Poor driving habits getting worse amongst kiwi drivers

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# 1923126 21-Dec-2017 12:43

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Geektastic:

They should install red light cameras with automatic $1000 fines and 50 points on all red lights.

This one is surely a no-brainer (at least for major junctions), especially as it ticks both boxes by giving traffic cops a boost to their precious revenue stream whilst genuinely reducing risk of injury, death and anti-social driving behaviours - unlike a large number of fixed speed cameras.

MikeB4

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# 1923128 21-Dec-2017 12:47

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The Police Officers I know are far from lazy and are not the problem.

Mike
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kryptonjohn

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# 1923132 21-Dec-2017 12:50

MikeB4:

The Police Officers I know are far from lazy and are not the problem.

Agreed, that's why I was talking specifically about the management not the front line staff who somewhat unfairly bear the brunt of the public's displeasure..

MikeB4

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# 1923134 21-Dec-2017 12:55

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The public are the ones that should take the brunt of the publics displeasure, they are the ones driving badly and killing each other.

Mike
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hio77

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# 1923135 21-Dec-2017 12:56

kryptonjohn:

tehgerbil:

Further to the 4km/h tolerance thread, I think NZ police have stopped caring about policing the basic road rules.

This was riccarton today, a driver ignored an orange and went through the red without a second thought.

I travel just a small 20 minute drive to work, and 20 mins back every day, but see red light running at least once a trip.

I've seen multiple people run reds (second, third in line at lights turning right) in front of cops who are forced to wait on the green but do nothing whatsoever.

I called the local station once, and asked what was being done and the police lady actually argued with me, completely unprofessionally and accused me running red lights myself and to stop complaining. (happy to give the dashcam audio/video to anyone who cares.)

Anyway, with the rising road toll, I think NZ police have their a$$ in the sky, and their head in the sand over poor driving behavior and just don't give a toss.

I believe there is an institutional laziness and lack of creativity at both NZTA and Police Traffic management. They want two things: lower the road toll and to offer some measurable KPI to their political masters. By reducing speeds they can reduce the road toll even if the number of crashes doesn't reduce much. Still get plenty of mangled people but less will die. Infringement notices issued is an easy KPI.

It's unimaginative and lazy. The Waikato cop who wants to shift to counting interactions with the public has a far, far better idea. Make him the boss and sack whoever is in charge currently.

I don't normally have run ins with the police, however seeing how they handle things through those that are say, pulled over...

I note in waikato, the 'bad habbits' seem to be less obvious.

i travel SH2 weekly down to Hamilton, cross the Waikato point and everyone just tends to go into cruse mode.. Traffic goes away and everyone sits in the left lane happily.

Seem to notice less abusive behaviour towards the police down there too, which is always nice to see.

I dislike the implication that speeding fines are review gathering however, out of all the tickets one can hand out it is the Easiest to break.

I'm not perfect, i fully expect to get a speeding fine at some point as i cruse down SH2. i don't floor it, i just let the engine nicely run itself in 6th (where it tends to like to sit at about 105-115).

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Behodar

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# 1923140 21-Dec-2017 13:11

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I remember a quote from a cop saying something like "if we were revenue gathering then we'd just sit at roundabouts and hand out tickets to everyone that indicates right and goes straight ahead".

kryptonjohn

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# 1923141 21-Dec-2017 13:14

Behodar:

I remember a quote from a cop saying something like "if we were revenue gathering then we'd just sit at roundabouts and hand out tickets to everyone that indicates right and goes straight ahead".

Have seen them do basically that at the Greenlane roundabout. It was not long after lane marking changes and even reasonable people could be confused if they were used to the old system. They could have handed out leaflets and a gentle warning but no, it was infringement notices.

Didn't get me but did get someone I know.

Item

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# 1923167 21-Dec-2017 13:21

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Behodar:

I remember a quote from a cop saying something like "if we were revenue gathering then we'd just sit at roundabouts and hand out tickets to everyone that indicates right and goes straight ahead".

I reckon that would be harder to hide behind the veneer of "it's for safety" than it is with fixed speed cameras!

To add: I have no issue with speed cameras per se, but in order for them to slow traffic down, they need to be massively visible and sign-posted for starters...and ideally average speed cameras should be deployed where possible to control speed along genuine risk areas.

The recent one on Hillsborough road for example is dull grey, partially hidden behind a tree and there is no signage at all. I don't see how that helps enforce a speed limit - especially for drivers that don't know the road. For those who do know it is there, the effect is to slow drivers down over a 20 metre stretch before they resume whatever speed it is that they personally feel is appropriate!

If all major junctions had red-light cameras and signage to indicate the fact, I feel that would bring a much bigger benefit.

kryptonjohn

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# 1923169 21-Dec-2017 13:23

... and the locals all know where it is so slow down and speed up around it. So the net effect is that it's a tax on visitors and wastes the locals' brake pads and petrol.

dickytim

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# 1923470 22-Dec-2017 06:42

Behodar:

I remember a quote from a cop saying something like "if we were revenue gathering then we'd just sit at roundabouts and hand out tickets to everyone that indicates right and goes straight ahead".

So they should too.

Fred99

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# 1923501 22-Dec-2017 08:10

Item:

To add: I have no issue with speed cameras per se, but in order for them to slow traffic down, they need to be massively visible and sign-posted for starters...and ideally average speed cameras should be deployed where possible to control speed along genuine risk areas.

As per what they do in Aus - at least in NSW and VIC.

Note that this is also combined with massive fines for speeding (compared to NZ), demerit points and loss of license for speed camera tickets, and banning of radar detectors.

epr

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# 1923508 22-Dec-2017 08:26

The problem is we are terrible drivers and are allowed to teach our kids to drive cumpolsory driver training and do not let the general public teach each other to drive.

kryptonjohn

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# 1923510 22-Dec-2017 08:27

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Fred99:

Item:

To add: I have no issue with speed cameras per se, but in order for them to slow traffic down, they need to be massively visible and sign-posted for starters...and ideally average speed cameras should be deployed where possible to control speed along genuine risk areas.

As per what they do in Aus - at least in NSW and VIC.

And the UK, where not only are the camera's painted bright yellow, but the mobile vans are also glaring, and they have signs announcing camera zones.

And the UK has a speed limit of 70mph (112kph) on dual carriageway roads (60mph/100kph on single carriageway roads).

And further, the UK police aren't obsessed with enforcing the speed limit, but prefer to use their judgement and discretion. If you're being a dick at just over the speed limit they'll get you. If you are 10mph over and the motorway is flowing nicely and everyone else is too they aren't interested in you.

Yet the UK fatality rate is lower than New Zealand's. Police please take note.

Jase2985

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# 1923512 22-Dec-2017 08:27

bring on the new camera technology that can automate this sort of thing

scuwp

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# 1923513 22-Dec-2017 08:28

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This revenue collecting rubbish just won't go away - Police DO NOT get a single cent from the fines they collect.

Police have limited resources and deploy them to where they can make the biggest impact (no pun intended). Failing to indicate at roundabouts for example may result in a crash which is a PITA but it rarely results in serious injury or death (roundabouts on a whole reduce the number of intersecting pathways and make impact angles more acute which deflects the impact forces). Red light running has a slightly larger potential for injury or death, but by far the highway is where the majority happen.

I also think they should use more technology to fill the gaps. Red light cameras, and cameras at roundabouts to film people surely could be used for automated enforcement leaving the patrolmen to deal with the bigger issues.

Stupid driving is hard to police because you kind of have to be there to see it, to enforce it. Speed may not cause a crash but it has everything to do with what the outcome will be, so it's an effective way of reducing the harms from crashes, if not the crashes themselves.

http://www.saferjourneys.govt.nz/

Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be the Batman

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