On Thursday around midday I travelled from Manukau to Newmarket on the southern motorway. I was in no particular rush, so I thought I'd just pootle along at 80km/h in the left lane to observe. Traffic was quite light. I found I was still having to brake for idiots travelling below that for no apparent reason. I even overtook a car that was in the right lane at one point (Mt Wellington).
Just who are these inconsiderate idiots that drive at these ridiculously low speeds for no reason all the time!
socram,
Apr 7, 12:21pm
Last weekend and the weekend before, I trundled down the Southern Motorway as far as Bombay, quite early in the mornings. Not once did I exceed the speed limit but over both journeys, I was overtaken just four times (two of them within the 70kph road works limits), yet I overtook dozens, many of them whilst I was travelling in the left lane.
If 90% of drivers are travelling at less than 100kph when the three lane roads aren't even busy, maybe it is time we operated more flexible speed limits up to 110kph or even 120kph, as the chances are, most people won't be going any faster anyway!All we need is for them to keep left except when overtaking, a concept alien to many.
The higher the speed limit on the safe stretches of open road, the fewer the drivers exceeding it = less revenue from speed cameras and the like, so go figure.
berg,
Apr 7, 12:26pm
Wonder if the cost of fuel has anything to do with it. People not being so keen on the loud pedal to save a few $$$$$$
jason18,
Apr 7, 12:26pm
Hahaha I was just about to post this. Finally they fine these stupid drivers for going to slow because "she wasnt in a hurry" Good job!
blackcat17,
Apr 7, 12:30pm
Thats pretty inconsiderate driving, I actually don't mind people driving slow if thats what they want to do or feel safest at, they just need to pull over every few minutes and let people like me who just want to drive at 100kmhr get past.
jason18,
Apr 7, 12:32pm
Yeah when I am towing cherry picker at 80kms I always kepp an eye on traffic and if there is people behind me I pull over or get far left to let em pass.
gamez0r,
Apr 7, 1:57pm
What amazes me is the amount of people using the motorways (in chch) who drive in the right lane at the same speed as the left. Sure there is no sign or "rule" to say they have to "keep left unless passing" but surely a little courtesy can be afforded!
pollymay,
Apr 7, 2:05pm
Good, I am however a little bothered by the statement
"The woman was charged with an offence that related to impeding the flow of traffic. "She was just a driver who was perhaps unaware of the impact that their driving had on other vehicles," Mr Burbery said. "
They HAMMER speeders but they seem to be all floaty with what they say about her. It would be nice if they were more stern, or chillax on calling people doing 4km/h over murderers, either works
saxman99,
Apr 7, 5:54pm
Erm.yes, there is.
richms,
Apr 7, 6:01pm
No there isnt, you can legally pass on an inside lane in NZ. I have to do it all the time when asshats park in the fast lane fluctuating between 85-105 as their attention wanders from driving to talking to other people or whatever.
net_oz,
Apr 7, 6:30pm
If you can't pass someone safely when they are going slow then YOU shouldn't be driving.
socram,
Apr 7, 6:42pm
"She wasn't in a hurry."So, she holds up 50 - 60 others.
I bet she is just the inconsiderate selfish type who then complains bitterly that the guy who had to travel across town to fix her washing machine, charged her $60 for an hour's travel.The fact that she is just the sort who adds 30 minutes to his journey time would totally escape her.
rayzor14,
Apr 7, 7:00pm
I agree with your statement - passing "safely" however and "passing whilst abiding by the law" are two very different things and this waffling nonsense 4kph tolerance is only adding to this dilemna.
Before you disagree try a little basic maths. You are following a car doing 85kph. If you are following the rules then you will be commencing your passing move from a position 47meters to the rear of the vehicle you are about to overtake (2 second rule) We will assume you are only passing a car so allow a max of 3 meters in length and (given your comments that you should be able to do it safely) you will allow the driver you overtake the courtesy of not pulling back in until you have cleared them by at least half the distance you held behind them to start with. Lets call it a total of 73 meters.
THAT is 73 meters you must travel FURTHER than the car you are overtaking whilst on the opposite side of the road WITHOUT exceeding 104kph. That is a whole lot of time on the wrong side of the road.
But wait you say, why not hold back until a passing lane. The simple answer is that many of these 85kph people see the need to speed up to 100 along a passing lane.and if thats not enough then someone else is probably going to pull out infront of you and attempt their passing move whilst using the least possible amount of fuel and consume the entire bloody passing lane in the process.
I have nothing against people dawdling along and enjoying the scenery at their own pace, I have huge issue with those who are ignorant to anything behind them or feel it is their god given right to ensure that nobody exceeds the limits they have set for themself.
So, in summary I think the fine for holding up the traffic should carry the same monetary penalty as speeding with exactly the same demerits. i.e. If you choose to do 70kph on a 100kph piece of road and hold up traffic you can expect a fine the same as someone doing 130kph and the same number of demerits.
rayzor14,
Apr 7, 7:01pm
Damn right! Well said
likit,
Apr 7, 7:20pm
No she is not inconsiderate just unaware of anyone else on the road & unfortunately alot of drivers are like that.Driving is a privilege not a right.
electromic,
Apr 7, 8:04pm
I don't mind slow drivers, I don't like drivers who don't pull over and let other cars past. Drove to the Naki for easter, 45 minutes following a people mover doing between 15 and 115km/h before I passed them. They didn't care that 20+ cars were backed up behind them. 115km/h every passing lane/long straight, panic braking every corner, hugging the centreline. I have never used so much fuel in a car on that trip!
smac,
Apr 7, 8:41pm
Couple of points here just cause I'm feeling pedantic.
If you sit on the horn for 10 minutes they start to get the message.
flybye_in_a_rx7,
Apr 8, 6:32am
hmm i've always found the chch ones quite good with slower people pulling over to the left. i just find when its 2 lanes people will do up to 110 so i dont bother passing then when it merges to one lane its like theres a invisible sign that says to slow down to 90
flybye_in_a_rx7,
Apr 8, 6:33am
i've tried thata few times, works for some , but some people will then purposely not pull over for you, which i spose is somewhat fair enough
flybye_in_a_rx7,
Apr 8, 6:35am
o and i dislike 'slow vehicle lanes', because there is no sign that says to pull over to the left unless passing, so most people dont use them when their going slow.
shuddupowh,
Apr 8, 6:56am
The old "passing lane I speed up" trick makes me furious everytime. Thats the one thing I loath along with ignorant drivings while on the open road. I only went to Cambridge yesterday, a 15min drive at 100kms. Were going fine along Tamahere expressway then one lane, boom, 80kms. Then next passing lane the campervan is suddenly hooning at 115kms - so I plant my foot and fly past them all (cos everyone else just sits there). Then just be the end a van at the front (too far for me to keep going so I dropped to 100 before the end) decides to drop to 80kms, so I zip past him cos no oncoming traffic. I sit on 100kms right until we enter Cambridge and those slow idiots are no where in my rearview mirror (all I can see is a dot).why do people do this! It is TRUELY disgusting on NZ drivers to speed up and then slow down on passing lanes. If we were in a madmax world we would've just rammed them off the road. The cops need to pay as much attention to this f--kwits as they do speeders, or lay off the speeders and pick on the slow c--nts and I bet the speeders wilol reduce, BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE TO OVERTAKE SO MUCH.whats the bet!
flack88,
Apr 8, 6:58am
Amazing the amount of people,just following a slow car holding up traffic,they wont pass ,wont maintain a safe following distance,so you have to pass six or more vehicles at a time,where its safe too do so.The social engineering experiment isworking well,as mentioned ,you use so much more fuel driving behind these idiots.
wrong2,
Apr 8, 7:04am
well of course
and it doesnt stop them from pulling out in front of you
but it does hold them back from accellerating up to highway speeds in a decent manner
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