Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

'What are you writing about this week that's funny?” A question I'm often asked.

Well there's not a lot funny at the moment… in the middle of winter surrounded by gloomy weekend weather, atrocities overseas, homelessness at home, rocketing property prices, and Auckland refugees flooding into town.

So not a lot to laugh about… oh hang on, there's the British, Brexit and Boris!

Thank goodness for the English, always obliging with something to cheer us up! The Americans are running a close second with the Trump circus. And I suppose, to give Aussies their dues, they are also providing some quirky entertainment with their Prime Ministerial speed dating game.

Some Aussie wag on social media pointed out this week: 'Keep calm, there's only three more Prime Ministers before Christmas.”

Recently we met some Aussies and they couldn't even remember the name of their current PM. Mind you, it probably changed a couple of times while they were away. At least they could tell us the name of NZ's current leader. Very memorable, they said, that Helen Clark lady…

Active passive

I've always been an active passive smoker.

Not through choice, but because the smokers around me have been generous enough to include me in their strive to develop incurable diseases.

I've never understood the attraction of chain smoking… I always found my lips got caught in the sprocket.

Until the laws changed, many of us non-smokers had no option but to inhale the deadly by product of someone else's bad habits.

So it's great to see continued pressure on smokers and tobacco companies to further reduce smoking. There's a motivating story on our health page 21 this week, in case any of you puffers need it.

If you haven't managed to kill off your offspring or mokopuna with passive smoke and need to keep them happily and safely occupied, check out the 'School's Out” holiday ideas on p32-33.

Passing thoughts

In other news, we've had masses of feedback on last week's piece on the slow-poke road-hogs and lack of passing lanes north of Tauranga. Just my opinion, you understand. But we had more than a hundred messages, all backing the notion that not enough is done about slow traffic, either providing lanes to pass safely; or regulation to get slower traffic to pull aside.

It was pleasing also to get the one and only message from a self-confessed slow-poke, Harry, airing his point of view.

Mind you there may be more forth-coming… if they write like they drive, they could still be scrawling, or maybe still wandering the house looking for a pen a week later.

Anyway, here's the only highway hazard who managed to squeeze out a response; plus a brief selection of comments from the people he's irritating:

'Hi RR, I really enjoy your column and have a good laugh every week. I am a slower driver. On the open road I usually go 85/95 kph and always get someone filling the rear view mirror! I hate to be at the front of the line and am happy when I can let people go past as I feel that the front car will always be the one to collect a head on collision from the other direction. My badge would say:

I am driving slower than you because I am old. I got old because I have always driven a bit slower!

Fast driver's badge: I drive at 120, but I'm not driving faster than my car can really go (which is about 200), therefore I'm a careful driver! I saved three minutes by driving really fast and overtaking everything!

I can get to the red traffic light before you...slow coach!

Cheers mate. - Harry



Among the many backing the RR viewpoint was Brian Brown, who wrote thanking us for the 'brilliant editorial” and not being afraid to print letters on contentious issues, especially on race matters.

Meanwhile, Duncan France labelled last week's column 'well-reasoned” and raised some good points:

'I, like you, am a fully paid-up supporter for the promotion of passing lanes, especially on SH2 and especially between Waihi and Tauranga. You point out that ‘they' have even removed passing lanes in that section in recent years. That is simply shocking. Do ‘they' not realise that working people must keep several appointments per day and shouldn't have to allow several hours per day for slow travelling times. Passing lanes soon pay for themselves by more efficient economy.

However, ‘they' seem to have relented and have been (re)constructing a passing lane just north of Wainui Road 10km south of Katikati. The double lane was opened last week, much to our delight. However, even though it took 9 months to construct it, within 3 days the surface of the south bound double lanes was pot-holed! So now, we are back to no-passing lanes as they patch a spanking new road.... Is this all a plot by the ‘keep them driving slowly' brigade? The cost of improving and subsequently repairing that small section of highway must have been phenomenal! An abominable waste of tax-payers money!”

David Cambden makes some relevant observations on the wider traffic issues around Tauranga, and suggests the decision makers are out of touch.

Parting shot

Finally, quote of the week comes from Phil Fuller: 'Loved your article about the ‘Slowest Common Denominator'.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

'Interestingly if you are walking along a narrow path and you hear a jogger come up behind you do you block his way or step aside?

Why doesn't this happen on our roads?”

brian@thesun.co.nz
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