Thread: Another senseless tragedy

I cannot believe how restrained some of these replies are. My blood boils when i see these things going on.....😠😠😠

Originally Posted by LRT

Without taking the thread off topic, I think the speed cameras are far too accurate and are a safety hazard. They seem to be designed to catch the person unaware that they are speeding as the ones that are speeding slow down for the cameras. I know someone who got fined doing 101km/h in a 100km/h zone near Melbourne. Even 5km/h is difficult to judge on a Land Rover speedo without using a gps to monitor your speed.
It is also very noticeable watching the traffic speed up again after the camera has been passed & that includes the ambulances without their lights on!

I was talking to an ex-policeman who retired last year and he said that when the speed cameras were introduced, it showed the majority of the offenders where actually the police cars so they all had to receive training. He doesn't like the new idea of hiding with an unmarked to catch a car speeding compared to having a marked car visible to encourage drivers to slow down due to the presence of a police car.

I also wonder if we should be allowing high performance cars capable of double our maximum speed limit into Australia or at least mandating a speed limiting device to be fitted. Or we need an area for the public to book in their high performance cars to drive at the speed they were designed to over in Germany etc at a designated area away from regular traffic in the same way we have drag strips etc. I think part of the problem is watching tv shows such as Top Gear with these cars being driven to their potential and then the average person needing a competition license etc to be able to do it and this means they do it on the public road instead.

I've been passed by a Lamborghini on a quiet country road at a colossal speed - easily 200km/h plus. All I saw was a speck in the distance and if I pulled out to overtake the car in front I would have hit it. I've never been passed by a car whilst doing 100kph in the opposite direction that has made it feel as though I were driving backwards.

Except most all fatal accidents are in normal, everyday passenger cars and 4wd's.

I understand JC's rage, it's purely selfish behaviour in the examples above, but most accidents are a lack of concentration, (phones, gps) tiredness, etc. that are the main contributors when you look at actual accident data.

A big issue in Australia is most everyone thinks they're a good driver, there's so much ego and vanity involved in driving.

Our licensing system is geared to pass a test, not teach anyone to really drive, and definitely no advanced or defensive driving skills are taught.
If you mention teaching people defensive driving skills the naysayers come out "you are only teaching them to drive fast!"

Absolute bollocks, that's like saying sex education teaches kids to have sex.
They are going to do it anyway, so it's better they are educated, and all the data over the last forty years agrees.

Talk to anyone from Germany, you can only learn with an accredited driving instructor, no rellies, mum, dad, etc and you are taken to drive all scenarios, including driving at high speed on an Autobahn.
Its expensive to get a license as it's a privilege, not a right.

I think we should probably have re-testing every ten years too

Originally Posted by rick130

It's basic psychology that a number of people/personality types are unable to think through consequences of actions.
This is why severe deterrents won't work for everyone.

I was talking to a very smart, well educated lady in her late seventies several years ago who admitted it was only in the last decade she realised she just did things without thinking through consequences.
This explained quite a few dodgy relationships!!!

Then you have the narcissist, borderline sociopath, psychopath who are above the law and societal norms and just don't give a flying fig about anyone else.

This...and...
The rise of drugged drivers(v drunk drivers) adds significantly to the number of those for whom consequences are not a consideration. ICE and similar drugs essentially result in the logging off of the executive parts of the brain that consider consequences are central to problem solving etc.
Drunks are just as dangerous...its just an addition to the pool of idiots on the road.

You are all absolutely wrong.
Drugs, alcohol and speed aren't the problem, it's old cars.
Despite laws being introduced to reduce DUI and speeding, the number of fatal accidents have increased.

People who believe they are smarter than us have the answer.

Australian cars are older than other developed nations, and it's costing us hundreds of lives each year | Business Insider

Lower Taxes, Newer Cars May Save Lives On Australian Roads | Lifehacker Australia

Yeah, get the old clunkers off the road. That'll fix it.

Originally Posted by rick130

Except most all fatal accidents are in normal, everyday passenger cars and 4wd's.

I understand JC's rage, it's purely selfish behaviour in the examples above, but most accidents are a lack of concentration, (phones, gps) tiredness, etc. that are the main contributors when you look at actual accident data.

A big issue in Australia is most everyone thinks they're a good driver, there's so much ego and vanity involved in driving.

Our licensing system is geared to pass a test, not teach anyone to really drive, and definitely no advanced or defensive driving skills are taught.
If you mention teaching people defensive driving skills the naysayers come out "you are only teaching them to drive fast!"

Absolute bollocks, that's like saying sex education teaches kids to have sex.
They are going to do it anyway, so it's better they are educated, and all the data over the last forty years agrees.

Talk to anyone from Germany, you can only learn with an accredited driving instructor, no rellies, mum, dad, etc and you are taken to drive all scenarios, including driving at high speed on an Autobahn.
Its expensive to get a license as it's a privilege, not a right.

I think we should probably have re-testing every ten years too

I agree. If you compare our licensing system to the CASA aircraft licensing system, we only do a basic 'effects of controls' exam with a very basic road rule knowledge added in.

There should be training on how to control a car in a skid and even towing trailers as you can't tow on your L's in Vic & only on P's for work.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

You are all absolutely wrong.
Drugs, alcohol and speed aren't the problem, it's old cars.
Despite laws being introduced to reduce DUI and speeding, the number of fatal accidents have increased.

People who believe they are smarter than us have the answer.

Australian cars are older than other developed nations, and it's costing us hundreds of lives each year | Business Insider

Lower Taxes, Newer Cars May Save Lives On Australian Roads | Lifehacker Australia

Yeah, get the old clunkers off the road. That'll fix it.

Most of the crashes I've seen tend to be fairly modern high speed capable cars though and not an old 1980's classic car.

I have a 1977 Triumph 2500 as my daily driver. I know how it will handle in a slide etc and there is active driver involvement to actually drive it.

Having said that, if a person who hasn't grown up driving these 'interactive' cars went and tried to drive it to the limits without the security of abs and traction control would land in strife as they wouldn't have a clue on how to correct it. Again this points towards better licence training IMO.

I find a modern car almost makes you fall asleep as all your doing is steering it with cruise control, adaptive braking, radio, heater/aircon & other driving aids. It's like sitting on the sofa watching tv.

Originally Posted by justinc

I cannot believe how restrained some of these replies are. My blood boils when i see these things going on.....😠😠😠

What makes my blood boil is the continued stupidity on the road and the total lack of thought towards the consequences of it.Tracey and I were driving home from a boxing day BBQ when two vehicles in front of us decided to play dodgem cars because one didn't accelerate fast enough in the right hand lane,one of them got side ways at 80km/hr and lifted both left hand wheels as it swerved across both lanes and the foot path,it's one of those times that I wish I had the Force,both of the idiots would have been ripped from their cars and given a good Darth Vader choker hold.Another sad they is the Home and Away actress that was injured,Joe average gets hurt and it's sad,a second rate celebrity does and it's front page news.Can we fix it?,yep,the Land Rover whisperer for PM. Pat

Originally Posted by edddo

This...and...
The rise of drugged drivers(v drunk drivers) adds significantly to the number of those for whom consequences are not a consideration. ICE and similar drugs essentially result in the logging off of the executive parts of the brain that consider consequences are central to problem solving etc.
Drunks are just as dangerous...its just an addition to the pool of idiots on the road.

Yes, during a recent police blitz in the Hawkesbury LAC the driver of 1 in 10 vehicles pulled over were drug effected. No idea what constitutes 'over the limit' in these cases but pretty scary numbers. This is a rural area with plenty of other hazards on our roads from tractors, slow moving trucks, wandering stock and no shortage of roos. The area includes the notorious Bells Line of Road and the Putty Rd Both favorites venues for motorbikes and cars pushing their skills againts these challenging roads with the resultant regular carnage. The rescue choppers regularly fly over our place on Sunday afternoon. According to the local paper a high proportion (dont recall the %) of these casualties are drug or alcohol affected, or both. Generally under 25 males.

Dont know how the problems will be solved.