The misguided focus on speed limits on Australian roads - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 08:34:30 pm
content: This is a topic that frustrates me on a daily basis so I thought I'd open up a can of worms to see what you guys think.This post comes on the back of a very tragic collision that happened in Sydney yesterday where a 16-year old girl was killed after a vehicle ploughed into a shopfront.The full story here:http://www.news.com.au/national/student-aneri-patel-16-killed-as-unlicensed-driver-crashes-through-chemist-shop-in-kogarah-victims-friends-plead-for-motorists-to-slow-down/story-fncynjr2-1227058913645Immediately, this story revolves around speed which I think is utter rubbish. We are so quick to lower speed limits in this country as a knee-jerk reaction to something yet we're doing nothing about, what is in my opinion, the real cause of road trauma, being the lack of driver education and tough enforcement of road rules (and that includes the "less important" rules such as keeping left on roads with speed limits over 80km/hr unless overtaking etc...). Did anyone else notice that there was mention of an unlicensed driver? That says to me that a novice or inexperienced (therefore unlicensed) driver could very well have been in control of that motor vehicle. Wouldn't that have contributed to the crash far more than speed?Additionally, lane discipline and driving to the road conditions is something that most drivers in Australia don't seem to have a grasp of (especially in the ACT). If I could take away the licences of people who I believe don't meet my admittedly high standard, we wouldn't have traffic issues in Sydney!As a bit of a side note, this is a little test that I apply to see who's thinking and who's simply being another sheep in the herd: Next time you're stationary at traffic lights, watch the cars in front of you. Have you noticed how many people needlessly roll forward 30 centimetres just because the car in front does too? What does that achieve in stationary traffic?I propose the following changes:- Half the number of demerit points and introduction of a "3 Strikes" system for certain offences (e.g.: red lights).- 48 hour seizure of mobile phones for the first offence of using a phone whilst driving and permanent confiscation for subsequent offences.- All licensing tests to be conducted in English language only.- Mandatory custodial sentences for those found guilty of driving whilst unlicensed or disqualified.- Tougher stance on defective vehicles and ridiculous vehicle modifications.- Ban smoking, eating, applying makeup etc... whilst driving.- Broaden the criteria for the offence of 'Driving in a manner dangerous' to include tailgating on roads above a certain limit.- Allow Police the option to issue infringements to owners of motor vehicles by post for offences witnessed whilst off-duty, without the current burden of significant paperwork and follow-up (it would then be up to the owner to either contest the fine or nominate the driver responsible for the offence).- Cancellation of driving licenses for those who are flagged as habitual offenders and forcing them to re-apply and undergo Learner and Provisional driver periods again.I could go on but I think I've broadly made my point.And just to clarify, I do have experience in this field (which I won't elaborate on) and I'm basing my "facts" of this specific incident solely on the news report.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 08:39:51 pm
content: It is a global problem with arbitrary mass media reporting, selective governmental agency behavior, and the fickleness of the under-informed and non-thinking public.There are many areas of utterly predictable knee-jerk reactions ranging from guns to immigrants and even food safety, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

author: Excavatoree
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 08:41:42 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on September 15, 2014, 08:39:51 pmMy sentiments, exactly.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 09:30:06 pm
content: I saw a car the other week with what I think is called a "dream catcher" hanging from the rear view mirror. How the hell can a driver see properly with a 250mm (10") ornament blocking a fair chunk of their view? Same for other items such as CDs, shiny crystals, etc. Poorly placed nav units mounted are also a concern.Changing lanes with no indication (or only as they are already changing/turning!) or not even looking beforehand also result in hits and near misses all the time.I know what you mean about people not thinking when stopped at the lights. The lights go green and a car starts moving forward even if the car in front hasn't. Why can't they just wait another second until they see it move first?Tailgating is another one that is the cause of many rear end collisions. One the way to work each day I go gown a hill with a roundabout at the end of it with some congestion. In the wet people don't increase their car spacing and rear end accidents are quite common there. I back off to leave stopping room and some wanker will zoom up in the left lane and suddenly pull in front of me!And what is it with those people who feel the need to go searching the passenger side floor area for something while traveling at high speed? I've had to take evasive action a few times because of someone wandering into my lane.Anyway, enough ranting for one post!

author: corrado33
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 09:37:43 pm
content: The police are not "the peoples' " parents.Giving the police arbitrary things to inforce including "driving in a dangerous manner" is NOT a good idea. Welcome to the police state. Drive carefully, or else.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 09:52:29 pm
content: Quote from: corrado33 on September 15, 2014, 09:37:43 pmThen who are? Like every parent tells their kids how to drive wellI happily leave telling people they drive bad to the police. They are the ones applying the laws produced by a democratic government.In the NL it is quite difficult to pass the exam to get a driver's license. Usually it takes people 30 to 40 hours on the road with a certified instructor to get ready for the exam and still a lot fail the first time. The result is that people in the NL have good driving skills compared to other countries.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 10:22:08 pm
content: There's a fun game we play here called Brake Check. It tends to stop someone from tailgating you real fast. (Or have then pull along side you and pull out a gun; luckily for me, mine was bigger...)Sent from my Smartphone

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 10:31:59 pm
content: I have sometimes pondered the addition of a momentary switch which would power up the brake lights without actually having to use the foot brake.Just to throw a scare into those idiot tailgaters.

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 10:56:59 pm
content: From an European point of view, I find your speed limit of 100kph (if memory serves) on rural roads to be somewhat strange. You have enormeous distances, it'll take forever to get anywhere at just 100, nevermind the numbness of it.Other than that, I feel that most drivers both here and the ones I encountered in Australia are decent enough. While I'm usually a defensive driver (you learn that quickly when riding a motorbike – one reason why I think everyone should learn to ride,) there are times when I'm tired, or emotional, or lost in memories, and I'm glad others have made allowances for mistakes I've made then. And I try to make the same allowances myself: always try to drive in such a way that more than just one thing has to go wrong for anything bad to occur.There are some dickheads on the road, but frankly, they're a tiny minority (both here and in AU from my observation.) I don't think that anything needs to be done about them, it's really not a big problem. Most people drive just fine. People who are calling for action because of empiric evidence (things that happened to them once) are pursuing aimless actionism. Let's not do that.Oh, and to the person who spotted me on the wrong side of the road in Canberra right outside of the hotel parking early in the morning, and curteously left plenty of space for me to move over to thewrongleft side of the road after I finally noticed my mistake: thanks!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 11:11:07 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on September 15, 2014, 10:31:59 pmStepping on the accellerator and let them pass is a much better idea. Why be in someone's way? Maybe the person is on his/her way to make it in time before a family member dies. Let the police take care of people driving too fast. It is not your place to impose your own laws on them.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2014, 11:11:53 pm
content: QuoteI propose a simpler one: on the Nth (N<=3) violation of traffic rules, one's license is revoked for N years; For N>3 violations, one's driver's license is revoked for 10*N years. Unlicensed drivers are jailed a minimum of 10 years.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 12:04:55 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on September 15, 2014, 11:11:07 pm'Stepping on the accelerator and let them pass is a much better idea"So they have to accelerate even more to get past??.Maybe they are in a hurry, aren't we all !!. Its to simplistic an excuse. My observations from driving many decades is the vast majority are simply rude and disrespectful of other road users. And with more cars on the 'mostly' the same old roads the problem more stems from impatience. (In Sydney, my perspective only.). BTW Tailgating has been illegal for many decades here but is even more prevalent now than when the rule was introduced. How often do we see fool drivers and no police to enforce common sense and safe driving ?, all to often I'll bet.And no I am not suggesting we take matters into our own hands, but simply there are not enough police to just keep drivers doing the right thing let alone control more serious crimes.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2014, 05:58:52 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on September 15, 2014, 09:30:06 pmIn that backward country called italy they are illegal from what i remember when i was taught