Thread: Another senseless tragedy

Originally Posted by manic

Plenty of people would believe this if it aired on the news. I would like to know how they used the data to spin that yarn. I dont buy it!
..........

Probably a good indication of the safety or otherwise of older cars is that comprehensive insurance on my 1970 2a less than half what the same company would charge me on any new car. Insurance company figures suggest that by far the major influence on claim rate is the driver, with the type of vehicle mainly affecting the cost of repairs rather than the frequency of accidents. (Although the type of car also affects the sort of driver it attracts)

People who have lost touch with reality because of drug use won't be deterred from driving even if the penalty is instant jail. First they probably won't even know the penalty is jail. Second, they will be more focused on getting their drugs than on the chance of getting caught.
This is why harsh penalties and law enforcement don't deter some people.
What is needed is treatment to get them off the drugs and back in touch with reality.
That requires a change in unrealistic community attitudes. It's too easy politically to call for harsher law enforcement, but the reality is the 'war on drugs' has failed all around the world. Jailing people doesn't fix the drug problem. We have to get smarter if we want to improve the situation. Slogans have failed. Treatment is the only real answer.

Drugs are a health and social issue. Why do we make it a law enforcement battle?

Drugs are a health and social issue. Why do we make it a law enforcement battle? | Alex Wodak | Opinion | The Guardian

Nothing wrong with older cars if maintained and driven responsibly - maybe slightly higher injury rate if in a crash - but not everyone can afford near or new. Suspicious of AAA report. Vaguely remember a push by car importers (second hand modern) to reduce nations older stock to give themselves a bigger sales market?!

Surgeon said best thing you could wear in a car is a crash helmet.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

People who have lost touch with reality because of drug use won't be deterred from driving even if the penalty is instant jail. First they probably won't even know the penalty is jail. Second, they will be more focused on getting their drugs than on the chance of getting caught.
This is why harsh penalties and law enforcement don't deter some people.
What is needed is treatment to get them off the drugs and back in touch with reality.
That requires a change in unrealistic community attitudes. It's too easy politically to call for harsher law enforcement, but the reality is the 'war on drugs' has failed all around the world. Jailing people doesn't fix the drug problem. We have to get smarter if we want to improve the situation. Slogans have failed. Treatment is the only real answer.

Drugs are a health and social issue. Why do we make it a law enforcement battle?

Drugs are a health and social issue. Why do we make it a law enforcement battle? | Alex Wodak | Opinion | The Guardian

Then the judge would probably let them off due to mental illness etc. The best thing of course is not to try doing drugs in the first place but peer pressure must be a big problem in schools

Originally Posted by workingonit

Nothing wrong with older cars if maintained and driven responsibly - maybe slightly higher injury rate if in a crash - but not everyone can afford near or new. Suspicious of AAA report. Vaguely remember a push by car importers (second hand modern) to reduce nations older stock to give themselves a bigger sales market?!

Surgeon said best thing you could wear in a car is a crash helmet.

The only old car that I'd probably be worried about would be the type II Kombi with a piece of sheet metal in front of you with a non collapsible steering column. Otherwise most non-cab overs are pretty safe.

A relative of mine had a head on crash with a Nissan Micra at 100kph. The car they were in was a late 1990's Toyota Camry with a 2 star crash rating vs the little Micra with a 5 star rating. The driver of the Nissan was killed as the east-west configured engine ended up in the back seats. The driver & passenger of the Camry survived with broken bones but when I saw the two cars sitting in the yard, I'll pick the older Camry!

What that surgeon said certainly makes sense as the rally drivers do and most also wear a neck brace device as well.

I'm not sure if there's any benefit over 6 point harness over regular seatbelts though.

Stuff all the fines and verbal deterrent rubbish and start really punishing a few offenders. Properly.

Can't see any reason why an offender shouldn't be on a 24/7 on call situation for 12months straight to accompany a first responder continually to some horrific fatal accidents and see/smell/feel the damage they cause. Even help the ambos to clean up the viscera and load body parts into a bag.

Maybe, just maybe there will possibly be a reduction in some of these totally avoidable "accidents".

No mercy for this pondlife.

Locking drugged up drivers may nt help them .but it will protect the rest of us for a bit..build more jails lock them up for longer periods of time..we all better off

Edited - anyone for a Port Arthur restoration.

Worked in the social welfare arena for some time, years ago - we used to foist some of these people onto private enterprise for motivation - having an offender 'helping' can sometimes be worse.

My dumb idea. How 'bout giving driving offenders free cab vouchers whenever they need? The main motivation is to get about to meet friends, get to work, buy groceries (or the next fix). Removes the need to drive. Cheaper than prison or fixing the people and property they damage.