Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Friday night road warrior

insider outsider

Tue, 29 May 2007 18:12:59 +1200

It is so frustrating when you see dodgy statistics coming out of Govt particularly reported with breathless credulity by the media. Often these stats are used to support marginal policies that are going to cost you and me big dollars. The recent house insulation rules are one example. Completely bogus…

stephen walker

Tue, 29 May 2007 13:24:19 +1200

Just following up on what Simon said...
it reminded me of when I came back to NZ after 15 months in Japan in the mid-80s. As an avid clubber I went out a lot in Auckland and Tokyo around this time. The first time I went clubbing in Auckland after…

Simon Grigg

Tue, 29 May 2007 12:26:10 +1200

How many accidents caused by drivers just under the limit?

Once again, from afar, I drove, at what I assume would have been over the limit in NZ terms last night, simply because there are no drink driving laws here. I do it rarely. But, it happens (and I was…

Bart Janssen

Tue, 29 May 2007 11:38:22 +1200

creation museum = oxymoron

It's a theme park which I wouldn't mind if they made it R18.

Really – impressionable minds should not be exposed to this kind of stuff.

Can't say I'm keen on lowering the drink/drive limit, seems to me those that drive drunk are well and truely…

Chockasunday

Mon, 28 May 2007 21:00:20 +1200

Regarding the museum, when I lived in Texas, I went to a state park with dinosaur remains southwest of Fort Worth.
There were fossilised footprints in the riverbank, it was really impressive.
Nearby was a Creation Evidence museum, purporting to show that man walked with the dinosaurs 4000 years ago.…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 20:30:52 +1200

"I'm open to being convinced of the merit of a lowering, but I get antsy about being bombarded with factoids."

Likewise. Dressing opinion up as fact, just because a cop said it, is weak, even if the opinion is good. I feel the same way about cops and guns. If…

paulalambert

Mon, 28 May 2007 20:09:09 +1200

I believe they are getting ready to introduce random roadside testing for cannabis (and other illicit drugs). As with alcohol, those tests will be unable to measure actual impairment, just blood metabolyte levels.

Russell Brown

Mon, 28 May 2007 18:37:30 +1200

Russell, did I misread you? When you say "there's a pitch" you aren't backing it, just saying "this is what they're aiming at", they being the Herald and it's mates the cops. If so, excuse me.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

I'm open to being convinced of the merit of…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 18:25:25 +1200

Russell, did I misread you? When you say "there's a pitch" you aren't backing it, just saying "this is what they're aiming at", they being the Herald and it's mates the cops. If so, excuse me.

Not that I especially disagree with a lowered blood alcohol rating. These days having…

Sam Farrow

Mon, 28 May 2007 16:53:43 +1200

The quote from the policeman in this article:

I have never seen a person so drunk in my life

Reminds me of a story that was told to me by a proffessor at Canterbury Law School

A notable member of Christchurch's white bread community was arrested and charged with drunk…

robbery

Mon, 28 May 2007 16:13:02 +1200

russell, re internet traffic limits
you have noted in a previous column are not the norm overseas. ie most plans in the US and Asia are open limit plans, usage is not an issue etc.

Have you seen any figures quoted as to what it costs per meg of traffic…

andrew llewellyn

Mon, 28 May 2007 15:56:07 +1200

His buzz is surfing.

Dude! Get his opinion on toking & driving!

Russell Brown

Mon, 28 May 2007 15:46:57 +1200

"I actually think there's a pitch for a lowering of the alcohol/driving limit behind this"
How do you figure? Not that I disagree, just want to know what claims of non-uncertain merit you formulate that thought from.

I think the Herald in particular has editorially got behind the lowering the…

Rickai

Mon, 28 May 2007 14:59:56 +1200

I love getting stopped when driving drunk people around town. I usually make sure I go past some key booze bus stations. In my experience, any place where you can't see the cops until you're right on them is best. In Auckland – Hopetoun Bridge, outside the entrance to the…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 12:38:33 +1200

"Drink driving attitudes have changed enormously in a generation and although there will always be a hardcore group of idiots who keep at it drivers and particularly young ones can be proud over how much less drink driving goes on nowadays compared to our quite recent past."

Indeed. My impressionable…

3410

Mon, 28 May 2007 12:23:09 +1200

It's a bit like how a single car crash "shows that New Zealanders just aren't getting the message to slow down" as one officer opined on the 6 o'clock news the other night.

nz native

Mon, 28 May 2007 12:22:42 +1200

The police are always making strange claims which when mixed in with un-referenced statistics, slanted storys and general media hype gives us the next moral issue/threat that we should all be wringing our hands about.

The police and the media are a bit like the blind leading the stupid.

Drink…

Andrew Moore

Mon, 28 May 2007 12:13:29 +1200

As the designated driver for some beautiful party people, I wound up covering a few miles on Friday night

Aw shucks, liking that description there Russell. And thanks for your sensible driving skills, cool head, and soothing aura!
I think the Bonnie Scarlets may have pipped the Coshercot Honeys in…

JR

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:49:41 +1200

That museum video is equal parts horror & comedy.

Craig Ranapia

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:39:01 +1200

That's two ships passing in the night. 'Senior coppers' and 'frontline police' are by and large non-intersecting sets.

Oy vey, quote that for truthiness – especially when you've got a couple of cops around for dinner, cocktails and a bitch session. ;) But I don't think that's a distinction the…

Kyle Matthews

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:31:27 +1200

Statements by senior coppers on the current perils facing society seem to have about as much credibility as any conservative with an opinion.
Anyway, yes I do think Russell has a point – but at the same time, I also have a fair amount of sympathy for frontline police officers…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:30:07 +1200

"I actually think there's a pitch for a lowering of the alcohol/driving limit behind this"

How do you figure? Not that I disagree, just want to know what claims of non-uncertain merit you formulate that thought from.

Russell Brown

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:13:33 +1200

I actually think there's a pitch for a lowering of the alcohol/driving limit behind this; that's in the police's 2006 alcohol strategy. And while a lowering of the limit might have merit in its own right, I'd rather it wasn't promoted with claims of uncertain merit.

Rob Stowell

Mon, 28 May 2007 11:03:24 +1200

Journalists, statistics, alarmist headlines... (screams and falls frothing to the floor). Here's a thought: when the APN "outsource" their subbing to contractors in Mumbai, we might just get some subs who are numerate (phds in stats?).
And maybe not as desperate to sell the paper. Who knows?
"Checkpoints arrest simply…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:49:11 +1200

Craig, sure, cops have a hard job, which they freely chose to pursue. It doesn't mean their opinion is more correct or even relevant than anyone else's.

Raymond A Francis

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:38:18 +1200

Not just an Auckland problem, apparently rioting broke out with the police fully stretchedin the little country town I live in
Closer examination of the facts reveals that three were arrested ,a tire were slashed and one window was broken
Pretty normal especially after a local rugby win
It all…

Craig Ranapia

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:32:05 +1200

Statements by senior coppers on the current perils facing society seem to have about as much credibility as any conservative with an opinion.

And where did that come from? I'd hardly blame Police management for desperately wanting any PR that doesn't involve what Michael Laws so repulsively describes as 'sensual…

BenWilson

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:15:30 +1200

Yes, it's pretty clear that the total number of drunks netted will mostly be a reflection of how much the cops focussed on catching them, not how many there are.

Statements by senior coppers on the current perils facing society seem to have about as much credibility as any conservative…

Public Address

Mon, 28 May 2007 10:15:30 +1200

Discussion from blog post.