New police plane can detect speeding, issue fines (NSW)

[Mr Messy]

The new bit is that the plane can apparently fly above you, take pictures of you speeding, and mail fines to your home.

I reckon its a furphy

[static1800]

They need to get your plate to mail the fine to you though, so it would require ground units getting info also. The whole thing is such a waste of money can you imagine the cost of keeping a plane in the air patrolling? a helicopter is something like $9000 and hour isn't it? would have to be pretty damn effective to return the cost in some way.

The only problem is the other end of the spectrum who think they are now capable WRC/WTCC drivers becasue of their few hours of driver training and put themselves into a high density stationary object (pole/tree etc).
Unfortunately as usual, the few spoil it for the many.

A lot of training is actual theory not going out on a track, it's a mindset thing to try and drum in the info etc. chucking people out on the skidpan wouldn't hurt either.

[mikinoz]

the sooner that point to point speed measurement devices are installed around the country the better in my opinion. there really are no questions when it comes to covering a distance between two points in a set time.

[Rocket36]

Travelled up to Sydney from Canberra over the weekend for the Green Day concert and was wondering what the new lines were for.

[schoona]

the sooner that point to point speed measurement devices are installed around the country the better in my opinion. there really are no questions when it comes to covering a distance between two points in a set time.

I'll agree. I think that it nees to be coupled with sensibility though. If it is done with an incrase in speed limit that would be beneficial.
Ie. You can reduce the risk of micro sleeps etc.
Plus you can get more cars off the road quicker also.

As long as its a measured control...

[Rocket36]

Speed limits can't be increased until things like standards required for a driver's licence are seriously increased.

But there is no excuse for speeding - especially if you have cruise control.

We also need legislation that makes it mandatory for all vehicles to be fitted with devices that imobilises cars until the driver passes a blood alcohol breath test and drug swab test. It always makes me angry when a drug or high driver kills other inocent people.

[mikepologti]

off topic , green day was awsome werent they? sore them in brisvegas.


on topic, the government (although with sometimes questionable judgement) rarly try somthing twice especially when theyve done the research and found that it isnt cost effective. this sounds like a new campaign for speeding , there just planting the info before launching it on the media front.

[fourmo]

btw fourmo = DrMat??

nope, sorry mate.

[DeanB]

It really is time there was a change in idealogy by the RTA and police wrt all this and not just finding another way to raise revenue with fines in the mail.

Our driver training standards are abysmal and yet there is very little talk about overhauling the system to a level that would make better drivers. Rubbish 100 hour log books, etc are meaningless if people doctor the books (like my stupid young neighbor and his father).

Look at the hoops you go through to get a motorcycle licence (in NSW) wrt power limitations, etc. It is time this was introduces to P-Platers in a similar fashion, and if that means "kids" can't drive their daddies V8 commodore or such go cry a river, same for the stupid big 4WDs I see P-platers trying to steer around the suburbs. Less than 2L NA would slow most of them down.

It is time that learning to drive and getting a licence is no longer a right in this country but something that you need to earn. The only way to do this is to start making it more difficult and prescriptive with real formal training (like the bikes) that is compulsory, such as the way the Germans do it with what turns in to hours and hours of theoretical instruction and a lot of money (over €1000) spent on official driving schools - not dad and mates teaching. On top of that, time to increase the age you can learn to 18. In fact, we should just adopt the German requirements for licencing and we would create our best drivers ever.

I'm tired of all this, I feel I have lost too many friends and heard of far too many (RIP Chris) people that have lost their lives, whilst the authorities do little but construct new ways to make money from the pathetically trained drivers they created

[Rocket36]

The argulemt of less power is crap! Anyone with the PROPER training can drive ANYTHING. A 17 year old can drive a V8 smartly, defensively and with skill provided they have been trained to do so. That same 17 year old can also kill themselves and others as easily in a 1.5 litre Hyundai as they can in a 6.2 litre HSV depending on HOW they drive.

I agree the system needs overhauling but limits on power are a joke. Problem is they're an EASY way to be seen to be making a difference. Making an ACTUAL difference is a lot harder and will cost more money. Harder and more money when it comes to politics is never going to happen.

As for the 1000 Euro in Germany - that's still too cheap. Australian's have it SO lucky. People have the expectation that driving is a right. It is NOT a right and it's something you should have to be good at before you can do it - in ALL conditions. In Denmark, it costs close to the equiv. of $20,000 AUD to be licenced to drive a car on the road alone. They have so many courses (theory only courses too) as well as training in ALL conditions and both day and night they have to pass to strict standards before their licence is EARNED (not simply issued).

[Dyldo]

There's heaps of good research around the benefits of increasing speed limits on (good) highways. I am certain our cars could easily carry us along highways at 140kph, some of course a lot faster and thats not really my point anyway. But with everything i say, there's always a caveat.

Firstly, we absolutely need FAR better training in how to control a very deadly machine. If the government sees fit to do 2 stupid things (waste money on insulation subsidy rort and put a "speeding" plane in the air for $9K per hour) then they damn well can start pumping money into subsidising or paying wholly for advanced driver training/skid pan courses. Doing all this before issuing a license and then a refresher every 3 years (or whenever your license is up for renewal) would be perfect for timing.

Second, satisfy people's desire for speed/acceleration/thrills by giving us all more opportunities for drag days, track days, etc. While you're at it Mr Govt, try and help out in keeping our historically-rich race tracks alive too.

Third, listen to your constituents when they are ALL saying to take the revenue raised from speeding fines and traffic offences and pump that into education and training for ALL drivers - not just learners. How many times have we seen stupidity on the roads like women doing make up or someone eating a plated roast dinner with a knife and fork whilst driving? (yes, i have honestly seen that). With all due respect to those that have lost loved ones in accidents, I don't believe in hiding the aftermath from the public. I've been at road accidents, and those images flash up in my mind everytime I approach a bend in the wet or feel sleepy at the wheel.

Fourth, make a definitive and positive move to save lives before accidents happen by building in mandatory (and very draconian) blood alchohol units into ECUs or ignition systems that simply prevent a drunk person from driving. Adding a drug testing facility to the unit would be just as important.

[Rocket36]

Case in point... This idiot clearly doesn't know how to operate a car!

http://www.news.com.au/national/driver-taken-to-hospital-in-shock-after-miracle-escape-when-cruise-control-jammed-on-eastern-fwy/story-e6frfkvr-1225810814610

Even if your throttle jams open, you knock it into neautral and switch off the engine, then apply brakes and stop. For that story to have actually happened where he couldn't slow down, the throttle would have to be stuck open, the keys and ignition jammed, the gearbox stuck in drive and the brake pedal not to work. And the "I just closed my eyes" bit made me laugh!

[KWICKS]

It seems to be a panopticon.

QFT. Very astute deduction.

[Timbo]

This is old news. They tried this out in NSW in the late 80's, and cut it away as being to expensive. I dare say they will do the same again.

Indeed! There used to be traffic signs indicating "aerial surveillance" which were regularly graffitied with "Pigs in Space!"

Let's consider the possibilities: first, the coincidence of a plane above a random speeding vehicle, and that vehicle crosses the "special marked lines"; secondly, that said plane is able to identify the vehicle's registration plates; and thirdly, the likely interference in flight paths that may occur due to the rapid transit of Santa's sleigh.
Result, this is just another piece of random propaganda from the police to scare motorists during the holiday season. Nothing wrong with encouraging people to drive more safely during such times, especially given the volume of traffic and the fact many drivers have never driven more than 20k in one stretch since last Xmas, but it needs to be kept within the bounds of possibility.

The reality: the police have aerial patrols -- have had them for a while for various reasons including traffic monitoring during such times; from the air, it is quite easy to identify vehicle whose speed is significantly greater than the general flow of traffic. Action: plane radios car patrol, who does the business if they can observe and apprehend.

I dare say next year the story will be that police can monitor the unique electronic signature pulse generated by the ECU of cars, and monitor speeding motorists that way. But given it's still hard to have consistent mobile reception along the Hume Hwy -- even between Sydney and Canberra -- I remain a faithful sceptic

That said, I urge everyone to drive safety and observe all road rules especially the golden rule, over the holiday season. It is true: that "other driver" may well have not driven on the highway for the last 6 mths

[Preen59]

The issue i see is that useless drivers teach new drivers their bad habits and the cycle continues. Spending 100 hours with someone who couldn't drive a greasy stick up a dogs arse (not to mention a car) is no better than spending 50 hours with that person.

I like the idea of a power to weight limit. It takes time to learn respect for horsepower and speed, and used incorrectly higher horsepower cars can become out of control faster and easier than a car of lesser power.

Training is a GOOD thing if you change their mindset from "I can drive well and i've been taught how to drive on the limit" to "I'm nowhere near as good as i thought i was, and i have a lot to learn.. BUT if i ever get into trouble in a car atleast i have been taught the best and most correct procedure to bring the vehicle back into control."

I think point to point speed checks are a great idea.. The more they are introduced the better. What gripes me is cops that sit at the bottom of a blind hill and wait for some poor bastard to go over the speed limit on over run and book them (etc).