90kph safety zone on SH2

[sergei]

I had first hand experience, when I decided to take main highway (instead of usual back roads) of the safety speed limit imposed on SH2.

What I have noticed, is very peculiar:
1) No one was going 90, more like 98-100kph.
2) No one was keeping good following distance (in fact they keep less than a second worth).
3) Passing lanes were abused by every one speeding above 10kph, impossible to overtake.
4) When overtaken on non passing lanes people would close up the gap and not allow you to merge back into your lane.
5) $&#$% you Michelle Te Wharau, you have no $&#$% idea what you are doing and you need to be fired. We need to increase speed limits on the highway not decrease. As the cars are safer now and that is the reason why road toll is going down over the years and not the stupid revenue gathering "speed kills" campaign.

I know this article is old, but it is very relevant.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/7750121/Putting-measures-in-place-to-stop-SH2s-high-road-toll

What gets me the most is this quote:

Poor handling a factor in 52 per cent of crashes. Excessive speed a factor in 20 per cent of crashes.

Crash report for SH2/25 intersection, 2007-2011: No fatal crashes but three serious injury crashes with five people injured.

Alcohol a factor in 33 per cent of crashes.

Fatigue a factor in 33 per cent of crashes.

Here is news flash for you: the more stupid speed limits in place the more people will ignore them. I have seen so many people ploughing through 30kph limit at 100kph because a lot of times there are no roadworks, just the signs....

They even admit that 52% of the crashes had poor handling as a factor. And they are targeting the lesser hypothetical 20% (which would fall under poor handling either way) which is speeding? What about all the $&#$% drunks there? Or people who don't have enough experience to tell when they are tired (it should fall under poor handling either way)?

If you can get people's speed down you will reduce crashes and we've taken a hard line with compliance along that stretch of highway, but you still get a few people clocked at high speeds. We've had people clocked at 150-160kmh along there.

Things have improved but there's still a long way to go. People make mistakes when driving. They might misjudge a bend, but to me speeding isn't a mistake, it's deliberate. I think the 90kmh speed limit sends the message to people that there's something different about this road, it's not a 100kmh highway

How is 90kph limit will help with those doing 150+? They are already over the loss of licence threshold any way. 90kph limit is only sending one message: whoever put it there is a retard.

I think a lot of drivers lack open road experience. For those heading south out of Auckland they've come from a motorway where traffic is separated. They then . . . try to overtake someone on a rural road and they can misjudge the space they need

No shit, there are many ways to solve this, and reducing speed limit is not one of them. How about not giving licences to people who are not qualified to drive? Reducing speed limit will only increase the danger when overtaking as people will linger more in opposite lane. People who overtake are afraid to "speed", even though the most appropriate thing to do when overtaking is get the hell out of the opposite lane as fast as possible.

Michelle Te Wharau: the road toll is because people are driving who should not have their licence in first place! Speed is not the primary cause, it is ...surprise, surprise! the human behind the steering wheel who has no idea what they are doing.

[duddley]

That road deserves its 90 kph limit as its rough as guts. Perhaps if they spent time resealing and realigning it then they could bring the speed limit back up.

[sergei]

That road deserves its 90 kph limit as its rough as guts. Perhaps if they spent time resealing and realigning it then they could bring the speed limit back up.

The point is that there are much rougher roads that have 100kph, for example SH4.

[diss7]

Were you forced to leave Russia because you complain too much?

[S T E A L T H]

4) When overtaken on non passing lanes people would close up the gap and not allow you to merge back into your lane.

If this is happening to you you're doing something wrong.

My rule of thumb has always been - +20-30 km/h to what the vehicle you're about to overtake is travelling at, by the time you cross the centre line to pull out. That way you spend the least amount of time in the danger zone (and the person you're overtaking hasn't got the time to do what you've described).
Now that every man and his dog has a turbocharged car with a million horsepower noone really bothers with strategic driving anymore - compensating for lack of planning with a bootfull..drive something slow (like a diesel ute) and this is the only way to safely pass anything.

That aside I agree with everything else you've written (for once)

In a few years time when the new WOF rules the rocket scientists have just bestowed upon us will start showing results you will be able to add "poor vehicle condition" to these percentage factors, spread out proportionally with no change to effect of excessive speed

[sergei]

Were you forced to leave Russia because you complain too much?

This is a forum.

fo·rum
/ˈfôrəm/
Noun

A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
An Internet message board.

I am not complaing about my breakfast, but I am complaining about issues that affect members of this board. If you have nothing to say GTFO.

4) When overtaken on non passing lanes people would close up the gap and not allow you to merge back into your lane.

If this is happening to you you're doing something wrong.

My rule of thumb has always been - +20-30 km/h to what the vehicle you're about to overtake is travelling at, by the time you cross the centre line to pull out. That way you spend the least amount of time in the danger zone (and the person you're overtaking hasn't got the time to do what you've described).
Now that every man and his dog has a turbocharged car with a million horsepower noone really bothers with strategic driving anymore - compensating for lack of planning with a bootfool..drive something slow (like a diesel ute) and this is the only way to safely pass anything.

Yeah, I mean they attempt to do it, by the time I have already pulled in. Then they ride on my ass like they own the road (while before they were doing 20 kph below at some sections). I haven't had to abort overtaking in very long a while (last time it was due to an animal).

[Quint]

I had first hand experience

Ha. There are more than just the one zone around. 2 between whangarei and auckland (brenderwyns and dome valley), they're becoming more common as they lower the road toll in the areas. Solid enough reason i guess.

But the real cause? People suck at driving, like, they really $&#$% suck.
"the corners are bad!"
"the roads are rough!"
Both BS, imo, travelled those roads at 100 since I was first able to get my lisence out of a weetbix box, never had much issue, some parts I classify as 'technical' and focus more accordingly, but most continue at the speed limit, yanking on the steering wheel like its a smooth corner with a 120m horizontal curve.

[sergei]

I had first hand experience

Ha. There are more than just the one zone around. 2 between whangarei and auckland (brenderwyns and dome valley), they're becoming more common as they lower the road toll in the areas. Solid enough reason i guess.

But the real cause? People suck at driving, like, they really $&#$% suck.
"the corners are bad!"
"the roads are rough!"
Both BS, imo, travelled those roads at 100 since I was first able to get my lisence out of a weetbix box, never had much issue, some parts I classify as 'technical' and focus more accordingly, but most continue at the speed limit, yanking on the steering wheel like its a smooth corner with a 120m horizontal curve.

Yes!
Once I get some spare cash I will get dash cam and start shame and name website. Because I see so much wrong shit, it is not funny.

[strx7]

99% of crashes in this country are cuased by the nut behind the wheel, weather it is inability to drive, distraction, falling sleep, being a muppet or whatever. Solve the issue of the nut behind the wheel, solve the issue of road deaths.....

[Toby]

Yes!
Once I get some spare cash I will get dash cam and start shame and name website. Because I see so much wrong shit, it is not funny.

Very good idea, most drivers have no clue and don't care. Their pic/video online and well advertised might make them think twice next time.


People like you Sergei are an issue as well - just relax, take your time. The day you die it may be because you pressured an ignorant driver into $&#$% up completely.

[sergei]

Yes!
Once I get some spare cash I will get dash cam and start shame and name website. Because I see so much wrong shit, it is not funny.

Very good idea, most drivers have no clue and don't care. Their pic/video online and well advertised might make them think twice next time.


People like you Sergei are an issue as well - just relax, take your time. The day you die it may be because you pressured an ignorant driver into $&#$% up completely.

Unlike most of the drivers out there I enjoy driving. It seems that for majority of road users driving is like taking rubbish out - a chore that they rather not do, but have to.

[Boost_4_Life]

It seems that for majority of road users driving is like taking rubbish out - a chore that they rather not do, but have to.

you got it in one. and thats where we car nuts fail to comprehend them, and they fail to comprehend us

[rolla_fxgt]

I agree with Sergei, that road should be 100, only reason its not is the cost to fix it, so NZ being the cheap asses we are, lower the speed limit. All the major turn offs should be round abouts at the very least, or preferably proper interchanges, and all of the proposed safety changes should be fast tracked, so the upgrades happen asap.

Likening it to the WOF debate for a moment, its not like if you can't afford to fix your car, you can just go to the testing officer, nah its all right bro, I'll just drive slower,so you an give me a WOF

[wde_bdy]

Nothing wrong with the road, speed lowered to cater for the retards driving on it. There are plenty of worse sections on my drive from Gisborne to Auckland that are still 100km/h, even my GPS says I can average over 95km/h through the Waioeka Gorge. Go look at that road on Google maps.

Callum

[rollaholic]

i actually think that particular road should be 90, much as it angers me to see speed limits coming down. just because some people are competent enough to drive it faster doesnt mean all are. those that are competent enough to do so should also be smart enough to realize its not safe to drive like that when other people are wobbling their way though that section of road at the same time.

on that note, anyone else remember them saying the 80k zone through gillies ave over pass and surrounding area was temporary till it was finished? those 80k signs are still up...

anyway.

there are a few reasons why 90 is a good idea through there, the main one being your average kiwi drives a piece of shit, badly. its also really popular with trucks, most of whom are limited to 90. if thats the speed limit, there is a bit less motivation to try and pass them in a busy area that has very limited safe over taking opportunities, outside of the passing lanes at least.

the road is also in pretty bad condition as previously noted.

1) No one was going 90, more like 98-100kph.

so people were doing the limit +10. business as usual?

2) No one was keeping good following distance (in fact they keep less than a second worth).

so... business as usual?

3) Passing lanes were abused by every one speeding above 10kph, impossible to overtake.

see above.

4) When overtaken on non passing lanes people would close up the gap and not allow you to merge back into your lane.

some people dont like being over taken. thats not specific to this bit of road either

5) $&#$% you Michelle Te Wharau, you have no $&#$% idea what you are doing and you need to be fired. We need to increase speed limits on the highway not decrease. As the cars are safer now and that is the reason why road toll is going down over the years and not the stupid revenue gathering "speed kills" campaign.

speed kills is a sound bite. i think we can all agree that inappropriate speed is dangerous, potentially deadly.... thats alot for your average mouth breather to remember though, let alone realize and act on.

speeding is also easy to quantify and enforce. this is probably the main reason its the biggest focus of 'road safety'

[wde_bdy]

Reduce speeds or improve drivers? Cheap option is keep Aucklanders in Auckland.

Callum

[rollaholic]

whats the deal with you and the anti auckland sentiment man?

[Zitchu]

Nothing wrong with the road, speed lowered to cater for the retards driving on it. There are plenty of worse sections on my drive from Gisborne to Auckland that are still 100km/h, even my GPS says I can average over 95km/h through the Waioeka Gorge. Go look at that road on Google maps.

Callum

Awesome road, but if the part in question at 90km is the way it is then you would think that with that mentality the Waioeka Gorge would be a 70km area

[wde_bdy]

whats the deal with you and the anti auckland sentiment man?

You miss the smiley face?
You may have noted the 90km/h section lasts from Bombays to Coromandel turnoff, road doesn't seem to change after that though...

Callum

[rollaholic]

no, i didnt miss it. sometimes people say things in a joking way that they really mean though

im sure i've seen ya have a few cracks at it too. all good though, just curious.