14-04-2019, 03:45 AM
(This post was last modified: 14-04-2019, 08:24 PM by Bob Culver.)
It seems that many Brits visiting NZ are caught out by the blatant held and hidden fixed cameras and by radar in mobile cars, marked and unmarked, and the small tolerance margins.
It has all had a huge effect on driving patterns. Outrageously dangerous driving is now seldom seen. My 1965 everyday car is more at home in traffic than it was when I first acquired 35 years ago. With the performance ability of all vehicles today it makes for very uniform speeds. With a limit of 100kph, overtaking trucks with a limit of 90 kph (with margins, near 100 on typical car speedo) is difficult. Max suburban speeds seldom exceed about 55 kph but 50 mph was not uncommon in the 1960s.
The road toll has fallen dramatically although with boredom and in car distractions is rising again.
I suspect the tedium of modern driving explains the now relative reluctance of many of the young to own cars here where there are no huge insurance barriers.
I have seen it stated that we are the only country with completely unannounced cameras.
It has all had a huge effect on driving patterns. Outrageously dangerous driving is now seldom seen. My 1965 everyday car is more at home in traffic than it was when I first acquired 35 years ago. With the performance ability of all vehicles today it makes for very uniform speeds. With a limit of 100kph, overtaking trucks with a limit of 90 kph (with margins, near 100 on typical car speedo) is difficult. Max suburban speeds seldom exceed about 55 kph but 50 mph was not uncommon in the 1960s.
The road toll has fallen dramatically although with boredom and in car distractions is rising again.
I suspect the tedium of modern driving explains the now relative reluctance of many of the young to own cars here where there are no huge insurance barriers.
I have seen it stated that we are the only country with completely unannounced cameras.