Law

Government risks voter backlash over lowered speed limits

The government is likely to face a significant voter backlash if speed limits are reduced unreasonably, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says:

“It’s currently fashionable in government circles to blame speed for causing increased road deaths. The facts don’t support this view.”

“The government’s own statistics show that speed alone is a factor in just 15% of fatal crashes.”

Alcohol still the worst drug on our roads

The government needs to treat alcohol as the most dangerous recreational drug, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says legal drugs, such as alcohol, are killing far more people than illegal drugs.[1]

Police pursuit report “a cop-out”

Multiple people will die until police pursuits are restricted, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, describes today’s Independent Police Conduct Authority report as “a cop-out” that fails to offer real solutions.

Time to recall defective Lime scooters

Lime e-scooters have serious safety defects and should be recalled immediately, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says:

Exhausted truck drivers major threat to road safety

Truck drivers regularly take terrible risks due to a cutthroat contract system, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew Wilson, who is an outspoken road safety campaigner, says the recent expose on contract truck drivers in New Zealand ”goes a long way to explaining the rising road toll.”

Are e-scooters operating illegally?

Dunedin Pedestrian Action Network

Press release

Are e-scooters operating illegally? 

The New Zealand Transport Agency appears to have blundered in allowing e-scooters to operate, says pedestrian advocate Dr Lynley Hood.

“The New Zealand Transport Agency allowed e-scooters onto New Zealand roads and footpaths by defining them as non-motor vehicles. However, the NZTA did not follow the procedure defined by law. Therefore, e-scooters appear to be operating illegally.”[1]

Lower speed limits linked to increase in road deaths

Speed limits that are impractically low tend to be ignored, leading to an increase in road deaths, according to studies quoted in the Times newspaper in the UK.

Increasing fines won’t stop cellphone use by drivers

Increasing fines and demerit points won’t stop cellphone use by high-risk drivers, says the car review website dogandlemon.com

Dogandlemon.com editor Clive Matthew-Wilson – who is an active road safety campaigner, says:

"Multiple studies have shown that fines and disqualification don't generally work as a deterrent for high risk offenders.”

Government response to wheel-clamping "pathetic"

The government needs to take a far tougher line on parking enforcement, says the car review website dogandlemon.com.

Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson describes the government's response to wheel-clamping as "pathetic" .

“Most wheel-clampers are parasites. While it’s great that the government has limited the amount they can charge, there’s still nothing to stop these crooks blackmailing ordinary motorists.”

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