A NEAR MISS

As I was driving around the bays after playing tennis this morning and as I was going uphill a black Holden SS came around a corner on the wrong side of the road as the driver was passing a lorry. He just fucking missed me necessitating a universal one fingered salute from me.

What was wrong with this idiot? He was passing on a blind corner - at a greater speed than the speed limit. I didn't get his rego number being more concerned with avoiding the arsehole (and of course giving the universal one fingered salute).

*****************

The New Zealand Transport Agency has taken ownership a lot of the offences relating to driving that were previously incorporated in the old Police offences Act.

In many ways these are a watered down version of what went before and no wonder we have such bad driving on our roads.

See this Fact sheet from The New Zealand Transport Agency:

DRIVING OFFENCES

I prefer the old New Zealand Police Offences 1908:

NEW ZEALAND POLICE OFFENCES . 1908, No. 146.

Furious Driving 

Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding ten pounds Offences by persons who, in or upon any public place, Being the driver, rides on any cart, dray, or wagon without ' reins, no competent person having charge of the animal drawing the same, or is away from his horse or cattle so as to be unable to have the full control thereof ; or acts as driver or has the sole charge of more than one vehicle, unless in cases where two of such vehicles and no more are drawn each by one horse only, and the horse of the hinder of such vehicles is attached by a sufficient rein to the back of the foremost of such vehicles ; or drives any vehicle whatever or rides any animal and, when meeting any other vehicle or animal, does not keep on the left or near side of the road or street, or, when passing any other vehicle or animal going in the same direction, does not go or pass, or does not allow any person desirous so to do to pass, when practicable, on the right or off side of such other vehicle or animal; or furiously or negligently rides or drives any animal or vehicle, or any engine, carriage, or conveyance of any kind; or drives any vehicle laden with any goods or materials which project on either side more than five feet from the centre of such vehicle or, drives or allows to stand any cart, coach, or other vehicle with the curtain, covering, or awnings thereof unfastened and liable to be flapped about by the wind so as to frighten or be calculated to frighten horses ; or being the driver or guard of a public vehicle for the conveyance of passengers, allows more passengers to enter or remain in or upon such vehicle than it is licensed to carry, or wilfully delays on the road, uses any abusive or insulting language to any passenger, or, by reason of intoxication, negligence, or other misconduct, endangers the safety or property of any passenger or other person, or demands or exacts more than the proper fare due from any passenger ; or drives any dog or goat harnessed or attached to any vehicle ; or permits any cattle to be at large, or without proper guidance, or to wander, or to be herded or grazed, or unlawfully obstructs or prevents the driving of any cattle; or sets on, urges, or permits any dog or other animal, whether or not being the owner of such dog or animal, to fight, attack, or worry any other dog, or to attack or worry or put in fear any person or animal, or, by ill-usage or negligence in driving any cattle, causes any mischief to be done by such cattle; or leaves any plough, harrow, cart, or other vehicle without reasonable excuse ; or being in charge of any traction-engine, propels or causes the same to be propelled along or over any public road, highway, street, or bridge, unless the engine is accompanied by two men.

**************

I like the language used in the 1908 version - particularly FURIOUS DRIVING. It seems more pejorative somehow.

Also, as the Holden SS the arsehole was driving has 362 horsepower the old version can get him on 363 counts.

WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE COMING DIRECTLY AT ME

WHAT I HOPE HE LOOKS LIKE SOON (WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED)