
3. Kiwi drivers never say thank you when you let them in - something I find extremely strange... and when I say let them in I am not talking about giving right of way under normal circumstances.
4. The right hand lane is not respected as a fast lane - and I know that this has been discussed with regards to whether it is a fast lane or not - but if you don't have the balls to go 100, move over and give way for someone who has.
5. Asian drivers have a bad rep - and boy do they deserve it! (Its the truth)
6. Drivers however do respect pedestrian crossings, but make up for that in Foodtown garages where pedestrians seem to become legitimate targets.

Being an avid motorcyclist and having covered hundreds of thousands of km's over 6 yrs, Auckland is for me with all its compliance and laws, Hi vis vests etc etc one of the UN-safest cities for motorcycling that I have ever ridden in.

[dubious]

One thing I have noticed since driving here over the last two years.....


1. People either never overtake or they overtake all the time.
2. Average speed on open road - 90km's hr. Means you need to overtake if you want to travel at the speed limit. (In South Africa the average was 140, even though that was 20 above the speed limit.)
3. Kiwi drivers never say thank you when you let them in - something I find extremely strange... and when I say let them in I am not talking about giving right of way under normal circumstances.
4. The right hand lane is not respected as a fast lane - and I know that this has been discussed with regards to whether it is a fast lane or not - but if you don't have the balls to go 100, move over and give way for someone who has.
5. Asian drivers have a bad rep - and boy do they deserve it! (Its the truth)
6. Drivers however do respect pedestrian crossings, but make up for that in Foodtown garages where pedestrians seem to become legitimate targets.

Being an avid motorcyclist and having covered hundreds of thousands of km's over 6 yrs, Auckland is for me with all its compliance and laws, Hi vis vests etc etc one of the UN-safest cities for motorcycling that I have ever ridden in.

Totally agree with your observations Craig. In my opinion, NZ drivers (generally) have a unique blend of arrogance and incompetence unlike many other countries I've visited. I think this is partly a result of the state-sanctioned message from the Police that a slow driver is a safe driver. This is why we see people in the "fast" lane doing 90, unwilling to move over in the belief that anyone who passes them is a danger to themselves and the community.

When living in Toronto I observed an entirely different attitude towards driving. While the highway speed limit is 100, you can drive the entire length of Highway 401 at 130km/h without a getting second glance from the Police. The provincial government outlawed speed cameras, citing them as dangerous to motorists due to the likelihood that drivers would pay more attention to their speed than to their surroundings. The government decided that it was more useful to concentrate resources on catching lane-straddlers, unsafe vehicles and drunk drivers. There was also a proposal to remove red-light cameras as they were perceived to cause more nose-to-tail accidents at intersections.

Quite a contrast to the 'Speed Kills' message we have here.

[jarbury]

The difference between NZ and Toronto is that most of our State Highways only have a design speed of around 80 kph. They were built back at a time when cars didn't really go that fast, and (apart from in urban areas and selected spots such as ALPURT 1 and the Waikato Expressway) they haven't really been upgraded much. I'm all for adjusting speed limits to suit road conditions.

For example, I don't see why the speed limit on the motorway between Albany and Orewa can't be 120 kph. This is surely the safest and gentlest piece of road in NZ. Similarly, I don't understand why black-spot areas such as Dome Valley and SH2 between Pokeno and Maramarua aren't 80 kph spots with fixed cameras and wire barriers down the middle of the road and on each side. It'd be pretty hard to kill yourself if that was the case!

Canada has weird 80-90 kph highway speed limits though!

[Kane007]

Sorry boys, but I just don't know were you all experiencing these 80 and 90 kph drivers on the motorways. Maybe there's something about me but apart from rush hours when ever I'm on the motorway I tend to experience the complete opposite!

Say, take last Friday as an example. Got on south bound at Oteha Valley road, up the hill and got to 109 km/h before having to move to the right most lane inorder to get around other vehicles struggling on the motorway on this hill :). So there I was coming down the other side approaching Grevill Road interchange conscious not to exceed that 10km/h excess speed allowance the cops give us and what do I get - petrol heads racing up behind me, tailgating, and trying to intimidate their way past! 109/115 km/h and this still isn't fast enough. Not long and we reach the Constellation Road Interchange/road works were the posted limited is reduced to a temporary 80km/h. So I use a bit of decency - to the road workers - and reduce my speed to 90. Still screaming past cars on my left but these fuckers it's not good enough. It's just a shame that I have to start making way left as aiming for the Northcote Road interchange.

dah! 2 big red and white circle signs with big number 8 0 on them, every 100 metres but these dipsticks must only be capable of reading Latin!

Similar thing happened to me on the SH18 on my way west and then again on SH16 back to the city. I tended to do 109 and then 89 over the harbour bridge to Onewa.

No where did I encounter those drongo's doing UNDER just a horde of loosers doing even more than me.

P.S. I aim for 109/108 just in case my speedo isn't 100% calibrated :)

[Svartmetall]

Sorry boys, but I just don't know were you all experiencing these 80 and 90 kph drivers on the motorways. Maybe there's something about me but apart from rush hours when ever I'm on the motorway I tend to experience the complete opposite!

Say, take last Friday as an example. Got on south bound at Oteha Valley road, up the hill and got to 109 km/h before having to move to the right most lane inorder to get around other vehicles struggling on the motorway on this hill :). So there I was coming down the other side approaching Grevill Road interchange conscious not to exceed that 10km/h excess speed allowance the cops give us and what do I get - petrol heads racing up behind me, tailgating, and trying to intimidate their way past! 109/115 km/h and this still isn't fast enough. Not long and we reach the Constellation Road Interchange/road works were the posted limited is reduced to a temporary 80km/h. So I use a bit of decency - to the road workers - and reduce my speed to 90. Still screaming past cars on my left but these fuckers it's not good enough. It's just a shame that I have to start making way left as aiming for the Northcote Road interchange.

dah! 2 big red and white circle signs with big number 8 0 on them, every 100 metres but these dipsticks must only be capable of reading Latin!

Similar thing happened to me on the SH18 on my way west and then again on SH16 back to the city. I tended to do 109 and then 89 over the harbour bridge to Onewa.

No where did I encounter those drongo's doing UNDER just a horde of loosers doing even more than me.

P.S. I aim for 109/108 just in case my speedo isn't 100% calibrated :)

Ditto. I find it hard to do 89 (in the 80 zone) on the Northern Motorway as people tend to ride right up my backside and get rather angsty with me. I honestly don't understand why.

[Kane007]

They keep it up long enough and I slow to 80. 88 or 89 not good enough then fucking try this... 80 :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Live long and prosper!

[GoluBoy]

One thing I have noticed since driving here over the last two years.....


1. People either never overtake or they overtake all the time.
2. Average speed on open road - 90km's hr. Means you need to overtake if you want to travel at the speed limit. (In South Africa the average was 140, even though that was 20 above the speed limit.)
3. Kiwi drivers never say thank you when you let them in - something I find extremely strange... and when I say let them in I am not talking about giving right of way under normal circumstances.
4. The right hand lane is not respected as a fast lane - and I know that this has been discussed with regards to whether it is a fast lane or not - but if you don't have the balls to go 100, move over and give way for someone who has.
5. Asian drivers have a bad rep - and boy do they deserve it! (Its the truth)
6. Drivers however do respect pedestrian crossings, but make up for that in Foodtown garages where pedestrians seem to become legitimate targets.

Being an avid motorcyclist and having covered hundreds of thousands of km's over 6 yrs, Auckland is for me with all its compliance and laws, Hi vis vests etc etc one of the UN-safest cities for motorcycling that I have ever ridden in.


^^MR!_ Kiwi_Fruit:D I agree with your sentiments with the accuracy of a GOL-Sniper rifle http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn69-e.htm

Special commendation award goes to number 4.:)

4. The right hand lane is not respected as a fast lane - and I know that this has been discussed with regards to whether it is a fast lane or not - but if you don't have the balls to go 100, move over and give way for someone who has.

FootNote: It's unfortunate that the Governments barrage of advertisements regarding "Speed Kills" over the last decade....has in fact turned everyone into "paranoid" drivers.This means driving at 80-90 kph on the Motorway and open road.This also means it becomes hazardous to other drivers whom get frustrated and start to drive erratically because of the aforesaid driving.

Not something that the Government intended to happen I'm sure.

*Having shit slow drivers on the road pissing off other drivers whom are confident and responsible at the wheel,whom would like to drive at 100-110kph* and get back in time for Christmas!.:ohno:

[GoluBoy]

Update: Drove on the North Western Motorway today.

Drove at the speed limit of 100kph.......In the outside (slower lane) ......."passed all vehicles in both middle lanes and inside (faster lane)".......Between St Luke's Offramp & Rosebank Rd Offramp.[light traffic]

:wtf: is with that? :lol::weird:

[GoluBoy]

Ban texting or using mobile unless its hands free [head-set or speaker-phone]

I am FUCKING sick to death of DRONGO drivers holding up "cues" of traffic,because there piss-arseing around texting on there little toys!:bash::ohno:

1 - Stuck behind texting moron today,traffic moves off,he's still fucking around,gap of 100 meters between him and next car.:nuts:

2 - Stuck behind another moron today,texts-drives-texts-drives-texts-drives....moves total of 30ft in traffic.....other traffic has already progressed way ahead.:nuts:

3 - Stuck behind another moron today,texts-brakes-swerves-brakes-speeds-up-brakes-texts-swerves-brakes-stops WTF!?.:nuts:

Three dip-shit Mofo's in one day.This is too much!!!:bash::bash::bash:

BAN HAND-HELDS IN VEHICLES NOW!!

I'm seriously thinking about ramming one of these pricks in my 8ton truck [sometimes] 18ton GVM.Should wipe out the back half of the vehicle quite nicely, and leave a small dent in the trucks front cab.:cheers: :yes:

Footnote: I can't and won't "toot" because I drive a truck...and if I do that,then that means I have a *small penis*...and as I don't,It's not appropriate.I use it only when there is immediate danger or serious hazard.

[Davee]

Ban texting or using mobile unless its hands free [head-set or speaker-phone]

I am FUCKING sick to death of DRONGO drivers holding up "cues" of traffic,because there piss-arseing around texting on there little toys!:bash::ohno:

1 - Stuck behind texting moron today,traffic moves off,he's still fucking around,gap of 100 meters between him and next car.:nuts:

2 - Stuck behind another moron today,texts-drives-texts-drives-texts-drives....moves total of 30ft in traffic.....other traffic has already progressed way ahead.:nuts:

3 - Stuck behind another moron today,texts-brakes-swerves-brakes-speeds-up-brakes-texts-swerves-brakes-stops WTF!?.:nuts:

Three dip-shit Mofo's in one day.This is too much!!!:bash::bash::bash:

BAN HAND-HELDS IN VEHICLES NOW!!

I'm seriously thinking about ramming one of these pricks in my 8ton truck [sometimes] 18ton GVM.Should wipe out the back half of the vehicle quite nicely, and leave a small dent in the trucks front cab.:cheers: :yes:

Footnote: I can't and won't "toot" because I drive a truck...and if I do that,then that means I have a *small penis*...and as I don't,It's not appropriate.I use it only when there is immediate danger or serious hazard.

We've had the ban in Britian for over a year now. Your get into serious shit if you're caught :bash::bash:

Bring on the ban :banana:

[GoluBoy]

^^ :bow: Oh god!....I so wan't to live in England again.Traffic flows like a dream...OAP's drive in the fast lane...peole don't tail-gate..people actually 'use' there indicators.....and wtf!,people actually know how to merge into fast flowing trafic when entering the Moterway......Quite simply by stomping on that thing called an *accelerator*...something Kiwi's don't have a clear understanding about.

Oh wait!....what about the weather!?.....humm,I guess you can't have it all your own way.:)

[Milan Luka]

Say what we like about the Brits but I reckon by far they are probably the best drivers considering their congestion.

[GoluBoy]

^^ yep!...*fully*.I put it down to there high standards for driving courses [both pratical and theory]...and not the lax [oh well,I guess we can tick that one off] from the driving instructors over here.:nuts:

[GoluBoy]

http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2008/2/18/are-new-zealanders-bad-drivers/?c_id=1501154

jack (Northland)

It seems that direction indicators are an optional extra on cars in N.Z.

^^ Superglue the mofo's hands to it I say!


Facts about N.Z Drivers:

Arrogant
Presumptuous
Cocky
Ignorant
Senseless
Agressive
Morons

Example: To agressively overtake someone in order to make up one single car space,and more often than not.....have to stop at the red lights and lose that "oh so very important" 5 meter gain in life:nuts:.....basically sums up KIWI drivers.

Perhaps a good old fashioned *punch in the head* might alleviate this behaviour??:bash:

[DML2]

I got hit at a roundabout a few months ago, and the girl that hit my car drove away. I was NOT pleased.

[GoluBoy]

^^ God!,why does that not surprise me.??

Hope you got her rego?.... so that you can trace it and pour carborane acid on her vehicle.:banana:

[dunedin]

Driving on the open road I used to go so fast because it just used to get away on me but now I have one of those new Holdens that makes this loud sound at you when you go over 110 kms

[DML2]

^^ God!,why does that not surprise me.??

Hope you got her rego?.... so that you can trace it and pour carborane acid on her vehicle.:banana:

Yeah i did get it. I see her car parked near my school sometimes, it's very tempting to damage it. Probably shouldn't

[Milan Luka]

Im all for reporting bad driving to the coppa's. They love it when people take the time to make a complaint as well.

I had a recent run in with a driver, although the conditions at the time were shocking- dark, sleet, gale force winds. I got the number plate and went forward to police.

They chased it up and bingo. Success all round, the driver was tracked down, admitted her transgression and has been fined. Im now trying to decide whether or not to press charges.

[DML2]

I told the police about the bitch that hit me, they tracked her down and had a 'strong word' with her. That's all. I was fuckin furious

[GoluBoy]

^^ Well said! :lol: :righton:

[DML2]

^^ Well said! :lol: :righton:

Cheers :D

[whizz_pat]

My first post :)

If you want to see how not to drive, go to Egypt:
-around 10% of drivers turn headlights on at night
-no such thing as indicating
-tailgaiting is not seen as a hazard
-lanes are completely ignored and people drive in between two lanes. as one egyptian put it, "lanes in this country are only for decoration on the road"
-traffic lights ignored most of the time, traffic officers are required at each intersection.
-motorcyclists travel in between cars like morons without wearing any protective gear, not even helmets.

Combine this with insane 24/7 traffic jams in Cairo that Auckland will never see in its lifetime and you got one of the highest road deaths in the world per capita.

[jarbury]

Sounds a bit like Naples.

[Kane007]

Sounds a heck of a lot like Sydney Taxi drivers... oh wait, quite a few of them are from Egypt anyway :)

[DML2]

My first post :)

If you want to see how not to drive, go to Egypt:
-around 10% of drivers turn headlights on at night
-no such thing as indicating
-tailgaiting is not seen as a hazard
-lanes are completely ignored and people drive in between two lanes. as one egyptian put it, "lanes in this country are only for decoration on the road"
-traffic lights ignored most of the time, traffic officers are required at each intersection.
-motorcyclists travel in between cars like morons without wearing any protective gear, not even helmets.

Combine this with insane 24/7 traffic jams in Cairo that Auckland will never see in its lifetime and you got one of the highest road deaths in the world per capita.


Sounds like fun :crazy2: :D

[woody]

Sounds a heck of a lot like Sydney Taxi drivers... oh wait, quite a few of them are from Egypt anyway :)

I have a tale about Sydney Taxi drivers, I jumped a cab down by the Rocks and told the driver to take me to Beach Road Motel in Bondi, he grabbed hold of his A-Z Sydney street map and started plotting the route:ohno: After 5 minutes I told him to drive as I knew the way, he was from Vietnam and did not even speak English:nuts:, Suffice to say i gave him a tip...." BUY A SAT NAV".:bash:

Driving in NZ is a doddle, empty roads and in the main driving standards are good if a little slow. But coming from a country with over 30m registered vehicles, were driving is much faster (when that is possible) I can cope with the slower pace, but I have noticed that "tailgating" sems to be a national sport:nuts:
Reading comments on this thread about "slow" and "fast" lanes, no such thing in the UK all lanes on motorways are 70mph, although Heavy Goods " can only use lanes 1& 2, lane 3 is an overtaking lane not a fast lane.

A few photos of the M60, M62 and M6 ,my local motorways that now a days are very busy 24/7.................

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/m60_002.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/m60_004.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_knutsfordservices.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_m6-2.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_M62_1_9.jpg

Driving Standards in the UK are pretty good, but I am sure those standards are slipping due to congested roads, every one is in a hurry with limited patience, and an influx of "foreign" drivers have caused problems, plenty of crashes and no proper documentation:ohno: It should also be noted that subject to good road conditions and weather, the police would not pull you if you were doing up to 80MPH say 130KPH, but get caught doing 100MPH its 12 points on your license and an automatic ban. Hand held mobiles are banned and you can expect a fine and points .

[Svartmetall]

^^ You didn't drive in Auckland then, Woody? Congestion is absolutely rife here almost 24/7

[woody]

^^ You didn't drive in Auckland then, Woody? Congestion is absolutely rife here almost 24/7

My first visit to NZ was back in 2002 was to Auckland and I did a over 1000k north and south of the city, yes it was busy but only hit tailbacks were the motorways finished:lol:. Since then all my driving has been in South Island based around Christchurch, with little or no jams.

[GoluBoy]

Thanks woody for your post.:cheers:

Brings back memories when I was driving my lorry around the U.K between 1996-1998.I managed to clock up around 80,000 Miles during that period,what's more....I got paid for it.My favourite Motorway M3:)

Auckland's Southern Motorway between the city and about Ellerslie,has "serious" congestion.There is a desperate need for an extra lane either side.I believe they have the room to do it.Time will tell.C'mon Transit N.Z!.

[woody]

Thanks woody for your post.:cheers:

Brings back memories when I was driving my lorry around the U.K between 1996-1998.I managed to clock up around 80,000 Miles during that period,what's more....I got paid for it.My favourite Motorway M3:).

Heres to your happy memories GoluBoy, Motorway M3...............

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_dscf000117.jpg

A rare photo of snow on the M3...........

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_aPhoto-0026.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_M3_Junction_2_Eastbound.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc242/woody43/normal_Picture_511.jpg

[GoluBoy]

^^ :D Thanks Woody.

I remember that downhill segment of the M3 in the last photo you posted.

Yes,very smooth driving.

Any chance that you could export your roadbuilders here.Cause ours are crap!.:bash:

Worlds best roadbuilders are Germany and England 1st equal.:)

[Sukkiri]

Screw driving. Just take god-damn public transport!

[Svartmetall]

^^ We would, if it was comprehensive, fast, integrated, affordable and frequent.

[Sukkiri]

^^ Its still fairly average, depending on where you live. Henderson is pretty well connected with the city with buses and trains so I'm quite happy.