It will NEVER happen here. You have the combination of very low driving standards, courtesy of a govt obsessed with importing 3rd world idiots with no driving skills at all. A soft cock approach by the govt to boy racers & other "problematic" drivers, & an overwhelming focus by the govt on using motorists to raise revenue.
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 6:45am
As above it will not happen, if anything they will look at reducing the limit.
richard198,
Feb 21, 6:48am
Do you both think the UK drivers are any better and that they don't have boy racers! I'm from the UK (25 years ago) and visit occasionally. I can assure you they do have plenty of issues. These are just excuses rolled out by the government. (They do the same for "binge drinking" and the legal age since UK has plenty of lager louts etc. - it's no different to here) The last comment by nobles would be closer to the truth re: revenue!
Edit: 60mph is so slow! I rode across America where a lot of the limits are also 60 mph (100Kph) and it was so fustrating!
desmodave,
Feb 21, 6:48am
How is any1 going to enjoy looking at the landscape and counting sheep in the paddocks while travelling at that speed.To many sad gits think they will fall of the road taking a corner at 100kms already.
richard198,
Feb 21, 6:51am
Don't you love the drivers who blast along at 100k + and then brake and slow down to 60K for a gentle bend!
bitsy_boffin,
Feb 21, 7:13am
There quite a large standard of difference between a UK motorway and State Highway 1, or even a motorway here.
whqqsh,
Feb 21, 7:14am
When my wife arrived from the UK she was amazed how easy it was to get a drivers license in NZ. in her words "didnt even have to do a practical drive test, just 'scratch & win' type test you buy at the petrol station & memorise, what a bloody joke!"
flack88,
Feb 21, 7:15am
Very few drivers these days can barely maintain a dolla,let alone correctfollowing distance !Actually some of those "boy racers " drive quite well ,betta than the somemiddle aged hag in a new car ,that puts herfoot up itwhen you try too overtake,then slows to less than advisory ,on the corners!Been alot them lately.
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 7:16am
It is not that simple as you think.
whqqsh,
Feb 21, 7:19am
ok, we'll let you retell my wifes memories better than her then
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 7:23am
Converting a uk licence is different to a nz license, considering the UK and other similar countries have a similar way of driving. Its lame to go learners, restricted all over again. But doing a nz licensefrom scratch is not as simple as you make out.
richard198,
Feb 21, 7:27am
I don't think they are suggesting that she did a license from "scratch"!
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 7:28am
I know that but they are just saying NZ's licenses are too easy to get.
richard198,
Feb 21, 7:28am
I don't think so. Whenever I go back to the UK I find the quality of the motorways to be the same.
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 7:28am
I know that but they are just saying NZ's licenses are too easy to get, sure it would be easy if you have never driven before and you get one after a quiz. But converting existing licences from other countrys by doing a test is to show you know the rules of the road that may vary from there hometown. As you already have proved you can drive.
socram,
Feb 21, 7:31am
Sorry, that is 1959 when there was NO speed limit on the UK motorways. Remember though that in 1959, a brand new small car such as a Mini was absolutely flat out at 70mph, a few exotics could exceed 100mph comfortably and even run of the mill sports cars such as a triumph TR3 could only just reach 100mph (160kph). Then along came the AC Cobra in about 1963 (not sure of the exact date), doing a pre Le Mans test run at 2am, clocking 186mph, at which point, the then Minister of Transport, Barbara Castle (who couldn't even drive!) panicked, and slapped on the 70mph limit on UK motorways that is still in force today. Apart from the fuel crisis when speeds were dropped to 50mph (and the road toll rose.) the limit has never changed. Currently, you can cruise all day at 90mph on most UK motorways with the police turning a blind eye and they are still some of the safest roads in the world.
The essential differences between the UK motorways and here.
1)No overtaking on the left in the UK. 2)Trucks are banned from the outside (fast lane) 3)Vehicles keep left except when overtaking. 4)Drivers signal when changing lanes 5)Strange as it may seem, even the 'slow' drivers are generally doing over 100kph, so the speed differential between fast and slow is probably less than in NZ. 6)On/off ramps are long enough to merge at 70mph - and they are generally several miles apart, not a few metres apart as at Gillies Ave. 7)The motorway police are not there to catch you going 4kph over the limit. 8)Generally, UK drivers are polite and considerate. (Open to debate of course, but I also drive over there every year or two.)
richard198,
Feb 21, 7:31am
No they weren't saying that! "WHEN my wife.she WAS amazed.how easy it WAS.
johnf_456,
Feb 21, 7:33am
Easy probably in the sense you don't have to do learners, restricted, full again!
richard198,
Feb 21, 7:33am
Good post! (I was cheating with the photo!) I agree with everything.
intrade,
Feb 21, 7:38am
the motorways north off auckland are the same ase germanys motorway. you could easy hammer down that with 250kph. provided we would have people who can actuarly drive cars and that you cant and wont overtake on either side of the lane and drive 80 in any lane. The rule would have to be learned first that you only ae allowed to overtake on the right lane since they always talk about doing what the rest of the world does also wof should be 2 years and plates belong to owners of cars so you can register 2 cars on 1 plate.
socram,
Feb 21, 7:44am
Mr Hammond (NOT Richard of Top Gear.) told The Times: 'I take the view that we operate in a democracy of policing by consent. 'If 50 per cent of the population are routinely breaking the law it's actually the law that needs looking at. 'Now I think 95 of the country will think "great", although only 5 per cent will say so, but the 5 per cent who are opposed will say so very loudly.' Despite the ruling being attacked by road safety campaigners and environmentalists, Mr Hammond defended the speed limit rise, saying its impact on road safety would be 'marginal'.
Very astute - "the 5% who will oppose will do so very loudly".Typical rubbish about the fuel consumption being 20% higher and increased pollution.Are these people living in the dark ages!Crawling along at 50 in 3rd gear is far more polluting and uneconomic than doing 100 in 6th gear. Pity the increase doesn't come in until 2013, though I suspect thatdriving there later this year, I'll still be doing 85mph for much of my journey without penalty and I'll still be overtaken by dozens of white Mercedes and Ford Transit vans.
socram,
Feb 21, 7:44am
Mr Hammond told The Times: 'I take the view that we operate in a democracy of policing by consent. 'If 50 per cent of the population are routinely breaking the law it's actually the law that needs looking at. 'Now I think 95 of the country will think "great", although only 5 per cent will say so, but the 5 per cent who are opposed will say so very loudly.' Despite the ruling being attacked by road safety campaigners and environmentalists, Mr Hammond defended the speed limit rise, saying its impact on road safety would be 'marginal'.
Very astute - "the 5% who will oppose will do so very loudly".Typical rubbish about the fuel consumption being 20% higher and increased pollution.Are these people living in the dark ages!Crawling along at 50 in 3rd gear is far more polluting and uneconomic than doing 100 in 6th gear. Pity the increase doesn't come in until 2013, though I suspect thatdriving there later this year, I'll still be doing 85mph for much of my journey without penalty and I'll still be overtaken by dozens of white Mercedes and Ford Transit vans.
pge,
Feb 21, 8:08am
Sorry socram, but in 1963, it was a Conservative Govt, so it was not Barbara Castle who brought in the 70mph limit, she was in the Harold Wilson Labour Govt.
SHE was responsible for the drink-drive, 80mg blood-alcohol introduction, in 1968. She was moved to Minister of Overseas Development soon after.
There was a drink, made from tomato juice and pepper (no vodka) called the "Bloody Barbara", as it was an alcohol-free "Bloody Mary".
I would certainly like to see trucks being banned from the fast-lane.
socram,
Feb 21, 9:13am
Sorry, yes, you are correct.I was going on (fading) memory and popular perception.
"The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this. "
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.