there is a way to do just that, go back to annual licensing, make it compulsory that every renewal has to at least pass the scratch test - every year and set it as a minimum for all drivers, tourists as well, sure you may have an international license, that tells us you know how to drive in another country, now show you know the rules here before you drive in this one, all it would take is another 5 minutes getting through the kiosk at the airport, could even be done in their own country prior to leaving - show you are aware of the driving rules in your intended destination, at least it would keep driving rules in the conscious focus - today it gets forgotten 2 years after last looked at
used to cost $3 per year, then went to $175 for a lifetime jobbie, then quickly to $125 for 10 yrs, $10 -$15 per year to redo the scratch test wouldn't be punitive, about on a par with what it is anyway, a fail could be augered in to mean a second attempt which if failed too mean a full resit of practical as well
would mean that a lot would have to find a way to extend their attention span to more than 5 minutes though
richardmayes,
Feb 24, 10:26am
You could get them to display a star of David in the rear window at the same time. ?
The blood is on the hands of the rental car co's IMO. They don't give a stuff what happens after the tourists walk out the door, as long as they get their cars back in one piece.
ema1,
Feb 24, 1:19pm
One thing needs to be looked at very closely IMO is the fact lots of travelers come here into our airports after an 8 to 10 hour flight some maybe more? Ask yourself, those folks that do travel those lengths of time must be tired out surely. They pile of the plane then 1st thing they do is go hire a car or other vehicle and "hit" the roads. Why hasn't something regarding compulsory rest period before setting out in a rental car been enacted on? That would no doubt reduce some of the carnage involving tourists, in which a number of 1 vehicle ( gone to sleep when driving and or causing lapses in attention ) type crashes seems prevalent. Being fully alert I place major importance on, and that doesn't excuse some of the senseless driving habits of lots of New Zealander's either . far from it! The front page and some inside pages of the Otago Daily Times I'm sitting here reading right now paint a sad indictment on our countries "powers the be" and rental companies and other tourist related agencies.
daryl14,
Feb 24, 1:24pm
Wasn't There some rugby world cup supporters from England who did exactly that and had a serious crash or killed someone?
ema1,
Feb 24, 1:29pm
They too are "Tourists" and being RWC supporters doesn't separate them from the run of the mill tourists either. That's a fact that some were involved mentioned above too and that's exactly the question I raise being a major concern? Chances there could be an element of "Good Cheer Liquid" close at hand no doub't. A bit of "mob mentality" on certain occasions probably isn't ideal either? The Cricket WC etc plus all else going on is really adding to the totals of tourists that will be traveling big hours and going out to hire cars etc and driving while tired, you can't tell me that any folks getting off a plane after a long flight are fit to drive safely. answer to that . NO ONE IS . PERIOD!
tamarillo,
Feb 24, 1:30pm
Impossible to enforce. Only thing that could be done is having real traffic police driving and watching and helping, maybe watching for poor driving. Dreams are free.
ema1,
Feb 24, 1:37pm
I doubt that tamarillo, sounds like head in the sand answer really. Surely any rental company could be instructed by the powers of the land for passengers to show or prove with documentation where their flights originated and the duration of those flights. Not hard to do in my book!
elect70,
Feb 24, 1:38pm
Bit late when hes already hit you head on driving on wrong side of the road
ema1,
Feb 24, 1:44pm
That's past tense speak. Legislation always pertains to future. tense in eliminating what you say is a "bit late" ? Dead right talking about the "bit late" scenario for those unfortunate to be involved in serious injury or fatal crashes, I reckon agencies should be looking at rectifying the situation rather than all the "duck shoving and head scratching" plus aw this will affect the tourist industry? What they mean is aw it will affect the $$$$$ tourists bring into the country, what the hell is more important in value revenue or people?
woody1946,
Feb 24, 2:03pm
Thats exactly what I was going to say. No rental car for a descent period after proof of when the flight landed on NZ soil,
franc123,
Feb 24, 2:23pm
Lol they don't care about that neither, the client gets the criminally high excess added to their account and they get another car to replace any that get written off.
lissa25,
Feb 24, 2:27pm
In relation to your second point, I think you will find that most major rental car companies already have gps trackers installed.
franc123,
Feb 24, 2:29pm
Not to mention a vote loser. Won't be happening.
gjmman,
Feb 24, 2:41pm
Like many I have picked up a hire at LAX after a 12hour flight, drove a few km and had a nap at my hotel and went to Hollywood that evening. Felt fine and rested, would not have been happy to be made to wait a rest period.
gunny7,
Feb 24, 3:23pm
Seems the govt are hot on the general public killing each other with motor vehicles (constant barrage of speeding & drink drive ads), but are not too keen on upsetting the tourist trade by "unfairly" targeting the tourist drivers.
socram,
Feb 24, 3:45pm
Sorry Ema, totally unworkable and again, think about the thousands arriving daily in LA or the UK after long flights. Where are they going to rest? Are they going to set up dormitories at the airports?
I have lost count of the number of long haul flights I have had over the last 30 years, and not once have I ever felt too tired to drive. Don't forget that many do in fact sleep on the flights and even a couple of hour's sleep has proved to be beneficial.
Travelling down the motorway early on a Sunday morning, say between 6am and 7am, there is often a queue of drivers pulled over for testing at the City on ramp, having failed the initial test. Are they in a fit state to drive, having presumably been out on the razzle for the night? I'[d suggest that there are far more of them posing a potential danger than long haul fliers who may have grabbed some sleep.
I don't totally disagree with a 5 minute scratch test on arrival for rentals, but I do think that these days, rental companies rarely go through the basics of the car's controls (fuel filler, hazard flasher etc), let alone the road rules, so much of the onus has to be on them.
How many of these tourist accidents are on day 1? Do we know? If they are not on day 1, within a few hours of landing, then the problem is not the long flight.
lookoutas,
Feb 24, 3:51pm
I agree with the "L" plate idea.
They are learning our road rules, but more importantly, it should apply to the one's who are learning to drive on the other side.
I don't know what can be done about the one's from countries where a licence can be brought. Just give them an "L" plate - because.
All I can say is . PITY ! Seems as though it's the old "If it isn't affecting me . who cares, she'll be right?" attitude that afflicts the vast % of this countries public
ema1,
May 31, 8:55am
I very much doubt if they have as you put it "done no wrong" simply that 99.99% simply doesn't stack up . sorry. skin1235. This info below shown front page today in Otago Daily Times 24 Feb 2015. Nationally overall crashes at 6% involving tourists, the subject actually fills 3/4 of the ODT front page and about 1/4 of page 23 court news. Aw there's concern alright, and it's quite alarming at that.
Further breakdown of regional stats on same graph shown on the ODT front page. Westland 37%, Southland 25%, Queenstown/Lakes 24%,Central Otago 17%, Waitaki 12% & Clutha 11%.of all accidents involving tourists ! That's the way it is in just down my end of the country and that causes considerable concern.
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