Driving in NZ!

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1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1143735 29-Sep-2014 18:48

Good grief! I thought NZ road rules say, "always drive 20kph faster than the speed limit unless there's a speed camera or cop nearby" and, "overtake, undertake, do what you have to in order to get anywhere 5 seconds faster". The third rule, was, I thought, "if you see a gap, fill it". Or, have I misunderstood NZ drivers? ;)

ckc

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#1143840 29-Sep-2014 21:23

^

I swear to God on some occasions on the motorway up to Porirua I've lost about 10 places in the queue between Ngauranga and Churton Park simply by trying to keep a 2 second gap.

dimsim

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#1143848 29-Sep-2014 21:48

Elpie: Good grief! I thought NZ road rules say, "always drive 20kph faster than the speed limit unless there's a speed camera or cop nearby" and, "overtake, undertake, do what you have to in order to get anywhere 5 seconds faster". The third rule, was, I thought, "if you see a gap, fill it". Or, have I misunderstood NZ drivers? ;)

No - you're spot on, but mainly applicable between Bombay and Orewa,

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1143863 29-Sep-2014 22:17

A few weeks ago I was followed by a crazy woman driving a small car (Toyota Runx) who was sat behind me at a round-a-bout. I was indicating ready to take the second exit, but was stopped due to another vehicle on the opposite side of the round-a-bout that was taking the first exit. However, because the driver taking the first exit was indicating as if he was going all the way around, I stayed put as a precaution. While this vehicle in particular was blocking the other traffic to my direct right, this woman lays in to her horn for egging me on to go while the vehicle was blocking. I get startled and miss another gap.

I eventually make it around the round-a-bout and she passes me on a residential road in peak hour traffic (Forest Hill Road in West Auckland) speeding off at about 70KM/H or 80KM/H in a fit of rage. Of course, she was stopped in traffic at the NEXT round-a-bout with me directly behind her laughing at her stupidity with my collegue. She gets out of her little car and starts screaming about how much of an idiot I am and how I f*** up at the round-about. By this time, traffic in front of her had moved clear and there was a large queue behind us. I under-took her in the arm as she got back in her car. She continued making rude gestures at me (the index finger through the thumb and index finger deal...You know, because it's totally offensive telling me how heterosexual I am) and tailed me half way home before taking the next round-a-bout back the other way.

It was one of those moments I really wished I had a dash cam.

EDIT: I've noticed dangerous drivers are often driving small cars that probably should be on the road. For example: Nissan March, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Runx, Mazda Demio. Just me or common trend?

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- Can't say that right lane hoggers at night ever ticked me off. Under passing is not a problem on motorways and can be done relatively quickly and painlessly during off-peak. It's pointless or impossible in on-peak situations anyway. - I'm also seriously surprised at how many people manage the new "right tuners give way" rule. It's how it should be, and it works much better! I never seem to have any issues with it. The only time I see problems is where drivers take short gaps and feel I'll slow down fast enough or assume I am paying attention so they can go anyway...Which is typical in Auckland.

- My BIGGEST pet peeve is when drivers are traveling at 80 to 90 on a country road, right up until the passing lane, which is when they hit 120 only to slow down back to 80 after the lane has ended.

- My second biggest would have to be indicating at round-a-bouts. Even professional drivers like truckers, taxis and couriers get it wrong 9 times out of 10.

- My third would have to be people crossing the center line, cutting corners and the single clickers, a.k.a: improper indication while merging. The amount of people that cross the center line first and indicate later blows my mind. It's indicate for 3 seconds and THEN merge. Not start merging and then indicate! If you can't indicate for 3 seconds first, it's not safe to merge!

- The honorable mention would have to be round-a-bout mergers. People sitting in the turn only lane because it's the fastest lane at the beginning of the round-a-bout full knowing they actually want to be in the left lane to go straight and merging half way through the round-a-bout. The amount of times I've been in the left lane taking the second exit because my intentions are to continue straight after taking the second exit are insane. Typically yelled at and accused of blocking...Stupid.

Question: Is beeping at someone speed matching in the left lane while someone is trying to over-take in the passing lane (when passing is absolutely justified) make that person an aggressive driver? I've never done it, simply because I feel beeping has more opportunity to cause an accident rather than prevent one. But technically, they are the one being dangerous when the passing lane is coming to an end and I'm having to out accelerate them just to get past! I've seen it a few times, but using my horn just seems...taboo to me. I don't know if anyone feels the same way. I've been driving for 7 years and perhaps used my horn three times in that period to "tell someone off".

k1wi

484 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1143901 30-Sep-2014 02:06

The biggest learning curve for me driving in the US was not dealing with being on the other side of the road, but the courteousness of US drivers.

Of course there are duchebag drivers here, pushing around in F-150's. But in general the drivers here, or at least around where I live, are so good at letting people in/go/through/across etc that I had to learn when to expect it, rather than be caught off guard and waste everyone's time. The other side was learning when to be courteous myself and not think "oh damn I should have let them go just then". Nowadays I am usually actively looking out for when to let someone through.

Though I think a lot of that behaviour is a necessity, because they have more traffic lights and less roundabouts (which no one here understands).

jarledb

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#1143902 30-Sep-2014 03:04

My experience from driving in the US is from LA, and I must tell you - I can understand why they shoot each other on the roads there.. People taking an exit by overtaking 5 lanes in front of other drivers is one of the lesser examples of bad driving.

I think there are idiots on all roads, no matter where you go. So just assume everyone else is an idiot and you usually have the margins on your side..

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Kyanar

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#1144004 30-Sep-2014 09:35

DravidDavid:

Question: Is beeping at someone speed matching in the left lane while someone is trying to over-take in the passing lane (when passing is absolutely justified) make that person an aggressive driver? I've never done it, simply because I feel beeping has more opportunity to cause an accident rather than prevent one. But technically, they are the one being dangerous when the passing lane is coming to an end and I'm having to out accelerate them just to get past! I've seen it a few times, but using my horn just seems...taboo to me. I don't know if anyone feels the same way. I've been driving for 7 years and perhaps used my horn three times in that period to "tell someone off".

Yes, it is. In fact, if you did that in Queensland you'd get a fine and demerits for improper use of a horn, which is only "to inform traffic of your approach, and only to be used when necessary".

Personally, one of my pet hates would be when you're indicating for 12-15 seconds to perform a lane change, because the car in the other lane is accelerating to ensure you cannot enter their lane. And then they get abusive when you end up taking a less than comfortable gap despite performing all the proper checks to ensure it's safe.

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DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1144048 30-Sep-2014 10:23

Kyanar:
DravidDavid:

Question: Is beeping at someone speed matching in the left lane while someone is trying to over-take in the passing lane (when passing is absolutely justified) make that person an aggressive driver? I've never done it, simply because I feel beeping has more opportunity to cause an accident rather than prevent one. But technically, they are the one being dangerous when the passing lane is coming to an end and I'm having to out accelerate them just to get past! I've seen it a few times, but using my horn just seems...taboo to me. I don't know if anyone feels the same way. I've been driving for 7 years and perhaps used my horn three times in that period to "tell someone off".

Yes, it is. In fact, if you did that in Queensland you'd get a fine and demerits for improper use of a horn, which is only "to inform traffic of your approach, and only to be used when necessary".

Personally, one of my pet hates would be when you're indicating for 12-15 seconds to perform a lane change, because the car in the other lane is accelerating to ensure you cannot enter their lane. And then they get abusive when you end up taking a less than comfortable gap despite performing all the proper checks to ensure it's safe.

Figured as much. It's not so much "Informing traffic of my approach" as much as it is "WTF, start paying attention and stop being a douche!" I can only remember two situations where someone has almost smashed in to me where I've used my horn in anger. The temptation kills me sometimes though.

I forgot all about that 15 second lane change. It happens more in peak traffic on city motorways for sure. You also get the people who know all about the 15 second lane change and skip it all together...Simply forcing themselves directly in to the flow of traffic regardless of gap!

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#1144054 30-Sep-2014 10:34

DravidDavid:

EDIT: I've noticed dangerous drivers are often driving small cars that probably should be on the road. For example: Nissan March, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Runx, Mazda Demio. Just me or common trend?

As a driver of a small car I take offence to that statement, I'm a very civilised and courteous driver, but if I ever meet you I'll have you! I'LL BEAT THE 4^%$ OUT OF YOU, YOU %$^^% %$^&^& #%^%& THEN I'LL &&*^%$%^ ^%@@# GRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1144122 30-Sep-2014 11:55

Mark:
DravidDavid:

EDIT: I've noticed dangerous drivers are often driving small cars that probably should be on the road. For example: Nissan March, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Runx, Mazda Demio. Just me or common trend?

As a driver of a small car I take offence to that statement, I'm a very civilised and courteous driver, but if I ever meet you I'll have you! I'LL BEAT THE 4^%$ OUT OF YOU, YOU %$^^% %$^&^& #%^%& THEN I'LL &&*^%$%^ ^%@@# GRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

YOU. ARE. THE ENEMY. :P

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1144340 30-Sep-2014 15:59

Mark:
DravidDavid:

EDIT: I've noticed dangerous drivers are often driving small cars that probably should be on the road. For example: Nissan March, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Runx, Mazda Demio. Just me or common trend?

As a driver of a small car I take offence to that statement, I'm a very civilised and courteous driver, but if I ever meet you I'll have you! I'LL BEAT THE 4^%$ OUT OF YOU, YOU %$^^% %$^&^& #%^%& THEN I'LL &&*^%$%^ ^%@@# GRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;-)

The good thing about small cars is that they are easy to push off the road ;)

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1144355 30-Sep-2014 16:07

NZ is a great training ground for driving in some other countries.
Turkey, for example - cab drivers in Istanbul have their blood type details painted on the back of cabs (for good reason). There, is there isn't a gap in traffic you just drive up the sidewalk. Traffic lights have counters so you get a countdown to when its going to change to green. If you don't move off at 1 sec before green everyone behind starts yelling and honking horns.
Montreal drivers are absolute nuts. The main rule there seems to be, "go for it". If they didn't have a road code I wouldn't believe there were any road rules.
As for courteous drivers in the US, I suspect this is localised and maybe other drivers realise there's an alien on the roads so are being careful. My last driving experience there was in LA, the place I learned to fit in with the locals by yelling at other drivers. LA was, then at least, the queen of discourteous irritable drivers.

Our drivers, roads, and driving on the wrong side, all conspire to catch out tourists. I'd love to see NZ switch to the right like most of the rest of the world. Other countries have managed to switch without too much trouble so I don't see why we don't.

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#1144410 30-Sep-2014 17:20

Elpie: I'd love to see NZ switch to the right like most of the rest of the world. Other countries have managed to switch without too much trouble so I don't see why we don't.

How could we possibly benefit from that? Apart from it being easier to get around in the Challenger, haha :) I'm with Jeremy Clarkson on this one...It is we that are in-fact driving on the right side of the road!

Bung

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#1144411 30-Sep-2014 17:22

In Steve Martin's film LA Story there's a scene where he realises what the date is and there is a mad scramble to load a pistol as it's open season on the freeway.Open Season on the LA Freeway: http://youtu.be/4pmRw_CNCgU

jarledb

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#1144457 30-Sep-2014 18:40

Elpie:
I'd love to see NZ switch to the right like most of the rest of the world. Other countries have managed to switch without too much trouble so I don't see why we don't.

One reason I have heard for not switching is all the japanese used cars imported to NZ. I believe the used car imports were the reason Samoa switched back to driving on the left side as well..

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