Victoria bans trucks in the right hand lane on freeways

[blutopless2]

in the end the governments can introduce any amount of road laws they see fit to make.
But you need police out on the roads to enforce these laws.

We already have issues with people using foglights when its not foggy.
We already have issues with people using mobile phones whilst driving.
And i'm sure there are a heap of other laws that people ignore whilst driving because the risk of getting caught doing it is so small.

More police on the roads to enforce the laws is the only way to get it through to people.

[Preen59]

in the end the governments can introduce any amount of road laws they see fit to make.
But you need police out on the roads to enforce these laws.

We already have issues with people using foglights when its not foggy.
We already have issues with people using mobile phones whilst driving.
And i'm sure there are a heap of other laws that people ignore whilst driving because the risk of getting caught doing it is so small.

More police on the roads to enforce the laws is the only way to get it through to people.

I don't totally agree with that. I believe that some people do not know they are doing something wrong. They probably don't notice they are doing some of these things. Prevention is better than a cure. You spend 10-12 years learning maths/english/science etc etc- things that you will use in every day life when you grow up.. But they think that you can spend 12 months with someone who probably isn't a good teacher and has no credentials to say otherwise learning to drive something as dangerous as a car (that will also become a vital part of your every day life) and that is good enough? Sorry, but that don't cut it with me.

I do agree that police are needed to enforce laws. I disagree with some of the laws they enforce and the way they enforce them.

[Buller_Scott]

that's interesting, preeny, because i hadnt thought of it until now- when you get rudely cut off by someone/ you're inconvenienced somehow by someone on the road, most of the time, they dont have a frickin' clue what they've done.

classic example- two sets of lights, two lanes turning left at first set, two lanes turning right at second set.

im in the right hand lane in the first set. as i turn left, the guy in the left lane simply cuts me off, moving into my lane. ''okay, this guy's just had a bad day'' im thinking.

next set of lights, im now in the left, he in the right. go around the corner, and once again, he needs 2 lanes in his peugeot 308, merging into my lane yet again.

i did the usual high beams on + hand plastered on horn for 20 seconds, and when i pulled up along side him at the next set of lights, he looked so offended- not with my antics, but the kind of look where he feels as though he'd just been victimised by a wreckless young hoon on the street who had singled him out to pick on on the road.

he didnt have even the slightest inkling of what he'd done.

[gldgti]

that's interesting, preeny, because i hadnt thought of it until now- when you get rudely cut off by someone/ you're inconvenienced somehow by someone on the road, most of the time, they dont have a frickin' clue what they've done.

classic example- two sets of lights, two lanes turning left at first set, two lanes turning right at second set.

im in the right hand lane in the first set. as i turn left, the guy in the left lane simply cuts me off, moving into my lane. ''okay, this guy's just had a bad day'' im thinking.

next set of lights, im now in the left, he in the right. go around the corner, and once again, he needs 2 lanes in his peugeot 308, merging into my lane yet again.

i did the usual high beams on + hand plastered on horn for 20 seconds, and when i pulled up along side him at the next set of lights, he looked so offended- not with my antics, but the kind of look where he feels as though he'd just been victimised by a wreckless young hoon on the street who had singled him out to pick on on the road.

he didnt have even the slightest inkling of what he'd done.

you really blow your horn at people who do that? It happens so frequently i just sigh or curse under my breath nowadays, or make a humourous remark to any passengers that care to listen

Say NO to road rage.

[Preen59]

that's interesting, preeny, because i hadnt thought of it until now

Yep. I've driven with a number of people and pointed things of that nature out that they were doing. Until you make them realise they're doing something wrong, they are oblivious to it.

That's what motorsport teaches you.. Reading traffic and being subconsciously aware of your surroundings. (Among other things)

[Dub_Star_V6]

Although a MUCH better move would be to get the trucks off the road by investing in a state of the art rail network - get the freight back on the rails! NATIONALLY!

Perhaps you've heard of Intermodal Competitive Neutrality. That is, any government-owned business cannot maintain an unfair competitive advantage over a privately owned business.

So while I agree there would be no need for (the majority of) heavy vehicles to be on our roads if we had an efficient rail transport network, heavy freight transport using state and federally-controlled roads will never be converted to rail due to the federal ICN policy. Which is a pity, especially when we have a PM who is constantly banging on about productivity and real-world competitiveness, yet who is in charge of a piece of legislation that effectively diminishes it. Oh that's right, he has the health system to fix will he ignores tax reform. Silly me...

So the reason behind the need for 'trials' such as this is not only for the government to be seen to be doing something (no matter what that 'something' is?) but also to help educate drivers of heavy vehicles, and road users generally, of basics like 'keep left' (which is enforceable i.e. revenue) and limit compression braking' (which isn't).

I mean, is it just me or does 'Straya seem to be catering (pandering?) more and more to the lowest common denominator? Anyhooo...