hard to say really.
Remember the multiple fatility just before the long weekend? The road toll has more to do with the angel of death and fates door than the governments speed cameras alas. Yes one person may have tragically died but it fails to mention all the others who were seriously injured and or paraylsed for life. As many would say when your numbers up it is up. Me and dad where driving up the Pacific Hwy nearly 6 years back when a semi trailer began loosing its load up a hill sending large steel poles rocketing towards our car. It was only pure luck that we did not get killed or the other cars behind us. Im sure many others on the forum have had close calls which did not end up in a much worser way.
Well this is just me but I think that there is MORE than just speeding and being drunk which contribute to the road toll. However you cannot enforce impatience,weather and road conditions. nodding off at the wheel (which I think contributes to road toll) and simply loosing concerntration while driving. They also fail to mention a considerable number of cars involved in serious accidents where poorly maintained. By the way in Germany you pay a far lower income tax than we do (well for my monetary bracket anyway) compared to good old Oz. Though you do have a point they do have a bigger population than we do it does not justify a waste of funding being siphoned off on anything but road and or driver projects. Some countries out there have license renewals every 3-5 years or so why not here?
Having a drivers license is not a right it is a privilage.
Yes us people out there are scared out of their willies about getting nailed by the cops for speeding and or drink driving. By its always the 10% put there who do not give a toss and will take innocent life. This is why the road toll will not drop and the road toll may drop to more modern safer cars on the road to a extent as well. That may have been why in the 70's the road toll was so high. And when your number is up its up as well. Instead of being so negative on drivers and punishing them at any point possible for breaking road laws why not reward them instead? As for revenue raising I actaully do know real 'humans' at the RTA who know that we are being screwed.
Some facts are being hidden from us on actual road statistics but are being silenced as the revenue is such a cash cow for the govt. Numerous newspaper stories also state the road toll is perhaps some details hidden to make the govt look better by hiding some accidents under different 'catagories'. Statatics can always be played with for ones own benefit. After all if you do some reasearch the road safety pressure groups are on the payroll of the political parties. Well Im might driving on safer roads yes but I cannot sleep safe at night in ones own home? Ironic aigh? In the UK the MAG has cracked down on unecessary use of speed camera to good effect. That motorist lobby group there has the clout of the NRA and the Govt do listen. Maybe we need something like that here.
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