new driving laws :(

[Leon]

Hard to narrow it down really, because prodrive was running when I was in my early 20's (38 or something now?), so there were a lot of govts who weren't interested in supporting it, not just one govt

I maintain that my policy that "they" should shoot every second or third person on the road. Would cut down on traffic too.

[Simon K]

I'm liking the zero alcohol limit for under 20s. The kids will be over that if they even look at a can

[Truenotch]

In my opinion age has nothing to do with it.

If we actually trained our drivers, there would be fewer incidents. The problem lies with supervisors who pass on their bad habits and have no idea what they are doing (but are too stubborn to know this).

If the age was to be raised any higher than 16, there would be a larger number of non-licensed or learner drivers breaking the rules to exercise their independence. Like it or not, at 15 or 16 you have the best chance of learning to drive well - living in the family home, going to school and wanting to learn are all important for developing new drivers.


After spending time teaching my little brother to drive (just turned 16) I've noticed that the biggest problem with his driving is that he knows the rules too well and expects that middle-aged drivers do too. I've had to drill into him that "just because that's the rule, it doesn't mean other drivers won't break it... and then crash into you."


The majority are doing it wrong, but most a high opinion of their own "skills". Get them to the track and that all changes.


Edit: and a prodrive type course should be compulsory before you are allowed a full license.

[TRD Man]

Yes Really. Sentiment always finds it's way into the rumour and hearsay surrounding these things. Simple fact is there's not a bottomless pit and other programmes fitted the bill a bit better.

[TRD Man]

I maintain that my policy that "they" should shoot every second or third person on the road.

I like the attitude Leon.

Mate of mine, in the 70's, used to say - "if 30% of accidents are caused by drunk drivers that means 70% are caused by sober drivers so they should get those suckers off the road and let us pissheads drive in peace."

[Truenotch]

Thanks TRD man.

[DXROLLA]

I think there should be mandatory driver training, as stated above i dont think age is the big problem, starting young is good so long as you have to be supervised for a number of years + driver training courses.

I had a bit of an accident a couple of weeks ago, i got my licence when i was 15 did the defenceive driver course (what a joke that is) and had my full licence when i was 16 waaayy to young, but i thought it was pritty cool at the time i am now 23 so have had my full for a while, does that make me a better driver? NO! More like a lazy driver.
So back to my accdent i was going to work early morning around 7, doing about 50-60kmh going around a slight bend that i go around everyday, hit black ice and slid right into those large gutters The reason for the accident i beleive is the obvious black ice, but also the fact the i have become lazy i had got into the habbit of just jumping in my car and just driving, not thinking about road conditions ect, and of course driving to the conditions.
Im just thankfull there were no kids going to school or someone parked on the side of the road. Its a shame that it took this to open my eyes to the fact that i had gotten lazy, but now i can say i am more aware than ever, and the current defensive driving course never helped me

Im sure there are alot more people out there that are like me, i think the longer you have your licence the worse you are at driving (well most people) some people are just oblivious to people around them and the condtions. People seem to think they are a good driver because they have never had an accident, i dont class that as a good driver just a lucky one, like i was untill a week or two ago

There needs to be compulsary ACTUAL defensive driving courses and you should have to re sit them every 5 years, if you fail, you loose your licence and must re sit the test untill you are up to standard, no exceptions

[20v4ageBT]

After spending time teaching my little brother to drive (just turned 16) I've noticed that the biggest problem with his driving is that he knows the rules too well and expects that middle-aged drivers do too. I've had to drill into him that "just because that's the rule, it doesn't mean other drivers won't break it... and then crash into you."

First rule of driving: Everyone on the road is an idiot including you.

I think that age isn't the problem with driving. It's just that it is to easy to get a licence in this country. If you haven't got young people getting their licence and thinking that they are invincible, you have "older" people who get their licence for the first time and the are too nervous to make correct decision.

Another problem arises from the fact with that now the learner licence is done on the computer non-English speaking people can do it in a language of their choice (this is as far as I'm aware, it was the case when I took my brother to get his learners).

Basically if the process of getting a licence was harder it would catch out people who are to immature or to incompetent to be driving at the current time.

[LEAKER]

i think increasing the age is a good thing. At the end of the day some us were mature at 15 and some of us wern't. I know for a fact that although i was a farely mature 15 year old 80% of the time i was a tosser behind the wheel. And although i hate to say it i truly think that untill they have an age to power restriction on cars kids are still going to try and run from the cops and kill themselves. The way the laws are going with toughening up just proves that they really are heading towards a 0 tolerance with driving. No excuses, no bullshit. People will start thinking twice. Hell i learn't the hard way, had my licence taken off me for 6 months for sustained loss if traction and haven't had a fine since. But unfortunately the majority take more than 1 time to gain that mentality.

[LEAKER]

I think there should be mandatory driver training, as stated above i dont think age is the big problem, starting young is good so long as you have to be supervised for a number of years + driver training courses.

I had a bit of an accident a couple of weeks ago, i got my licence when i was 15 did the defenceive driver course (what a joke that is) and had my full licence when i was 16 waaayy to young, but i thought it was pritty cool at the time i am now 23 so have had my full for a while, does that make me a better driver? NO! More like a lazy driver.
So back to my accdent i was going to work early morning around 7, doing about 50-60kmh going around a slight bend that i go around everyday, hit black ice and slid right into those large gutters The reason for the accident i beleive is the obvious black ice, but also the fact the i have become lazy i had got into the habbit of just jumping in my car and just driving, not thinking about road conditions ect, and of course driving to the conditions.
Im just thankfull there were no kids going to school or someone parked on the side of the road. Its a shame that it took this to open my eyes to the fact that i had gotten lazy, but now i can say i am more aware than ever, and the current defensive driving course never helped me

Im sure there are alot more people out there that are like me, i think the longer you have your licence the worse you are at driving (well most people) some people are just oblivious to people around them and the condtions. People seem to think they are a good driver because they have never had an accident, i dont class that as a good driver just a lucky one, like i was untill a week or two ago

There needs to be compulsary ACTUAL defensive driving courses and you should have to re sit them every 5 years, if you fail, you loose your licence and must re sit the test untill you are up to standard, no exceptions

I do agree with this except i really believe that it should incorporate into the course "automotive theory" Why if you do this a car does that. So these guys with cut springs and the "i don't need a wof" mentality can understand that it's their for your safety and not to cost you money. MAYBE and this is a huge maybe if 40% of the drivers that went on that course understood the effects of things like cut springs have to your car and don't do it then 1 saved life is worth it IMO.

[wde_bdy]

Yes Really. Sentiment always finds it's way into the rumour and hearsay surrounding these things. Simple fact is there's not a bottomless pit and other programmes fitted the bill a bit better.

Maybe, but I used to help with instruction for Pro-Drive in Gisborne and no other programme has even bothered to show up here. Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch programmes ignore a very large portion (i.e. the ones who have no real public transport options) of the high risk driving public.

Callum

[holden_fan2005]

Retards teaching retards.

I believe it's non car people (happy clappys) teaching kids about cars. It ain't going to work.

[Willdat?]

Some great points here, having recently got my full bike licence and having to go through the system all over again (including defensive driving) the standard of testing we have in NZ is WAY too low.

I do like the idea of being retested every 5-10 years on more than just your eyesight.

[1I1]

Does seem rather stupid all they make you do is an eye test. Even a scratchy test like current learners should catch quite a few people out - especially if they include the right hand rule in there

[Mr Ree]

I would hazzard a guess that if you made every NZ drivers licence holder sit all the tests again. 70 to 80 percent of them would fail. This is evident to anyone who drives regularly.

Without advanced driver handling training, and as mentioned earlier, courses that teach darwins finest why not to cut springs et al, and why WOFs and CERTS are actually a good idea, we are doomed to fail.

Just look out for yourself and presume that nobody has seen you, it really is the best defense.

[Bling]

I would happily resit my test every 10 years. It should be a hard practical road test. As you say, it would weed out 70-80% of drivers. Can you imagine only 20% of the current cars on the roads? Bliss

Wish I had the coin to buy an old landcruiser and bullbar it up and just drive around town looking for people to catch out not giving way when they should. Would be endless entertainment. 4" box section bullbars should do the trick. I find people will give way more often if you're driving something with bullbars. If not and you care about your car, then in any situation, it's YOU that has to give way. Road code goes out the window. I'm pretty bad for road rage tbh when people blatantly just ignore all the rules as they are too busy filling their face / yapping on phone. Was followed for the 2nd time ever last week after tooting at someone. They had no excuse for me when I asked why they didn't indicate at all. "Oh thought my indicator was on", "Nah your indicator is that orange flashing thing on the corner, and it was clearly not flashing" They looked shocked and I just waited for a valid reason, but they had none. They were twice my size and driving a new hilux, so going by my theory I was in the wrong as they are bigger on the road so don't have to give way to me.

/wall of text.

[h8wrxs]

is it just the full license that they have changed the rules on? i cant be bothered looking it up


i stil think its a good idea for kids to learn to drive at 15... i learnt on a farm when i was 12. you learn better when youre younger.

i just dont think you should be able to get your full until you are at least 18. and no BAC under the age of 20 is good imo too


/my 2c

[MAC_HATER]

Wish I had the coin to buy an old landcruiser and bullbar it up and just drive around town looking for people to catch out not giving way when they should. Would be endless entertainment. 4" box section bullbars should do the trick. I find people will give way more often if you're driving something with bullbars.

this

i had no end of fun in my 83 corona - it was a rotbox and it was great for $&#$% with wankers - especially poncy BMW drivers and wankers in V8 falcodores - they would try shit and if my action was correct and in the right and they were being dicks i would challenge them - $300 rotbox that i dont care about VS expensive $&#$% car - and they would always flee from the "dangerous old car" - i think i ended up having 5 seperate run ins with one particular dickhead in his XR8 ute - after the 4th time of him being a retard and me not yielding to his $&#$% - the 5th time he wasnt a $&#$% around me and all of a sudden obeyed his obligations to the road code! so even the most dropkick $&#$% can learn eventually!

[Adamal]

especially if they include the right hand rule in there

I'm left handed

[levinguy]

i don't think people should not be able to drive when they leave school and have a full time job, if they're paying their own way, taxes and what not. this whole maturity thing, i think in alot of cases it has alot more to do with experience then age. wrote off my first car a couple of weeks after i got my restricted, and im sure it would have happened if i was 3 years older and just got the license, still i learned pretty quick.