Lucid Fairytale? - Ford Forums

The Fonz · 10-08-2002, 03:42

Well it seems to me observing the world the way it is in a shit state but that is just me. Anyway back to what I was saying well my opinion may count for little or much but here goes anyway. I was driving up to a mates place today for a BBQ and just simply cruising along to the main road . Twiddling my thumbs listening to the radio and low and behold, a bloody effin speed camera.

I observe my speedo 60-65 in a 50 zone, o crap. We'll I tried to brake if it made any difference but I know I'll cop it sweet in the mail. Only recently (well since 1996-97) the Carr Govt has got rather draconian on law enforcement on the road, yet the road toll has not decreased.

Im seeing cameras deliberately put in some areas of high traffic throughput and other roads where you can literally bend the speedo backwards and there is not a cop is in sight? Hey im not advocating speeding in any case but it seem I rarely see any cops in local robberies, civil disturbances rather revenue raising. Not to mention has this anything to do with 50 zones? Some areas are unmarked (including main roads) which were once 60 and now 50. These roads are they deliberately slowed down to avoid accidents or to get drivers unawares?

Even worse if drive up to Forster on the NSW North Coast by the old hill road some signs are 'dangerously' marked. There is a 100km sign on a road in such a bad state you can barely hit 80kmph without your car shaking to bits and 80kmph on corners which would be quite dangerous to do so. This 50kmph zone seems all to be a bit of a wag to me. I can understand back streets being 50 zones for obvious reasons but why do they have to slow down main arterial roads for? Probably they would not even fix up most roads as they degrade away due to neglect may 50 zones will appear even more due to this? They said there was a trial period but looks like that was a furfy. The only reason why they want more 50 zones as its harder for most cars (esp modern cars) to stay at that speed and its rich pickings. Not to mention in Vic with bizzare 5kmph or less over the limit? Most speedo's generally are 10-14 at best 5's of true speed not to mention some older cars out there? They put us on such a guilt trip to justify their shameless revenue raising most of which does not even go back to our roads?

We are having more faster and faster stock cars on the road which are quite happy to sit at 150kmph rather than 100kmph - XT Falcon and VY Exec and yet most roads cannot even handle speeds like that Europe. Cars are being designed to go faster and faster yet our roads are being slowed down ?

My friends in Europe poke fun at Australia for its roads being such a big country with not a autobahn in sight. Being in Italy and Europe you rarely see roads nowhere near as bad state as ours.

Would this not be the case as there is adequate finding invested in them? On analysis per person Australia has a higher road toll than Germany in ratio yet we have more draconian speed policies? Something is definetly amiss here I wonder what?
Better driver education , less stress in our lives, better roads etc etc may solve the problem, may and I hardly think that the Govt can hardly pat itself on the back for a 'lower' road toll.

xacoupe · 10-08-2002, 04:53

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fonz
but it seem I rarely see any cops in local robberies, civil disturbances .

I heard that the cops are trying to cut back on the robberies and civil disturbances.. bad for their image !!!:s6:

laminge · 10-08-2002, 15:43

I havent got a hassle with speed camera's, but IMO they should be permantly placed on all roads, well signed and not used for a revenue raising game!

UNR8D · 10-08-2002, 15:51

up here in brisbane we have a 4 lane high grade highway from beenleigh to gold coast, it had all the protective barriers etc and they clame 110???? ive just been to townsville they clame 100kmh on a bloddy ribbon road (u have to get off into dirt for another car to pass) what the hell are these guys playing at?? ohh as for fixing up the roads that dosent create revenue so i belive we will be waiting for a long time to come:S

The Fonz · 10-08-2002, 17:55

I agree Unr8d the day our petrol tax, speeding tickets will ever be paid for the roads will be the day I see blue birds singing, pigs flying, cherubs singing and that proverbial leprecaun with his pot of gold under the rainbow- lol Rather going to funding wars in far off places, desecrating Gods green earth for petty monetary gain and making sure the pollies have plenty of feed in their troffs.

1 sick meteor · 10-08-2002, 18:21

As most are aware they are putting up to 18 new KODAK CASH REGISTERS on the 'new' Geelong -Melbourne Hwy.Maybe to pay it off sooner,who knows.If you speed regularly you deserve to pay but these cash registers aren't cutting back on the road toll,are they ?my 2 cents worth.

Falchoon · 10-08-2002, 18:43

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fonz

We are having more faster and faster stock cars on the road which are quite happy to sit at 150kmph rather than 100kmph - XT Falcon and VY Exec and yet most roads cannot even handle speeds like that Europe. Cars are being designed to go faster and faster yet our roads are being slowed down ?

My friends in Europe poke fun at Australia for its roads being such a big country with not a autobahn in sight. Being in Italy and Europe you rarely see roads nowhere near as bad state as ours.

Would this not be the case as there is adequate finding invested in them? On analysis per person Australia has a higher road toll than Germany in ratio yet we have more draconian speed policies? Something is definetly amiss here I wonder what?
Better driver education , less stress in our lives, better roads etc etc may solve the problem, may and I hardly think that the Govt can hardly pat itself on the back for a 'lower' road toll.

Maybe Europe has more population to pay more tax to be able to afford these better roads. Though saying that with all the money raised from the speed cameras we should have perfect roads.

According to an article in the Daily Telegraph NSW has recorded its lowest road toll over the Labour Day long weekend, with only one death on the state's roads. Last year's figures were the lowest October road toll for 50 years with two deaths, and about five or six deaths were the norm before that.
LONG WEEKEND ON THE ROADS
102,202 breath tests
365 drink-driving charges
10,678 speed offences (what's the average fine - $150? = $1,601,700:oo1:. This is excluding RTA fixed speed cameras! )
5087 other traffic offences
565 serious crashes reported
209 people injured
One fatality

The Fonz · 10-09-2002, 03:03

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.

Falchoon · 10-09-2002, 15:53

Quote:

Originally posted by The Fonz
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.

Good points Fonz. It is starting to happen here - did you read this thread http://discussions.fordforums.com/sh...threadid=25154

discokin6 · 10-10-2002, 00:06

I would support what the NRMA is doing, BUT:

I would not support increasing the demerit point allocation.
I would have a 10% buffer on speed limits, before a fine is allocated - IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL ADRs.
I would not support a demerit penalty for loud stereo usage.
I would introduce a demerit point fine for someone travelling 10% Below the speed limit, over a distance of 100m (that'll learn people for enraging people stuck behind them!)