Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 10:38 am, by: Miles Baker(Milesb)
I haven't had too many more problems with asian drivers than white drivers. However taxi drivers who are not white.. they have nearly killed me on a bike more times than I care to count. They are a menace. Finally one destroyed my old TL1000R and broke my hand doing it. Also managed to take out my mate on his GSXR600 who was riding in the lane next to me! I think a big problem with them is their job and training. I hear bad things about a lot of ethnic taxi drivers skipping the licence tests and driving like they're still in their country. They also work loads of hours and are under a lot of stress.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 11:40 am, by: Leon Wright(Techman)
Khan Quach wrote on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 05:48 am:
I still think there's a bit of generalising here. It bothers me to some extent. Discuss not argue if I'm wrong anyhow.
I'd have to agree with you, I feel somewhat uncomfortable with that kind of generalising. My girlfriend is an Asian girl, and she is a pretty darn good driver. Her parking skills are also incredible. Admittedly she is Australian born and got her license in the country. So I don't think it's asian people as such it's just that a fair proportion of our population is of asian decent and a fair percentage of that population have immigrated to Australia. Am I correct in the belief if you attained your license over seas you just need to transfer it when you get here?
On another note, my mate is Kenyan and he is a nut behind the wheel. Where he comes from as long as you can stand up you can drive and speed limits... what speed limits? So he tends to drive really fast and after spending a night at the club, although I believe he doesn't drink like he did in kenya! Still speeds like crazy, 140km/h in 50 zones through town!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 12:41 pm, by: Khan Quach(Kayman)
Jeff, you do have some good points to take. Eg. Large dog theory, stereotypes being inbuilt life survival techniques.
I'm more questioning the "All asians" factor. Because that past statement 'I feel' includes me and innocent others on a broad level. I think it's important to take into account of the backgrounds of various members on this forum reading this. My mother drives okay, so does the sister, but girlfriend can get crap at times. It was just the tone of this thread that 'I felt' led me to outlay some opinions and questions. Maybe I'm a little picky on politically correct terms, but discuss anyhow, because I will listen. (Your spelling's fine except for Israel, Jeff, understood either way ) There are a myriad of other bad driver stereotypes out there(hoons, drunk drivers, drugged up truckies, select elderly).
I'm a motorcycle rider myself and I would never consider passing through Footscray(Cabramatta equivalent) on a saturday morning. I'm sure you know, we as motorcyclists have a greater chance of injury in any accident situation and are taught to adapt to local conditions. And through that, I understand there are quite a few bad asian drivers out there which as much frustrates me from time to time, when the worst congregate into one area just as much as a lot of taxi's.
Vinh matey , No, I'm not offended, I'm not getting my undies in a knot over this, this is a forum. Open for discussion and free speech. So if there are clever opinions on this matter, I'm open minded enough to waive my views towards them, which is what I'm seeking. I only look for further reasoning. Because conflict can mostly be avoided through communication and further understanding. Not all of us are as wise as some of the older, which is why I'll opinionate and question for further understanding towards wider angles.
As for the law, it can be a load of crud at times. So for "There shall be no racial tension". I think it's more realistic as "There shall be minimal racial tension". Yes, I believe there will be the select few who won't abide, that's why I say it. And for jokes, there's a lot of us right minded asians who'll accept jokes about asians quite well. Our customs and ways like any other race aren't invincible to parody/jokes to the world, just don't make it personal. We'll laugh with you. Those that'll want to sue you are misunderstood.
Joe, my apologies if I hijacked your thread. Tell me to start another one, and I will. Miles and Leon, your views lead back to the flaws in our licencing and testing system. We wouldn't have uneducated dangerous drivers if the system wasn't so easy.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 02:12 pm, by: Vinh Bui(Hyudsjk)
Tell me about it Khan. I've tried driving through Footscray and I get just as frustrated as I would when driving through Cabramatta. Especially that carpark behind the main strip. ARGH what a nightmare it was trying to find a parking spot there.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 12:09 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Personally, I think this has turned into an excellent thread. Discussion, opinions, different views, whatever, but all expressed thoughtfully and politely (for the most part).
I would agree that the use of the word "all" when talking about any group of people is pretty much a waste of time. No matter what subject you discuss regarding groups of people, there will always be exceptions, quite often the majority may be exceptions.
I do agree about the taxi drivers though, there was an article in the paper here recently about the taxi company's coaching the drivers so they could recognise what a stop sign looked like even though they couldn't read the word "stop" just so they could pass the test.
Jonathan Hong Tinkerer California JZZ31 (N/A 5 speed)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 06:51 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
People who drive white vans with tinted windows - they are the real menace!
Seriously though, I've been hit by other vehicle owners quite a few times during my 17 years on the roads.
First time was a young white kiwi girl.
Second time was a middle aged white kiwi in a white van with tinted windows (so dark he probably couldn't see me!)
Third time was a asian (I would guess Chinese from his name and appearance) guy - this was the most surprising as he accelerated out of a driveway into the side of my car while I was sitting at the lights in the middle of a large queue of traffic on a sunny day)
Fourth time was an Fijian Indian guy in a security company car (this was the end of my first Soarer)
Fifth time was a young Kiwi Indian guy who was clearly a boy racer.
Sixth time was a middle aged Samoan man.
So all I can conclude from this is every race has its issues with driving from time to time.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 11:54 pm, by: Mustafa Akgul(Muzzy)
I am a courier so I see a lot of different drivers everyday.
and yes unfortunately Asian drivers mainly the women are up on the top of the list alongside Our Older citizens who have diminished reflexes and or drive so slow I could walk faster.
driving a car requires confidence ability etc you get the drift.
Oh and P plate drivers especially those green ones are also holders of a ticket to the nearest smash em up.
Oh and lastly its us couriers who are the worst because all of the above drive us so mad that we also end up flipping it.
Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 07:54 am, by: Callum Finch(Sigeneat)
I have more problems with soccor mums and people driving larger 4wd cars (i mean a proper 4wd, not an awd wrx or something) that i do with any particular 'race'. There are many reasons why but one of the biggest issue is they just dont understand that the cars are bigger, bulkier and heavier. Instead they treat them like some little hatch and weave between traffic and cut you off. Dangerous.