Cops and the 4 kmh over posted speed limits

[zero 1160]

I understand that year-on-year, the number of fatalities as a result of road traffic accidents over the seasonal period, during the time in which the lower or zero telerance towards speed limits is applied, has continued it rise. Dramatically, this year.

Total numbers dont tell the whole story as there are many more people on the road the last few years due to the population increasing, and the economy improved since the recession.

Percentage would be good, but these totals will only be indicators as there are other variables too like weather etc.

Interesting though....

[gjm 3191]

The figures I saw previously were misleading - a careful selection of statistics conveniently excluding the figures for last year (2014-15) so as to make the figures for this year look like an increase. (A propaganda-type publication.)

The reality is that figures dropped this year (from last year). The police will no doubt hail this as a resounding success, quoting a 25% reduction in fatal accidents. In perspective - that's 4 less. And the weather has been pretty rubbish so a lot of people will have stayed home, a detail that will no doubt be forgotten.

Regardless, the stats are lying - again. The selections here are small enough that any variation is within anomaly value.

Edited to do battle with the image of a table!

Edited January 12, 2016 by gjm

[zero 1160]

stats.jpg

The figures I saw previously were misleading - a careful selection of statistics conveniently excluding the figures for last year (2014-15) so as to make the figures for this year look like an increase. (A propaganda-type publication.)

The reality is that figures dropped this year (from last year). The police will no doubt hail this as a resounding success, quoting a 25% reduction in fatal accidents. In perspective - that's 4 less. And the weather has been pretty rubbish so a lot of people will have stayed home, a detail that will no doubt be forgotten.

Regardless, the stats are lying - again. The selections here are small enough that any variation is within anomaly value.

Edited to do battle with the image of a table!

It is the long term trend that is important.

Comparing one year to the next is not going to tell us much because, as you say, the selections are so small.

[gjm 3191]

Unfortunately the numbers (over the Christmas period) are small enough to be all but insignificant anyway. 4 less deaths (a good thing) representing 25% of the 2014/15 figure is ludicrous. If we were talking in terms of a 25% reduction in the annual figures, then there becomes some merit to the figure.

[zero 1160]

Again, as the numbers are so low its hard to measure, until we have longer term data.

Over time (decades) the road deaths rate has been trending down, but this is because of numerous factors.

[M3AN 4015]

Safer cars, safer roads and better driver education will all make more of a difference than a 4km/h tolerance.

There is absolutely no (as in zero: pun intended) data to prove a lower threshold makes any difference whatsoever.

They're even talking about increasing the speed limit beyond the 4km/h threshold on some roads. Some of these are roads where the threshold is enforced the most. That makes a mockery of the threshold.

The 4km/h threshold is a revenue collection joke.

Edited January 12, 2016 by M3AN

[kwhelan 231]

The 4km/h threshold is a revenue collection joke.

as are 99% of mounted speed cameras, in 50km zones, some even on motorways where everyone is travelling in the same direction with a concrete barrier for protection

[Autobahn 21]

So after reading this thread I'm guessing that I will have zero luck getting the Police to reconsider a 112kph speeding ticket issued in a passing lane last week? I was quite disappointed as the officer and I had a friendly discussion, and although he agreed that despite my immediately returning to 100 after passing, and not doing anything unsafe he just gave me the "well it was kind of bad luck to be you - here is your ticket attitude"

I really think that the demerits for using a passing lane for its intended purpose are more than a little excessive. It just strikes me as entrapment when they are all camped out on their revenue gathering blitz.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[jake1829 119]

So after reading this thread I'm guessing that I will have zero luck getting the Police to reconsider a 112kph speeding ticket issued in a passing lane last week? I was quite disappointed as the officer and I had a friendly discussion, and although he agreed that despite my immediately returning to 100 after passing, and not doing anything unsafe he just gave me the "well it was kind of bad luck to be you - here is your ticket attitude"

I really think that the demerits for using a passing lane for its intended purpose are more than a little excessive. It just strikes me as entrapment when they are all camped out on their revenue gathering blitz.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

saw this multiple times over the xmas/new years period when travelling around.....

cop sitting on the other side just as the passing lane came into effect.....thankfully my radar detector picked them up!

revenue gathering at it's finest!

Edited January 20, 2016 by mod335

[Jamez 2147483647]

I would just like to give the cops some credit, at least the ones I came across were fair and gave me a chance to slow down after finishing a passing manoeuvre instead of being a trigger finger. I had two flash their headlights until I was back under 100km/h and then let me go on my way.

[gjm 3191]

So after reading this thread I'm guessing that I will have zero luck getting the Police to reconsider a 112kph speeding ticket issued in a passing lane last week? I was quite disappointed as the officer and I had a friendly discussion, and although he agreed that despite my immediately returning to 100 after passing, and not doing anything unsafe he just gave me the "well it was kind of bad luck to be you - here is your ticket attitude"

I really think that the demerits for using a passing lane for its intended purpose are more than a little excessive. It just strikes me as entrapment when they are all camped out on their revenue gathering blitz.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sadly, I'd suggest your chances are nil, or worse. It may be worth trying the "car in front was doing 85 and sped up" line, but I doubt it'll wash.

saw this multiple times over the xmas/new years period when travelling around.....

cop sitting on the other side just as the passing lane came into effect.....thankfully my radar detector picked them up!

revenue gathering at it's finest!

I've talked about officer discretion in issuing a ticket, but I get the impression they have been told they will not exercise any. If you're really lucky when you're pulled for 120+, you may get an officer who is prepared to reduce the figure you were stopped for. This will reduce the fine and number of demerits applied.

[martyyyn 102]

I drove between Hastings and Woodville the other week and saw five marked cars, one unmarked van and one mufti. Every single one was sat at the end of a passing lane.

I would say 95% of my driving is open road anywhere between Wellington and Palmerston North and since the threshold has been dropped there are more people driving at 80-90kph than ever. I've lost count of the number who hit 110kph on passing lanes.

I now don't bother with passing lanes and just overtake where-ever I can. Just as we all did 20 years ago when we weren't made to feel ashamed to overtake people outside of passing lanes.

[gjm 3191]

The unmarked cars are getting sneakier too - I saw a blue/grey Holden wagon lit up like a Christmas tree a few days ago, when he'd pulled someone over. That one even had a towbar!

[Autobahn 21]

Yeah I'm thinking that overtaking anywhere OTHER than a passing lane is the better bet actually. It certainly seems to me that if you get pulled over here in NZ you are always going to receive a ticket if at all possible for them to do so. It's a shame, as I genuinely thought I could have an honest and rational discussion regarding the circumstances of me using a passing lane for its intended purpose.

On a slight sidenote - what do you think of radar detectors in general? Do they work well enough to be worth the $500-800? I have been thinking of getting one for a while now (not that I speed on the open road much) so I have a little bit of warning for speed traps and the like.

[polley 916]

I got a beltronics sti and it's been awesome.

[Kepes 231]

On a slight sidenote - what do you think of radar detectors in general? Do they work well enough to be worth the $500-800? I have been thinking of getting one for a while now (not that I speed on the open road much) so I have a little bit of warning for speed traps and the like.

I'd say they're worth it if you drive on the open road a lot. Otherwise probably not. I only use mine on the open road and it has saved me from a ticket many times. I also really like the arrows so you know where the cop is (V1). Picked up a cop from 4km away recently too. I was well surprised

[kwhelan 231]

The unmarked cars are getting sneakier too - I saw a blue/grey Holden wagon lit up like a Christmas tree a few days ago, when he'd pulled someone over. That one even had a towbar!

There was a particular summer maybe 15 years ago when they went all out, We had a ute with a motorbike strapped on the deck being used as a mufti car issueing tickets left right and center, there were so many mufti cars that year you just didn't know where to look until they got out with their hat on its was quite weird. they had flashing lights behind the grill otherwise people just didn't know to stop at all.

[Olaf 3235]

On a slight sidenote - what do you think of radar detectors in general? Do they work well enough to be worth the $500-800? I have been thinking of getting one for a while now (not that I speed on the open road much) so I have a little bit of warning for speed traps and the like.

I used one in the 90's (uniden RD9XL - pretty trick) on my daily commute to upper hutt... was great until they introduced KA band! I also had a newer uniden in the late 90's until some light-fingered asshat stole it from my car. I had gotten out of practice until nearly 4 years ago. After receiving a ticket my response was to buy a radar detector to help inform me when I was about to be targeted, to give me a chance to check my speed. You know how it is, you're cruising responsibly, concentrating on the road and traffic, conversing with your family in the car, and then 'bing' you've crept up to 112 or 114. oooops. Only, with law enforcement in NZ that's "here's a fine, sir" - no conversation. I have a BEL 995, it's very good. Provides reasonable warning for mobile radar, shorter warning for laser, no warning for Vans (I have that turned off). It has provided me with opportunity to check my speed when driving distances; and delivers on that. It's not much chop for instant-on, mode...

I got a beltronics sti and it's been awesome.

so I will be upgrading to an sti magnum or an escort redline this year. probably the sti magnum.

PS - I really like the audible alerts on the bel and escort detectors. I prefer to run mine in stealth, no lights... so "BlEEEEP BlEEEP BlEEEEP --- Lay-zerrr alert --- is really useful. or "Kay Ay band" #8 )

Edited January 21, 2016 by Olaf

[gjm 3191]

This?

[polley 916]

so I will be upgrading to an sti magnum or an escort redline this year. probably the sti magnum.

PS - I really like the audible alerts on the bel and escort detectors. I prefer to run mine in stealth, no lights... so "BlEEEEP BlEEEP BlEEEEP --- Lay-zerrr alert --- is really useful. or "Kay Ay band" #8 )

Yeah mine's the magnum, I only really run it when I'm on the bike with an ear phone.

Arrows that the v1 has could be handy, but you quickly learn to tell by the varying signal strength where it's coming from.

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

I would just like to give the cops some credit, at least the ones I came across were fair and gave me a chance to slow down after finishing a passing manoeuvre instead of being a trigger finger. I had two flash their headlights until I was back under 100km/h and then let me go on my way.

Yup, had the exact same thing happen to me coming home from the Corromandel over New Years. Was on the Dual carriage way.