Road safety issues

[Simon Lord]

If I might venture an opinion as a foreigner who chose to be a Kiwi some 15
years ago and would never consider going back...

The majority of foreign tourists are better-trained (usually
formally-trained) drivers than the majority of New Zealanders. However, they
are trained in their own local conditions where signage, roads, vehicle
stock and other road user behaviours are of a higher standard than our own.
They are therefore often out of their depth in dealing with the conditions
here: for example, the sudden removal of the road's top surface with only
50m warning (experienced by me in Northland); the inadequate rolling-in of
loose chippings; the road cambers; the give way rules; the overtaking rules;
and, of course, the relative familiarity with all these things (and often
the resulting over-confidence) of the local drivers. Combine these factors
with driving an unfamiliar vehicle (many will be driving a motorhome for the
first time), possibly on the 'wrong' side of the road, and you have a recipe
for accidents. Having said that, I would be surprised if the accident rate
per vehicle per kilometre were significantly higher for tourists than for
residents.

I believe a far greater concern is the standard of driver training in this
country for the general population as a whole. I arrived as a well-trained
immigrant from the UK and was horrified by some of the things I saw. I have
got used to it, and I suspect my own standards have slipped somewhat over
the last few years - certainly when back in the UK I have once or twice
caught myself about to carry out manoeuvres that just aren't acceptable
there. I think that there is probably a need for a driver training
'manifesto' that would significantly improve driving standards in this
country with a far greater long-term impact upon the accident statistics
than any number of speeding campaigns. Such a manifesto demonstrating our
concern and positive suggestions would far increase the impact of any letter
to government regarding the use of speed camera revenues.

I am sure everyone will have their own suggestions but here are a few to
start the ball rolling.

1. Increase the driving age to 17 for all vehicles.
2. Make the use of L-plates compulsory - and ensure they are removed when a
non-learner is driving.
3. Require all applicants to produce a certificate showing that they have
had at least 5 hours of instruction by a qualified (licensed) professional
driving instructor. Given the low standards of many drivers at the moment,
new drivers cannot expect to learn good habits from them.
4. Make the use of P-plates (provisional) compulsory for six months after
passing the test - and ensure they are removed when a non-learner is driving.
5. Put restrictions on drivers using P-plates - eg. no unqualified
passengers without at least one qualified passenger, no driving after dark
or on motorways without at least one qualified passenger, no driving of
vehicles with in excess of x bhp or x unsupercharged or turbocharged litres.
6. Make third party insurance compulsory for all vehicle owners graded
according to car type and driver age.
7. Remove ACC from non-compliant parties.
8. Use the speed camera revenues to pay for the additional policing of these
provisions via casual checks - particularly in rural areas!.

I also like Kate's idea about producing a licence to pay for petrol, but
can't see how that could be made to work practically.

OK, so I'm an old fart who's had my fun - but I'm also a father of two
children who will be on the roads in just a few years along with their
friends. Scary!

By the way, I am currently looking for a WOF failure - maybe rust but
basically good runner - to teach my two to drive on our lower paddock.
Manual gearbox, ok ground clearance and decent springs essential. Let me
know if you have anything suitable.

Simon

From chris.tankard@aderant.com Fri Apr 27 17:45:39 2007
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Subject: RE: Road safety issues
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:11:49 +1300
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From: "Chris Tankard" <chris.tankard@aderant.com>
To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
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Simon,

I like your ideas raised in your email.

However - comments like "The majority of foreign tourists are
better-trained (usually formally-trained) drivers than the majority of
New Zealanders" is unqualified, and personally I doubt is correct.

I have seen first hand some of the idiots who manage to become
"professional driving instructors" - lets face it - its not a hard job
to get.

This is like saying that children that are home schooled receive a
lesser education than children who are taught by professional teachers.
My daughters teacher last year told the class that he only did the one
year (post degree) course to become a teacher because he liked the
holidays so he could follow his passion - surfing.

Educating my child is just a means to an end to him - it is far more
important to me.

The same goes with driving instructors - who cares the most - the guy on
$20 an hour or the parent that is putting their child on the road.

Now I'm not saying that all fathers teach better that driving teachers -
but you cannot assume that they are getting a poor training.

As for all foreigners getting better training - yeah right. In some
countries this may be the case but out of the main cities in SA? China?
Korea? There are a lot of people from other places that have licenses
would never pass their test here.

In regard to the conditions "they are trained in their own local
conditions where signage, roads, vehicle stock and other road user
behaviours are of a higher standard than our own" again I would have to
disagree - not all the world outside of NZ is of a higher standard.
Having driven in a lot of countries - NZ's roads and vehicles are up
there - not as good as a lot of the UK or US, but better than a lot of
places that have visitors to NZ.

I guess I wanted to say that we cannot make assumptions, or
generalizations on how some one can drive based on where they are from.


C

[Simon Lord]

Very valid comments, Chris. I didn't say all foreigners, I said the
majority, and I still believe that to be true as we have a high percentage
of European tourists in the self-drive category. At the moment, Korean and
Chinese tourists - as opposed to residents - would not generally be
self-drivers.

Yes, some parents make great tutors and some teachers don't. My son has been
able to spell and punctuate better than most of his teachers since he was
six - I kid you not. My point was that if we accept that the general
standard of driving in NZ is lower than we would like, we cannot rely upon
those same people who are driving below an acceptable level to teach higher
standards to their children.

If the standard of driving instructors is low, then we need to raise the
bar. Manifesto point number 8?

Cheers
Simon

[poison]

Hey Chris please delete China from your list of Trained drivers, there is no
Driver training. I've been there and it's total chaos, no training at all ,
you attend a class (sitting at a desk) and then drive an automatic 50m and
there you get your liscence, or pay a little more to skip the practical
test. Red lights, stop signs and round abouts mean nothing to them so to be
honsest it's not the Chinese drivers fault their driving is crap, it's just
the way they think is normal.

The Chinese government now concerned about their huge road toll, in 2005
made the test much harder, they now have to go around 3 round bumps on the
road, and now driving an impressive 100m. I can't imagine it's must better
in many parts of the world. I believe there should be compulsary drinving
tests for anyone who comes to NZ and wants to use a car in NZ for more than
3 months.

Statistically in China around 250,000 died on the road in 2004, that's
nearly 700 per day. Even given the huge population (where most can't afford
a car) that's shocking.

On the other hand a year or so ago someone at work showed me a study that
showed NZ drivers would go faster though a small gap than any other country
and follow more closely. There were more issues too, we all think we are
better drivers than the next bloke, but really are we???

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[poison]

Hey Chris please delete China from your list of Trained drivers, there is no
Driver training. I've been there and it's total chaos, no training at all ,
you attend a class (sitting at a desk) and then drive an automatic 50m and
there you get your liscence, or pay a little more to skip the practical
test. Red lights, stop signs and round abouts mean nothing to them so to be
honsest it's not the Chinese drivers fault their driving is crap, it's just
the way they think is normal.

The Chinese government now concerned about their huge road toll, in 2005
made the test much harder, they now have to go around 3 round bumps on the
road, and now driving an impressive 100m. I can't imagine it's must better
in many parts of the world. I believe there should be compulsary drinving
tests for anyone who comes to NZ and wants to use a car in NZ for more than
3 months.

Statistically in China around 250,000 died on the road in 2004, that's
nearly 700 per day. Even given the huge population (where most can't afford
a car) that's shocking.

On the other hand a year or so ago someone at work showed me a study that
showed NZ drivers would go faster though a small gap than any other country
and follow more closely. There were more issues too, we all think we are
better drivers than the next bloke, but really are we???

Gazza
"PO1SON"

[poison]

Oh my GOD! that went without a spell check... arrggghhhh...


Gazza
"PO1SON"

[poison]

Oh my GOD! that went without a spell check... arrggghhhh...


Gazza
"PO1SON"

[bert wouda]

I went in 1988 for a practical " round the block " 400 mtr in
Porirua ( it was easier then in Wellington they said ) for my HT license
with my own little truck ( Mitsi Canter ) ... which I had been driving
for months before ,... and passed !!!


BW

***********

[bert wouda]

I went in 1988 for a practical " round the block " 400 mtr in
Porirua ( it was easier then in Wellington they said ) for my HT license
with my own little truck ( Mitsi Canter ) ... which I had been driving
for months before ,... and passed !!!


BW

***********