Thread: 10 Dead on WA Roads

Originally Posted by BMKal

And now we've got the "experts" calling for country speed limits in WA to be reduced from 110km/h to 90km/h. Seriously, who gives these ****ing idiots any credibility at all when they dribble this ****.

*breaking news.
road fatalities up this year, fatigue said to be the new killer

*breaking news next day
experts calling for govt to introduce fatigue management rules

*breaking news day after
govt to introduce new rule. drivers must take a break every 15min

*breaking news
roads congested

Originally Posted by ATH

but shouldn't cops as part of their policing also be partly responsible for educating motorist?

where's the revenue raising in that?

Originally Posted by BMKal

And now we've got the "experts" calling for country speed limits in WA to be reduced from 110km/h to 90km/h. Seriously, who gives these ****ing idiots any credibility at all when they dribble this ****.

https://www.facebook.com/9NewsPerth/...53461/?fref=nf

Sorry - it's a link to a farcebook page - I couldn't find a "normal" link to the article.

Jeez - 90 in WA - how would you get anywhere!

Originally Posted by ATH

......Not that I see much in the way of education of any kind in papers or on TV.
There'll be much wailing and moaning about motorists not getting the message, but what message is that? "Drop 5 to save lives"? Where is the evidence to support a nice little catchy phase like that?
Rubbish.
AlanH.

SAME place as the diet message.."5 (serves of veggies) and 2 (serves of fruit) per day" as being a 'Healthy Eating' mantra.

- Came from the world of advertising, as the numbers "2" and "5" are known as memorable to our feeble, advertisement-battered brains.

Over here we've had the "Drop FIVE, save lives" on a 'speeding' campaign and recently ourwater use is being targeted by 'reducing' our reticulation watering-station times by.... TWO minutes.

Nope, as in the Nutritional World, you won't find any 'Scientific' basis for "5 & 2".

These pics might shed some light on the road toll...
The dash-cam is a very wide angle, and things appear MUCH further away.

Son & I had turned R on a roundabout (clear view on our R, truck was already halfway around, hoon on the left slowing... obviously realized that WE had Right of Way.. (insert favourite swear words...)

Not that it slowed him much, and he was - technically - entering the roundabout while we were still approaching, by going over line)

We continued and passed the truck ASAP, but before we could draw in front and move to the left lane in front of it.... Hairy Hoon reckoned the gap was good enough for him to squeeze through...

So he did.

Then, for no reason, he applied the brakes and slowed down to below our speed - which was building UP to the limit.
- I didn't play his game...


Yes, Son rang the Cops. No, we have'nt heard back from them... nor do I expect to either. They took the hoon's details, but did not ask for son's name or mobile number.

The funny bit... we caught up with him at the next lights...and watched him tailgate and weave up to and through the next two sets...

Originally Posted by Homestar

Jeez - 90 in WA - how would you get anywhere!

NOT safely... it's sobering (pun intended) how little sleep you need to lose... that reduces your decision-making capacity AND increases reaction times... to that of a DRUNK driver...

ONE night of bad/no sleep and you're over the limit... the same as 0.10% which is TWICE the 0.05% limit.

Then there is the 'Frustration Factor' when the numpty in front of you is so terrified of "SPEEEDING" through a camera....that he/she insists on staying 10 km/h below the speed limit...'just to be safe'.

Back in the UK again reminds me of why so many drivers in OZ maybe lose attention, drift off, perhaps even fall asleep... because we all drive TOO slowly!

In the UK, the National speed limit is 110 kph on dual carriageways and 100 KPH elsewhere, unless posted otherwise, e.g. 50 kph in built up areas. The reality is for long distances on the highways in the UK, most drivers drive at well over the 110 kph limit... perhaps doing 120 kph - 150 kph. There are very few police on these roads and very few speed cameras. And drivers DO NOT get pulled over for driving at these speeds, which are above the limit... but are SAFE.

WHY...

Because drivers are overtaking, moving lanes, looking in their mirrors, calculating distances and speeds ahead, noting hazards, anticipating changes... in other words STIMULATING their brains so they are not 'drifting off' losing concentration, and are hazard aware. Net result... VERY few accidents. Our modern cars stop quickly and effectively with ABS. Stability control systems also keep things under control if needed.

Driving at slow boring speeds is unsafe. We are under stimulated in our modern quiet cars at our slow speeds. Reducing the speed limits will only make matters worse. If we spent MORE time looking out the window for hazards, instead of staring at our speedo's, petrified of going even a few kph over the limit because some copper will pull us over and book us for speeding etc, the roads would be safer.

Its' time OZ got it's head out of this revenue raising based mentality and started educating and training drivers HOW to drive, with regard to other road users, hazards and with courtesy and not aggression (tailgating), then our OZ road tolls would drop.

Its just such a sad nanny state we have all evolved into ...

The problem is NOT speed! I just wish the government would wake up to the facts about this and started really making a positive contribution to road safety through better driver education and training...