Thread: Irate police hunt 'missile moron' motorbike rider

Originally Posted by Tombie

So lets move on to discussing something constructive...

Like how could we make roads better/safer
Appropriate speed limits and their merits or downfalls.

Better roads would probably help, but I believe that one difficulty we face is our population density.

Most of the European countries that people hold up as examples of the way roads should be built have many more taxpayers per kilometre of roads than we do. Australia has too many kilometres of roads and too few people to get a road system like some European countries.

I think some of the difference between Victorian roads and NSW roads can be put down to the size of the states relative to the number of taxpayers.

Originally Posted by vnx205

......our population('s) density....

Sums it up, really. That and bad attitude. Roll on smart driver technology!

Brock's death can't be compared to the motorbike bloke.
Totally different type of road. Sharp corner, no rail, tree on outside.
Compared to a divided road with good visibility it's chalk and cheese.
Now, I'm not condoning his speed but neither is it the unmitigated level of evil that some have said.
There was a big risk, unacceptable, but it was not an almost guaranteed suicide either.

As for risking life over a car....put yourself in his position.
He KNOWS if he stops he is losing his licence, his bike, perhaps permanently if he has done it before, and a bloody big wad of cash. He may also do time, especially if he is already suspended.
On the other hand, he knows he has a near certain chance of leaving the police behind and while there was a risk, he obviously was a fairly skilled rider and believed (correctly as it happened) that he could get away in one piece.
Probably a snap judgement, but once decided on the stakes were raised so he had to follow through.

I have discussed in depth with people who have done exactly that, and been successful.
Also with someone who tried to run but spun out after a few hundred metres and got done....he is now facing the almost certain prison sentence that comes from being a habitual offender of traffic laws...
When your freedom is on the line, many people will say screw it, prison if I stop, prison if they catch me, freedom if I lose them. Some of them even get a thrill from the risk. A risk that is on par with many legal extreme sports.

I am not condoning those actions, but I can understand them.


Speed limits are a separate topic, and yea in many places they are too low.

Originally Posted by digger

Peter,

I have stood out of this until now but I reckon it may be time for a wake up call.

A number of points:-
a) I am a member of the Police (28 years)
b) I am an active member with CFS (including road rescue) (12 years)
c) I am a member of the SES (not so active though)(also 12 years)
d) until 10 years ago I was an active (responding) member with the ambulance service.(for 4 years)

In the parts of the world I have served it goes thus.
All services respond, usually Police being already on duty or having everything at home so they can respond, respond fastest.

obvious things, check re safety of all and triage anyone involved.

If the person needs extraction then its SES or CFS who cut, depending on the area. Ambos obviously attend the patient if required.

BUT, if the person is deceased, then other than declaring life extinct (if they are a paramedic) then ambos stay out of it, it isnt their job to collect bodies or body parts.

Firies or SES (sometimes both) will cut the body free but that also is where they stop.

The police on scene are the ones who will collect the body and all body parts and bag them accordingly.

This is as suggested not a pleasant task, and as you have said, we have chosen our career so it is part of it. But it is impossible to not feel something whilst doing and after having to do this task. Each one is something you will always remember no matter how hard you try.

So maybe getting your facts straight before making a comment may be a little more helpful. Or maybe, just maybe, if you dont know, ask first?

The work done by firies/ses and ambos is magnificent (and I say that as a copper!) they stretch themselves so much and so often it is amazing they do not break.

If you chose to travel at a stupid speed and spread yourself everywhere then so be it, but others will have to clean up the mess, write the reports, tell your relatives and attempt to console those left.

Obviously the danger of this driving to others is massive but I believe the driving side of this arguement will sort itself out, most people will have made their minds up by now anyway.

I do add though that the roads may be capable of 130 BUT that the road laws are made to deal with the lowest common denominator so as to make it safe for all.

Bingo! Give that man a cigar.

Originally Posted by PeterM

Well at 30 over I'm tipping that he would have had the 'hoon' legislation tossed his way and lost his bike for a period of time.

Wrong. At 140 detected he'd be written up at 138 alleged.

Penalty Code 1929 - Exceed speed limit in a vehicle other than a heavy vehicle by 25km/h or more but less than 30km/h. $387 and 4 demerits against RR20.

He would have lost his licence for a month after 28 days.

Originally Posted by PeterM

There are a couple of bleeding hearts here about cleaning up after collisions etc. The police do not clean up afterwards although they do inform the NOK. The ambos/fireies/SES etc. are the ones doing the cutting and treatment as a matter of course. It comes with the job and if its such an issue for you, then you're in the wrong job.

What a load of tripe. I must have been dreaming while my partner did CPR on that bloke in the car that time, or when I was picking up the bits of that teenager that other time, or......

I do note however that you've never been a copper; but you still know how it all works

Originally Posted by Tombie

So lets move on to discussing something constructive...

Like how could we make roads better/safer
Appropriate speed limits and their merits or downfalls.

A lot of the problems and frustrations on the Hume (in VIC anyway, where it is all dual carriageway) could be solved by:

1/ A Left-hand traffic equivalent of the Rechtsfahrgebot rule, ruthlessly enforced by police and punishable by heavy fines. It ****s me the number of people, particularly on public holidays, who think the right hand lane is an additional lane for traffic. If you aren't passing, get the hell out of it.

2/ A 130 km/h speed limit, but speed restrictions for trucks, cars towing etc of 100km/h. This works in tandem with the above rule. How many times have you seen someone overtaking a truck at 0.5 kmh faster and they sit there blocking the right lane up for kms on end?

Overtaking should be quick IMO, especially when its a single carriageway. Much safer to reduce overtaking time spent in the "wrong lane" with oncoming traffic than dawdling past at a few kmh faster...

Originally Posted by B92 8NW

A lot of the problems and frustrations on the Hume (in VIC anyway, where it is all dual carriageway) could be solved by:

1/ A Left-hand traffic equivalent of the Rechtsfahrgebot rule, ruthlessly enforced by police and punishable by heavy fines. It ****s me the number of people, particularly on public holidays, who think the right hand lane is an additional lane for traffic. If you aren't passing, get the hell out of it.

2/ A 130 km/h speed limit, but speed restrictions for trucks, cars towing etc of 100km/h. This works in tandem with the above rule. How many times have you seen someone overtaking a truck at 0.5 kmh faster and they sit there blocking the right lane up for kms on end?

SPOT ON!!!.....but who listens?........No-ONE?
Gotta keep them fines rollin' in?
As a prior poster has said, & I forgot to mention, it is public knowledge, it was a promotable fact when the Hume was built...."THAT IT WAS BUILT & SAFE FOR 140KPH".
So,....... now?
Cheers, Pickles.