Bad road times here...

[gtimk5]

A lot of Tasmanians are in mourning today after the worst single day of road deaths yesterday in history for Tassie.
Ice and freezing conditions accounted for the first double fatality near Hobart early in the morning followed by a shocker on the Midlands highway later in the morning...
That caused chaos with the road closed for hours while they took away 4 dead people from that one.
Then late in the afternoon the same highway took another 2 lives (at least thats what they reported) until they realised 3 hours later that a 3 1/2 year old was sposed to be in one of the cars that had been crushed by a container. It took the rescuers a fair bit longer to find the childs body in the carnage. The press werent allowed to visit that accident as it was far too tragic and graphic...
I think its terrible and its amazing how some people dont drive to the conditions.
That was 9 fatalities in one day which is tragic for anywhere.
Our road toll is now 46 for 2009 while the total for 2008 was 40

Please drive safe this weekend.....
Andrew

[Stan]

smart thoughts there Andrew. I'm a paramedic and see the results of this all the time. On the public road, in the wet, with other people around is no way to be in a hurry, lack concerntration or do race / drift practice.
Stay safe dubbers...

[SoVeReIgN]

Pretty full on, I don't think speed and other driver restrictions have been effective as the government has hoped.

We need to train drivers better, change attitudes and spend more money on making our roads physically safer.

[Maverick]

Pretty full on, I don't think speed and other driver restrictions have been effective as the government has hoped.

We need to train drivers better, change attitudes and spend more money on making our roads physically safer.

Agreed, all the governments have done is create a bunch of drivers who only know how to watch their speedo and drive at whatever speed is indicated on a sign. The only solution is to make drivers responsible for their actions and make them capable of thought and this can only be done be removing draconian speed restrictions, stupid "safety" campaigns like "every K over is a killer", the removal of speed cameras and replacement with more police on the road looking for stupid idiots not someone going 10kph over, proper driver training including retesting every 5 years and the stupid mindset that a drivers license is a right.

The driver training should be more like Germany, make it cost a few thousand dollars and make the drivers understand how to drive not just pass a test. Germany also requires you to attend a first aid course as part of the process and mandatory vehicle inspections.

[h100vw]

The standard of the average driver in Adelaide is pretty poor. The tailgating is a shocker and it does make me cringe when I see mums on the school run right up the exhaust of the car in front...

The other one that makes me wonder what is going on in the heads of fellow motorists is the speed they travel at in the wet. Especially after it has been dry for weeks in the summer.

Instead of lining the states pockets on straight pieces of expressway, the cops should be pulling up the brain donors that are carving through the city traffic.

I enjoyed driving in Germany when I worked there for 9 months. On the autobahns, you had to keep an eye on your "six" or risk retina burn from a 911 or big Merc. It really kept you on your toes. Far better drivers when you have extremes of weather to contend with. Look at where the top WRC drivers come from.

Be vigilant and anticipate.

Gavin

[Greg Roles]

Gee, that's sad news indeed. It's the flow on effect that is the worst, all the families and friends who will be in mourning today.

I feel the problem has far more to do with people being so uptight and aggressive these days typified by the tailgating soccer mum in the SUV. How often do people drive, yet their mind is a million miles away, on all their perceived problems, and they are only partly aware of what they are doing. We've all been guilty of it, and I think people forget they are indeed piloting a lethal weapon.

Just a few weeks back I had some of the worst road rage I've ever experienced, and it was from a red P plate chickie in a Barina. I've never seen anything like it, absolute madness, and it made me realise here's a 40kg teeny, in a baby car, who has just lost it. She even passed me on the verge, pulled up me and the lane of traffic and got out, looking for more!

Giving a nutjob like that driving skills isn't going to do that much I'm afraid.

[gtimk5]

The authorities are up in arms over the toll this year down here. No matter how much they push the safety message through the amount of carnage increases.
A few years ago they allowed 6 B Doubles on only certain designated roads down here. As any visitor to Tas would know the roads arent really designed for them. The locals didnt want them and the local rail transport is in tatters and about 30 years behind in development as are our highways with few overtaking lanes and lots of hills and mountains. These days every second truck you see is a B Double!! I am not blaming the poor old truckies who see carnage every week these days but the rate of car/truck incidents have risen so much it seems every second night on the news they show some pretty bad accidents. Its a catch 22 situation. Talking to a local ambo driver he reckons some people take their own lives on purpose driving head on into trucks on dead straight sections of highways.
Take the afternoon accident on thursday, dead straight road, car drives head on into a B Double which caused the truck to roll, a container fell off the back and landed on top of the next vehicle travelling towards it. That one had a father and his child in it...
When I drive I always have the attitude that every other driver is a twit and looking for an accident and give them as much room as I can. Not saying they are dumb but with my attitude it gives me time to react.
That being said, it didnt help me years ago on a couple of occasions. Driving around a corner I was faced with a falcon on the wrong side of the road. The driver was looking at a horse in a paddock. He was a competitive driver as well who competed regularly in racing here. My golf ended up on top of his bonnet near the windscreen. Another was turning right at an intersection and a fella was by far exceeding the speed limit in this built up area and pulled out to overtake. Lined us up nicely so we slammed a service station pole resulting in a burnt and seriously damaged golf.
Everytime you leave your driveway, remember people, no matter who you are, you are not invincible.
I feel for the medics and emergency services who have some serious images burnt into their minds these days...

[Rocket36]

I am not blaming the poor old truckies who see carnage every week these days but the rate of car/truck incidents have risen so much it seems every second night on the news they show some pretty bad accidents.

Crashes... Not accidents. Accidents implies they're not avoidable, which they are. Too many people in cars have little or no respoect for truck drivers. Sure, some truck drivers are idiots but they need to be given room. Also remember, they're PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS so are probably more skilled behind the wheel than almost every car on the road. If people gave them the respect they deserver there wouldn't be a problem.

Its a catch 22 situation. Talking to a local ambo driver he reckons some people take their own lives on purpose driving head on into trucks on dead straight sections of highways.
Take the afternoon accident on thursday, dead straight road, car drives head on into a B Double which caused the truck to roll, a container fell off the back and landed on top of the next vehicle travelling towards it. That one had a father and his child in it...

Again, you mean CRASH. Glad that Ambo is an Ambo and not a Crash Investigator. The pychology of suicidal people is usual very inward. Meaning they almost never want to take other people with them. Sure some have a vendetta against others or society in general, but on dead straight sections of road, it's usually fatigue or boredom that cause serious crashes. Momentary lapse in concentration, drift into the oncoming traffic etc.

When I drive I always have the attitude that every other driver is a twit and looking for an accident and give them as much room as I can. Not saying they are dumb but with my attitude it gives me time to react.
That being said, it didnt help me years ago on a couple of occasions. Driving around a corner I was faced with a falcon on the wrong side of the road. The driver was looking at a horse in a paddock. He was a competitive driver as well who competed regularly in racing here. My golf ended up on top of his bonnet near the windscreen. Another was turning right at an intersection and a fella was by far exceeding the speed limit in this built up area and pulled out to overtake. Lined us up nicely so we slammed a service station pole resulting in a burnt and seriously damaged golf.
Everytime you leave your driveway, remember people, no matter who you are, you are not invincible.
I feel for the medics and emergency services who have some serious images burnt into their minds these days...

Agreed! Drive like you're invisible. Adhere to the road rules, drive to the conditions, the limits of your car and the limits of your skill but most importantly, PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING!

[SoVeReIgN]

Too many people in cars have little or no respoect for truck drivers. Sure, some truck drivers are idiots but they need to be given room. Also remember, they're PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS so are probably more skilled behind the wheel than almost every car on the road. If people gave them the respect they deserver there wouldn't be a problem.

Taxi drivers are Professional drivers too

[Rocket36]

Taxi drivers are Professional drivers too

So... What's your point?

[Preen59]

I feel that one of the biggest problems is that the RTA (or equivalent) is telling people "Drive to the conditions", but they aren't actually training people in how to do that.

You can't learn to drive by answering multiple choice questions or reading a book.. You need to be out in those conditions with someone that knows what they are doing (NOT the parents of the kids on L plates etc.. I know it's not just young drivers, but that's where everyone started their bad habits..) and being shown how to control your vehicle in those situations.

Lowering speed limits, putting in variable speed zones and putting up "slippery when wet" signs is pointless when people aren't obeying the bloody things anyway..

[Rocket36]

Agreed! The complete lack of any proper training before getting a licence in Australia is pathetic! It costs about the same as $12,000 AUD for the required training in a lot of European countries before you get a licence. Makes for safer roads because the drivers are better trained.

[Preen59]

Agreed! The complete lack of any proper training before getting a licence in Australia is pathetic! It costs about the same as $12,000 AUD for the required training in a lot of European countries before you get a licence. Makes for safer roads because the drivers are better trained.

Yep.

They're stating that driving is supposed to be a privilege and not a right, but..

The Authorities are always contradicting themselves too. The RTA put a ban on forced induction, V8's and high performance 6 cylinder cars for P platers and then made an exemption for the Holden 'S' pack commodore and the Ford XR6 because "These cars are very common in households and it would disadvantage too many young drivers to ban them"..

So in one breath, "Hey, if you want to drive a car you have to do it by OUR rules.." And then in the next breath "Oh, no, you can drive THAT particular high performance vehicle, we know there's too many of you whose fathers have one and it would be unfair to disallow you to drive it.."

-Mandatory complex driver training.
-Mandatory power to weight limit for young drivers with no exceptions.
-Mandatory refresher driving tests for EVERYONE focusing on car control and perception, not just whether you can do a hill start..

If you can't drive Daddy's XR6 or mummys CLK, harden up and go buy yourself a Corolla.

[Maverick]

Agreed! Drive like you're invisible. Adhere to the road rules, drive to the conditions, the limits of your car and the limits of your skill but most importantly, PAY ATTENTION TO DRIVING!

I agree with most of that except the road rules part and this is part of the problem, overtaking safely requires you to exceed the speed limit even if there is an overtaking lane and driving at a safe speed which minimises fatigue and time on the road also requires you to exceed the speed limit. The whole "speed kills" rubbish has to end and the government needs to address the real issues not just one that is easy to measure and police using cameras.

[maca]

Yep.

They're stating that driving is supposed to be a privilege and not a right, but..

The Authorities are always contradicting themselves too. The RTA put a ban on forced induction, V8's and high performance 6 cylinder cars for P platers and then made an exemption for the Holden 'S' pack commodore and the Ford XR6 because "These cars are very common in households and it would disadvantage too many young drivers to ban them"..

So in one breath, "Hey, if you want to drive a car you have to do it by OUR rules.." And then in the next breath "Oh, no, you can drive THAT particular high performance vehicle, we know there's too many of you whose fathers have one and it would be unfair to disallow you to drive it.."

-Mandatory complex driver training.
-Mandatory power to weight limit for young drivers with no exceptions.
-Mandatory refresher driving tests for EVERYONE focusing on car control and perception, not just whether you can do a hill start..

If you can't drive Daddy's XR6 or mummys CLK, harden up and go buy yourself a Corolla.

Well said Preeny. That exemption is a load of rubbish and shouldn't be allowed. In QLD; I wouldn't be allowed to drive a gutless C200 Kompressor but it's perfectly legal for me to drive an R32.. Makes sense doesn't it?

I agree with most of that except the road rules part and this is part of the problem, overtaking safely requires you to exceed the speed limit even if there is an overtaking lane and driving at a safe speed which minimises fatigue and time on the road also requires you to exceed the speed limit. The whole "speed kills" rubbish has to end and the government needs to address the real issues not just one that is easy to measure and police using cameras.

I don't see the point in overtaking if you're already going the speed limit... And let's face it, speed cameras are only there to raise money. If they weren't, they wouldn't use black vans at night and almost hide them so they're invisible on the aide of the road.