Weather

Well it’s been a quite week, so not a lot to report, except for this morning, what is it about the weather? If it rains the crazy people hit the road and try to hit me, then the sun shines and that brings out the crazy people as well, hang on……...Ah yes it’s not the weather the crazy people are on the roads all the time.




So, a big thank you to the lady, allegedly driving the blue people carrier, for trying to inspect my front bumper, I can assure you it is just fine, however the amount of brake pad wear was significant as I had to take evasive action. So just for this lady this is how it works, YOU DON’T pull in front of people without going through a correct procedure, like, mirror, indicate, mirror, and then manoeuvre if it is safe to do so, it wasn’t safe today, GET IT!!!



Also a big thank you the guy in the Hilux who waited and waited until I was about 15 metres from him then decided to do a right turn, he can’t make the actual turn to join traffic so stops and blocks the lane. More brake wear as I had to literally stop and wait for him to finish his coffee and get on his way.



Bring on the snow, then we should have some fun.

The Lull before......

So what's going on New Zealand? is this the lull before the storm I ask myself? Hopefully not. It would appear that over the past few days, I have noticed a lot of consideration on the roads, maybe the new law changes are having an effect, drivers being more observant, being more courteous, being more respectful, I don't know what it is, but I suspect it won't last, which is a pity has it makes for trouble free motoring, I reckon that I have just hit a slump and that New Zealand will be back killing each other very soon.

Which brings me to Stephen Joyce, man, his legs must ache with all the knee jerking this guy does, and we are going to get another series of instant responses to a massive problem, Kids, yes kid drivers, he will put the age limit up to 16-17 he has too, that in itself however is not the answer, the answer for ALL drivers is education and testing, the practical test is far to lenient and the theory is a joke, it cultivates a process that is insitutionalised, however as long as the government are perceived to be doing something then its ok, isn’t it?

Those lovely lady drivers are at it again!

Another new law?

Well, with all the media excitement regarding the new driving rules on the use of mobile phones in the car, one rule change that will definitely make a difference to road safety, has practically gone unnoticed I am taking about the drugs impairment rule,….,sorry the what? Yep I was a bit mystified at first. Basically the rule is  this if the police thing you might be intoxicated with either alcohol or drugs they can carry out a traditional impairment test. For the uninitiated this includes the following:

• An eye assessment – pupil size, reaction to light, lack of convergence, nystagmus (ie abnormal eye movement - irregular eye movement can be a marker for drug impairment)

• A walk and turn assessment

• A one leg stand assessment.

If you fail any or all of these you will not be allowed to drive your car for around 12 hours and you will have to supply a blood sample for analysis, with a view that you my be prosecuted, the offence carries the same penalties as drink driving.

 Will the police exceed their power, probably, will it make a difference on driving standards possibly, why didn’t this get a higher profile in the media release, well that's the kiwi way always concentrating on the wrong issue, the inference is that something like 60 potential deaths could be saved, not the two lives, welcome has that is ,that not answering the phone will potentially save. It might be a violation of your civil rights, but it is a step in the right direction to improving the terrible death toll that is New Zealand roads.

Special Vehicle Lanes

Well the firework season is over for another year, but that's not going to mean that the fireworks on the road will improve, my view as you know, are things will get worse rather than better. So one legislative tweak, that seems to be slipping under the radar, is the one that we are all tempted to break at one point or another, and that's nipping into the bus lane just to make that left turn, no one will see when we do it.

Well bless the cotton socks of this government as they have offered an explanation has to how to proceed, the fact that there are signs all over the road telling the great driving public that you cannot use these lanes between certain times, you can't park there during certain times and only certain vehicles can use them, this is shown by pretty little pictures.

Fairly self explanatory I thought, I am in a car, van or truck so I can't use these special vehicle lanes, If I drive a bus, ride a motorcycle or ride a push bike then yippe I can!!

Kiwis being so dumb they can't work this one out for themselves, so those helpful people are Land Transport are now going to enlighten us. Bring it on, (Q) so is it correct Land Transport person, that, if I drive a car, van or truck I can't use the so called bus lane? (A) well that used to be the case but not any longer,(Q) so I can use the Bus lane? (A) NO!

Hang on (Q) So I can use the bus lane, but I can't use the bus lane? (A) Correct! Thanks for that clarification, now I am really confused.

What is the Rule amendment relating to the use of special vehicle lanes?

When drivers need to cross a special vehicle lane to turn left or get to a parking space they must do it in the minimum length of the lane necessary but no more than 50 metres. (If you want to be confused more read the article at this address)

NZTA

What this means in practice, is you can use a bus lane, as most are shorter than 50 metre sections anyways.

Another plus for road safety.

Yet again

Well it's certain to be a bumper record number of deaths on the road, and when you consider that the majority of those deaths never really needed to happen, it makes it even worse, the recent campaigns run by the government obviously are not working. So is there an optimum level, have we reached the threshold, is it not possible to reduce these figures lower even as a percentage as opposed to an actual number?


Well death free motoring, would be the "Holy Grail" could you imagine a world without car deaths? Or even car accidents, well are you sitting comfortably? Then i'll begin,

Once upon a time in a land far far away......not it's not a fairy story or even make believe, it is New Zealand around 70 years ago, so the most likely death on the roads was via being hit by a passing hay bale.

Well it's obvious that we can not turn back the clock and life a simpler life at a more genteel pace, however with some thought being put into some half descent legislation and with the right level on enforcement, it is possible to reduce these terrible numbers to almost acceptable figures, single figures would be a worthy goal, but it would appear the government is as usual paying lip service to the fact that a reduction in the drink driving laws would reduce deaths per annum by around a third.

Tell that to the people who have lost loved ones by those who drink and drive, what the statistics don't tell us is the alcohol content or levels of the murderers who took these lives. (Harsh I know but then I didn’t mean to carry a knife officer was just in my pocket)

Come on National it's not rocket science, but then maybe the Alcohol lobby is far to strong in this country, whereas the telephone lobby isn't making enough financial contributions to the governments coffers.

Which brings me to the booze bus on the corner of Queens and K'Rd, nice one NZ police the congestion caused on the roads at 8am was probably worth the one person you busted and the thousands of dollars spent and setting it up, 2 police cars, stacks of cones, the booze bus and at least 4 police officers, there as to be a better spot or a better way to spend the tax payers money. Oh in case you didn't guess I was walking not driving.

Women are the Best Drivers- the evidence

It's the law!

So it’s official, you can’t use your cell phone in the car, not before time really.

However when the law was introduced on Sunday little response from the public, so I was thinking, oh yeah wait until Monday with business people, couriers and the school run, then it will be a different story, but I was wrong.

Seen two people using a phone today, not band really all things considered, maybe NZ are waking up to a reality that it's not a good look using a phone, but I doubt it, I'll give it a week, then it will start, why, ‘cos people will be having withdrawals, they are phone junkies and the need for the telephone fix is to great.

Why there isn't a response at the moment is probably because the police are being extra vigilant and are on the prowl. As an aside, one interesting development, is drivers eating drinking and generally flouting the rules on cell phone banning, by making it obvious that they are unhappy and are easily distracted by other items in the car, point taken but still crazy, I am sure there is a law like driving without due care and attention, that would cover food and coffee.

Now where's that sticky bun?