Thread: "Demerit" Points.

I have never been in a position where I have only 1 point left. I doubt Mrs Pickles is in that position as well.

Like I said what I did was Stupid and double demerits didn't help much either.

Originally Posted by trout1105

I may have been somewhat harsh But speeding is not only a crime it has been proved to cause accidents and deaths.
Try telling a parent of a child that has been run down by a speeding car that speeding is not that serious and the coppers are just using it as an excuse to raise revenue
We all know that speeding is dangerous and we all know it is illegal and yet many of us still speed.
I myself am NO angel in this regard and I have been busted on a few occasions that have cost me money and demerit points that left me feeling stupid for speeding in the first place.

Sorry have to STRONGLY disagree. Dangerous Speeds are a problem. Speed is an issue in all crashes. The issue is what is dangerous or inappropriate. Australia is the most confusing country to drive in with our ever changing speed limits and I would suggest, in many cases inappropriate speed limits.

The child argument is the one used to emotively support your argument - over used. It is used when you run out of facts. In NSW 40 km speed limits for schools were introduced and there had NEVER been a fatality in the designated zones prior to its introduction. I will have to find the data again but not sure if any accidents at all in those areas but it was argued it was about safety. A RTA employee actually pointed this out before it was introduced.

Another problem is speed limits at roadworks. They can be there for months with nothing being done. All it does is teach you to ignore them.

How many times have you seen roads that were 100km/h and then a new road opens next to them and now they are only safe to drive at 80 km/h. This is about traffic management not safety in relation to speed.

Drive down the many expressways in NSW and you see the 110 speed limit go to 100 or 90 with no discernible change in road conditions. You will also see roads where the speed limit is reduced to allegedly reduce accidents. Especially on some roads liked by our 2 wheel friends. Lowering the speed limit does nothing to fix the accident rate there only actively enforcing speed limits does that. Inappropriate speeds will still result in accidents but everyone else might be exceeding the speed limit but still be safe.

I have just driven from Louth to Wlcannia today on a gravel road and my speeds varied from 30 - 100 km/h, yet there are many roads where I am restricted to 80 where a relaxed 100 is easy and SAFE.

Also remember the physics. Crash damage is about the dissipation of energy. Not picking on heavy vehicles but the physics. Car 2 tonnes. Truck 40 tonnes. The truck has 20 times the energy to dissipate yet is deemed safe to travel at the same speed. Legislators make decisions that come from sometimes inappropriate sources. I can recall a road safety expert from a Vic University arguing for 80 Km speed limit maximum. Unfortunately looking at his past he had had road trauma impact on his life. Is the opinion scientific or emotive?

Could go on more.....

Sorry, but as an ex-walloper who worked many years in this area, has attended more than his fair share of horrible incidents, speed limits have become a joke and their enforcement an embarrassment.

[QUOTE=Strop;2722602]Sorry have to STRONGLY disagree. Dangerous Speeds are a problem. Speed is an issue in all crashes. The issue is what is dangerous or inappropriate.......

If memory serves I think I'm pro'ly quoting someone from the forum when I say, "speed is always a factor in an accident, as two stationary object's can't collide". Speed limits are made to cater to the lowest common denominator, a form of road borne communism, and take no account of, vehicle characteristics, weight, brakes, driver's age, ability, vision/night vision, reaction times, etc. If they weren't, the signs would all be digital and change with weather conditions, visibility, traffic congestion ahead, etc.

The state of the roads are a disgrace, especially country roads, I'm talking 100 kph highways vs 100kph free-ways, that have puddles/pools on them that can easily wrench the steering wheel out of a person's hands, and or blind oncoming traffic with the spray/splash. Some of the road builders should probably be in jail for causing accidents, actually I found the best road builders are the dirt road guys, they can't afford to have poor drainage softening their roads. Perhaps tar road builders should do an apprenticeship on dirt roads for a few years?

Strop, I think I may've pressed a wrong button relative to your post, so this is just to say, I'm with you 100%,....Thanks for taking the time to write the words!
Pickles.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Surely you haven't been sucked in by the "Every K over is a killer" malarkey...

Never has there been a bigger insult to our intelligence than this slogan! Makes me laugh too when travelling on a regular 60 zone for past 20 years, only to find one day that it's gone up to 70k zone with absolutely no change to conditions etc. So yesterday travelling at 61k/h was a killer, but now for some reason, I can do another 10k/h before I (or my speed) becomes a killer!

Just on the subject of roadworthyness, I know in Qld that unroadworthy vehicles are a significant contributor to accident stats. But strap yourselves in fellow Qld because just informed on Friday that yearly RWC are coming soon.

More red tape! That should raise a few more dollars.

Originally Posted by Clip

Just on the subject of roadworthyness, I know in Qld that unroadworthy vehicles are a significant contributor to accident stats. But strap yourselves in fellow Qld because just informed on Friday that yearly RWC are coming soon.

I remember seeing some statistics on accidents and roadworthiness of the vehicle involved between the states. It showed there was not much difference in the statistics between SA (no roadworthies) and NSW (annual roadworthies)

But, hey, don't let me stop you (you being Queensland, not you personnally). I can see, in the future, car ownership in Queensland will only be affordable by the privileged few.

Originally Posted by Clip

Just on the subject of roadworthyness, I know in Qld that unroadworthy vehicles are a significant contributor to accident stats.

Can you give any evidence to support your claim?