John MacDonald: We should be doing this on our highways too

If only the people who run Mt Hutt Ski field were also in charge of our roads up and down the country.

Because I think it’s brilliant what they’ve done after a few muppets turned up there at the weekend and decided the request to use chains on the access road didn’t apply to them.

Which meant, of course, they got stuck.

Not only that. They got stuck and caused something like a two-hour delay for a lot of the other people using the road and wanting to get up the mountain and make the most of the brilliant skiing and snowboarding conditions.

In fact, the delay was so significant that they kept the mountain open for an hour longer than usual at the end of the day to make up for the disruption.

But the reason I think Mt Hutt should be in charge of all our roads is that they actually did something about this situation at the weekend.

The very next day, they brought in an $800 fine for anyone who ignores their request or their instruction to use chains on the access road.

And I’m thinking that, if a ski field can do this, should we be doing the same on public roads? Yes we should.

The council in Queenstown has seen the light on this one and, earlier this year, announced a $750 fine for drivers who don’t use chains when they’re required.

So, if it’s good enough for one council and one ski field to crack down on this, why can’t we apply the same logic everywhere else?

I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t. And I see absolutely no reason why we can’t.

Because, in Queenstown for example, it’s going to be the police who enforce the chain rule there.

So the cops could do the exact same thing here in Canterbury and everywhere else.

Because, just like Mt Hutt is finding, people do what they’re told if they know there are consequences if they don‘t.

It was Friday when those clowns went up the access road with no chains and got stuck. And, from Saturday, the new fine was in place and everyone has done what they’ve been told to do since.

Unless we do the same for all drivers on all of our roads, the type of people who think it’s all sweet to drive up a ski field access road without chains will do the same everywhere else.

Because there are so many know-alls out there who either think they’re God’s gift to driving or are so selfish that they don’t give two hoots about inconveniencing other people.

I don’t know which ones are worse. The know-alls or the muppets who don’t think twice about the impact their behaviour has. Not only on other drivers, but the people who have to come to their rescue as well.

And I guarantee that taking a leaf out of Mt Hutt’s book and fining drivers on any roads who don’t use chains when they’re supposed to would make a real difference.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from NEWSTALKSB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Says, right, not just have them in the boot, not
just think I'll have got them back in the garage
at home as you to put them on. And I'm
thinking that if a ski field can do this, should
we be doing the same on our public roads. My
answer to that is yes, we should definitely. Now the
council in Queenstown has seen the light on this one

(00:35):
and earlier this year announced a seven hundred and fifty
dollars fine for drivers who don't use chains when they're required.
So if it's good enough for one council and good
enough for one skifield to crack down on this, why
can't we apply the same logic everywhere else. I see
absolutely no reason why we shouldn't. Tell me if there is,

(00:55):
I can't see a reason. And I see absolutely no
reason why we can't because in Queenstown, for example, it's
going to be the police who enforce the chain rule there.
It's just one part of the country. So the cops
could do the exact same thing here in Canterbury, and
they could do the exact same thing everywhere else. Because

(01:18):
just like mounth Hart is finding. People do what they're
told if they know there are consequences if they don't.
You see, it was Friday Friday last week Matriki Holiday
when those clowns went up the access road with no
chains and got stuck, and from Saturday the new find
was in place. Since then, my understanding, everyone has done

(01:43):
what they should be doing. By the way, the mountains
closed again today Mount Hutt because of those very strong
northwest winds. It's the same at Porter's today as well.
But when Haut is open again, don't even think about
heading up the access road without chains on if they're required,
because there will be an eight hundred dollar fine coming
your way if you do. Bring it on, I say,

(02:05):
and trust me, unless we do the same for all
drivers on all of our roads. The type of people
who think it's all sweet to drive up a skifield
access drive without chains, they'll do the same everywhere else
because they are doing it everywhere else, because there are
so many nobles out there who either think the God
they think that think their God's gift to driving, or

(02:28):
they are so selfish they don't give two hurts about
inconveniencing other people. I don't know which ones are worse
than the nobles or the muppets, who don't think twice
about the impact their behavior has not only on other
drivers by the way, as you'll know, but the people
who have to come to their rescue as well. And
I guarantee you challenge me if you wish, I guarantee

(02:52):
you that taking a leaf out of Mount Hut's book
and finding drivers on any roads who don't use chains
when they're supposed to, I guarantee you that that would
make a real difference.

Speaker 1 (03:06):
Mornings. For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald, listen
live to news talks at be Christchurch from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio