Road toll - Driver education is the answer - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Falchoon · 02-03-2003, 18:25

Article from drive.com.au

Car makers urge better road skills
By Joshua Dowling, Motoring Editor
The Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday February 4 2003

The heads of Australia's biggest car makers are pressing governments to make advanced training compulsory for drivers to curb the rising road toll.
They have asked for equal financial contributions from state and federal governments and the insurance industry to help fund the program.

The proposal was conceived during an informal chat over dinner with the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, in his Canberra office last August.

The meeting, held on the eve of last year's local industry submissions, was attended by the bosses of Holden, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi and importers Nissan and Mercedes-Benz.

Under the proposal, drivers would need to undergo extensive training before being issued a full licence -- and would be required to attend a refresher course at their own expense once they accrue six of their 12 demerit points.

Given the number of new licences issued nationally each year, the required funding was estimated at $20 million a year.

The proposal says the car makers, federal and state governments and insurers could each contribute a quarter of the cost, or $5 million. The car industry estimates this would add just $10 to the cost of each new car.

Mr Anderson will review the proposal when he meets state transport ministers at the next Australian Transport Council meeting in May, a spokesman said.

State governments have been scratching their heads over the cause of recent rises in the road toll. These have come despite harsher penalties, more stringent enforcement and a growing number of fixed speed cameras.

"So, clearly that's not the solution," said Ford Australia's president, Geoff Polites.

"Car safety has improved -- and will continue to improve -- but the one big omission in all the road safety strategies is the driver. Cars have become safer, but no one has really done much about making drivers safer."

Mr Polites said Australia's aging car fleet was a product of the country's environment, because "cars don't rust out like they do overseas, so people tend to drive them forever".

He said vehicle affordability was better than ever thanks to favourable interest rates and lower import tariffs and, therefore, better driver training was "the next natural step".

One car company chief, who did not wish to be named, said the contributions from state governments would be "a fraction of a percent of the revenue earned from traffic fines".

Another senior car company official said the insurance industry should contribute because "ultimately they are the beneficiaries of better drivers because, eventually, they should get fewer crash claims".

Earlier this month, Mr Anderson criticised the emphasis on speed in road safety campaigns and expressed concern it "may blind us to other causes".

"There is no doubt [speed] is a key factor but I would like to see a comparative study which the states and territories in particular can use for road and traffic management. I also believe better driver education can play a significant role.

"Obviously, cars and roads being in poor condition, the age of drivers and even the weather can play a role. I would like a co-operative approach with the states and territories because we all want the holiday and annual tolls reduced."

John McMaster · 02-03-2003, 18:45

About time. However, I'll believe it when I see it.

Just had a thought, am wondering if Plonky had any influence. This is one of his pet subjects. Where is Plonky have'nt seen him on here for a while.

Aussie Pete · 02-03-2003, 20:09

Quote:

Originally posted by John McMaster
About time. However, I'll believe it when I see it. Just had a thought, am wondering if Plonky had any influence. This is one of his pet subjects. Where is Plonky have'nt seen him on here for a while.

Plonky is indeed missed. He was a rare breed in what he does - had his head on right. Good on you Geoff for using your position to state the obvious. No one wants to see people die and speed cameras aren't working!

Mr Sparkle · 02-03-2003, 20:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Aussie Pete
No one wants to see people die and speed cameras aren't working!

Thats the fundamental problem Pete - speed cameras are working wonderfully well for their intended purpose! And as long as they are, then the politicians will maintain their stance on them :

Aussie Pete · 02-04-2003, 14:26

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Sparkle
Thats the fundamental problem Pete - speed cameras are working wonderfully well for their intended purpose! And as long as they are, then the politicians will maintain their stance on them :

Doh! There I go thinking speed cameras may have had a link with road safety. thanks for correcting me after my moment of stupidity

BlueBAXR8 · 02-05-2003, 05:48

And what about the latest 'safety' program by the RTA,
Speed cameras outside schools!!!
Primary schools, where the kids are younger, I can see
some sense in but I have seen 2 prime examples of sheer
revenue raising in Southern Sydney outside high schools.
On the Princes Hwy at Kirrawee theres a mesh fence that runs
down the centre of the median strip and an overhead bridge
for pedestrians , so it's not really possible to cross the road
to begin with and anyone dumb enough to try it probably
deserves to be removed from the gene pool for sheer
stupidity anyway.
But the traffic has to slow from 70 to 40k's anyway and I reckon
the highway patrol car they park behind the trees must be a tidy little earner.
The classic has to be the new speed and red light cameras
outside Moorefield Girls on the highway at Kogarah.
Marked crossing ,with lights,same mesh fence but cameras on
BOTH sides [to double the value! ] What a cash cow these
will be.
Surely any kid with enough nounce to get into high school
these days should know how to cross the road without
getting creamed ???
Meanwhile the motorist is forced to pay for their stupidity!

Aussie Pete · 02-05-2003, 16:46

Quote:

Originally posted by REDEBXR8
The classic has to be the new speed and red light cameras
outside Moorefield Girls on the highway at Kogarah.
Marked crossing ,with lights,same mesh fence but cameras on
BOTH sides [to double the value! ] What a cash cow these
will be.
Surely any kid with enough nounce to get into high school
these days should know how to cross the road without
getting creamed ???
Meanwhile the motorist is forced to pay for their stupidity!

Actually, I would have thought that instead of putting in cameras here they would maybe widen the road by one lane each way or install a tidal flow system to stop the severe traffic congestion in the morning peak. Reason I say that is I am one of the many motorists who make the rat run through the local streets to bypass this area.

Have you also noticed that the fixed speed cameras for school zones are only being installed on the arterial/main roads? Traffic volume = revenue volume?

For the record, I do not speed in school zones because this is one area I agree with the speed limits.