Eric Thompson: Speed nazis create slow hazards

Slow drivers are a hazard on the road. Photo / Dean Purcell

Although the sun may be making more of an appearance this week, I reckon the weather was a big factor in the 18 deaths this holiday period - up six on last year.

Why? Because most drivers haven't a clue that when it rains all sorts of factors enter the equation.

According to the Ministry of Transport report, during the 2011-12 Christmas holiday period there were 14 fatal crashes resulting in 18 deaths: eight drivers, seven passengers and three pedestrians.

Fifteen of the deaths were from crashes that occurred on the open road and six of the deaths were in single-vehicle crashes in which a driver lost control of the vehicle. Eight of the deaths were in head-on crashes.

The paragraph in the report that stood out the most to me was: "Preliminary crash reports indicate there were seven deaths in crashes where both 'travelling too fast for conditions' and 'driver alcohol' were suspected and there were a further two deaths in a crash where 'travelling too fast for conditions' was a suspected factor.

"Of the 15 vehicle occupants killed at least four were not restrained at the time of the crash."

At last, even the government agency for transport has realised speed doesn't kill - note that in the report, the word "speed" is not used - something I have been banging on about for years. The report rightly states that "travelling too fast for conditions" will always cause unskilled drivers to become unstuck.

My main bug-bear over the holiday break was the same as it's been every year - speed Nazis (the public - not the police) who decide just how fast we can drive on the open road.

These speed Nazis should understand that driving towards the higher end of the recommended speed limit in a competent manner, and in accordance to the conditions, is not dangerous driving.

At no point have I advocated breaking the speed limit, or driving in a reckless and dangerous manner.

It was nice to hear radio and print media picking up on this pious attitude. It was music to my ears when I heard a roading police official say slow drivers are a hazard and will be dealt with accordingly.

Having witnessed a bunch of shameful exhibitions of driving over the last few weeks, I have decided to introduce the Flat Chat Holiday Dork Award. Feel free to email me your suggestions, but my nomination for this year goes to a woman in a gold-coloured SUV.

I was approaching a T-junction just after New Year - the SUV was parked across the intersection so nobody could get out or turn in. I gave a gentle honk of my horn to get her to move but to no avail. I gave a sharper honk and her response was to give me the finger, followed by her passenger who swore at my daughter. I sat there until the woman did a U-turn back on to the main road.

There was a roundabout about 200m down the road, in plain view. Go figure.