Eric Thompson: Right hand rule is no big deal

Hidden among all this chat about the turning rule was the announcement that Stephen Joyce is going to give it to motorcyclists again. Photo / Supplied

This whole left turn, right turn, give way to turning malarkey is starting to drive me mad. I don't know what all the fuss is about - whether it's a dumb rule or not it, is pretty much conjecture.

As far as I'm concerned, if you can't work out that the driver coming from your right, or turning from the right in front of you has right of way, you shouldn't be driving a car.

There was a 91-year-old lady on the radio the other day who was driving before the rule was introduced, during its introduction and will probably still be driving when the rule is changed back again.

During the interview she couldn't work out what all the fuss was about, and wasn't fazed by having to change back again. If someone who's been around for more than 91 years can figure it's no big deal, why is there so much wailing and gnashing of teeth about a change?

Maybe she's not bothered because back in the day folk had to sit a driving test and not answer inane questions about load distribution and the length of the gizmo attached to the whatsit, and how much it weighs, to get a licence.

I'm not bothered either way if the rule changes or remains, or if we are the only country in world that has it. For goodness sake, in some countries you get thrown in jail for giving your bird a snog in public.

When people travel they abide by the country's rule, not their own. If someone who hasn't read the rules plants himself, and his car, into the side of another car that's his fault - not the rules.

As for the powers-who-be stating changing the rule back to what it was 30-odd years ago is going to save 2000-plus accidents - God help us.

Panel beaters and car painters will be partying like there's no tomorrow at the thought of all prangs about to happen. Forget putting your money into property and shares, start buying up all the car doors you can find.

I still think all this rule change is a smoke screen to hide how the motorcyclists of New Zealand have been royally shafted yet again.

Hidden among all this chat about the turning rule was the announcement that Stephen Joyce is going to give it to motorcyclists again. Not only are they now bank-rolling half the country's ACC malingerers and bludgers, they are about to be slapped with even more draconian rules to get them off the road.

As quoted in the New Zealand Herald; The Government will also remove the ability for motorcyclists to reduce their time on a restricted license by completing an approved Defensive Driving or "Street Talk" course. It will also introduce motorcycle specific training as an alternative to the standard testing regime.

Let me get this right, the Government is going to remove an incentive to undergo rider training. How novel - we'll just can something before we have any idea what to replace it with.

It carried on; Novice riders over 25 years old will also lose the right to a shorter minimum period on a restricted license. Mr Joyce also announced a new moped specific handling skills test associated with a new license class for such vehicles, a new power to weight ratio restriction for novice riders and refresher training for returning riders.

The new power-to-weight restriction replaces the current "cc" or engine size restrictions for novice riders, "as there are now high performance bikes available with a low cc" Mr Joyce said.

I'd say that swings pretty close to being a prejudicial comment - it's okay for a car driver to buy what they like and go and kill someone, but not for a motorcyclist to ride what they want.

Motorcyclist aren't out to crash or maim themselves. I'd bet over 80 per cent of the accidents involving motorcycles were caused by a car or truck driver, or something else with a roof. Riding around with nothing between you and the road other than a bit of material is a damn good incentive not to fall off.

I'm surprised I haven't heard more from a motorcycle lobby group. I'll report back next week.