[DasherD]

Yes, losing five people a day is something that needs to be tackled. However, what is the increase in driver hour numbers now compared to some point in the past when the death rate was lower? We have a greater number of vehicles on the roads, some driving safer cars, where the road surface has not changed that much and the road edges have become significantly narrower especially in the metropolitan and near metropolitan areas.

Please get the facts right to begin with. Your fatal five do not cause accidents they are can be contributing factors in accidents. Speed does not kill alone, what other factors were involved, was there a mechanical failure, was there an issue with the road, did the driver become distracted, did something outside the vehicle cause the event.

 

[Catherines]

Roads are in an absolutely disgraceful state here in Queensland. I cannot speak for other cities and other states but patching up a hole with a thin layer of bitumen over a heap of stones DOES NOT WORK. It only makes the holes LOOK better but a week or so later or after rain and that hole or damaged section just opens up again. Get our roads done properly and cars will not have to swerve or zig-zag along although this is only a small cause of accidents.

Some accidents are definitely caused by this problem but those accidents are very minimal - the major issues of drink-driving, inattention, mobile phone use etc need much, much harsher penalties and no excuses. Depending on the severity and cause of an accident, cars should also be confiscated for a period with, in addition to the initial fine, a heavy fee to recover the car from police or government possession. Don’t pay the fine within 30 days or it’s release date and you lose the car forever which can then be sold. Yes this might also be considered ‘revenue raising’ by many on this site but that also will be a deterrent to the offender. No excuses, no return if the fine is not paid. The justice system also needs to get their act together and not let confirmed and proven offenders ‘off the hook’ with a silly and ridiculous fine or sentence - a person’s life matters and affects the family left to grieve for the rest of their lives while the offender continues with his/her life.

 

[RealityCheck]

Incarceration of offenders isn't all about deterrence. It's to make the roads safer from recidivist drivers who will not stop placing others at risk by locking them away.

 

[GoodEnough]

Only came to the Comments section to see the inevitable response of "Speeding's not a problem".

Yep, the very first post I saw said " Speed does not kill alone".

The obvious challenge for road authorities is to change that mindset.

 

[GoodEnough]

Roads are in an absolutely disgraceful state here in Queensland. I cannot speak for other cities and other states but patching up a hole with a thin layer of bitumen over a heap of stones DOES NOT WORK. It only makes the holes LOOK better but a week or so later or after rain and that hole or damaged section just opens up again. Get our roads done properly and cars will not have to swerve or zig-zag along although this is only a small cause of accidents.

Some accidents are definitely caused by this problem but those accidents are very minimal - the major issues of drink-driving, inattention, mobile phone use etc need much, much harsher penalties and no excuses. Depending on the severity and cause of an accident, cars should also be confiscated for a period with, in addition to the initial fine, a heavy fee to recover the car from police or government possession. Don’t pay the fine within 30 days or it’s release date and you lose the car forever which can then be sold. Yes this might also be considered ‘revenue raising’ by many on this site but that also will be a deterrent to the offender. No excuses, no return if the fine is not paid. The justice system also needs to get their act together and not let confirmed and proven offenders ‘off the hook’ with a silly and ridiculous fine or sentence - a person’s life matters and affects the family left to grieve for the rest of their lives while the offender continues with his/her life.

Build roads better in the first place, rather than by the cheapest tenderer. And stop allowing heavier and heavier trucks on the roads. Even the average "family car" today is twice the weight he were thirty years ago.

 

[7777]

The Law should state that, * those people who choose to drive , must not consume any alcohol, what do ever, before and during their journey. Those found to have alcohol in their system whilst driving, will have their drivers licence cancelled for a maximum of 10 years. * The driver can then use public transport to go to work, to friends and social outings. This kind of harsh law would make people think twice before drinking, and sitting behind the steering wheel to drive. Please don't say that this is a rediculous law, and that one drink does not affect a driver's co-ordination to drive. Not one drop of alcohol should be consumed, the driver must be 100%, free from any consumption of alcohol. Is it ok for teachers, doctors, policemen, judges, prime minister's and ministers, post man, tradies, child care workers, aged care workers, psychologists, surgeons to have an alcoholic drink before sitting behind the steering wheel to go to work. Are you ok for a child care worker to have one alcoholic drink before they look after your child. Are you ok with a surgeon having one alcoholic drink before they do surgery on you. Are you ok for an aged care workers to have on alcoholic drink before they look after your ledery parent. Are you ok for a teacher to have one alcoholic drink before they teach your child at school. Yes it sounds strange when you know the person's status and occupation. We could say oh, 10 years is too long for a cancellation of licence for one drink, as we think it's not fair for the common man or woman. Well, these people consuming alcohol when driving, are infact people with a reputation, with status and important occupation. Even the common man and woman, who may not have a high profile , value their life like everyone else. If people can respect their position in life and value their own life, then they can reframe from consuming any alcohol what so ever before choosing to drive. This would be called *The Futuristic Law Thats Saves Lives*

 

[kdzimm]

There are a lot of issues involved with this. State of roads, road rules differing in each state, addiction, momentary loss of concentration, mechanical issues, driver experience and attitude, wondering wildlife, and the list goes on. Drivers, including those with international licenses, need to be educated on looking at their cars to see if the tyres are safe and inflated correctly and all lights are workings, are not only taught how to drive around their local area, but safely around trucks of all sizes, in heavy city traffic, on country roads and on freeways in all weather conditions both day and night. A mandatory visit to a trauma unit to see the results of drink, drugs and attitude while driving for young learner drivers. The road rules need to be consistent between states. The roads need to be made to take all variety of vehicles. I am fed up with signs letting me know there is a "rough surface" ahead. We need trucks of all shapes, sizes and weights. We are a growing nation which requires a lot of new infrastructure, and trucks are required for this. Build the roads so they are able to cope with every vehicle from scratch, instead of constantly "fixing" areas which costs unknown how much, not only for the crews involved, but the time, money and tolerance of those driving in that area who are trying to get from point A to point B efficiently. If the foundations for both driver knowledge and road structure are not stable then the entire lot collapses, which is happening.

 

[meighLeigh]

Caught once: fine and loss of demerit/brownie points - loss depending on the extent of the crime (e.g. speeding less than 10 k over limit, brownie point loss. Greater than twice the speed limit - fine and loss of all possible brownie points, thereby loss of license. And if somehow you've lost brownie points prior to the event, the balance is carried forward to your next license. In other words, you start down sundry brownie points when/if you apply for and get another license.
Caught twice: automatically loose license and the car you were driving impounded for the same period. In other words, if you were driving a borrowed car, you've just lost the car owner's car for 12 months!
Caught three times: permanent loss of license, fine and custodial sentence.
Driving without a license: the charge should be possession of a lethal weapon with intent to cause grievous bodily harm or death. Sentence accordingly.
Far too many people are caught drug driving (alcohol included), without a license, in an unregistered and often unroadworthy vehicle. Custodial sentence.
Now, as far as I am concerned, deliberately driving a car to the public danger (e.g. driving when under the influence of any drug - including alcohol), especially if a repeat offender, is a crime of violence. The driver might not yet have injured people or property, but it's only a matter of time. Crimes with violence should involve incarceration in a psychiatric institution for the criminally insane until the perpetrator can prove s/he is safe to return to society. That is, safe for society! The Perpetrator obviously has little regard for his/her personal safety.

 

[Maxxa]

Only came to the Comments section to see the inevitable response of "Speeding's not a problem".

Yep, the very first post I saw said " Speed does not kill alone".

The obvious challenge for road authorities is to change that mindset.

Please explain a drag racing car can go to over 550 klm in under 4 seconds and the driver doesn't die. Or 20 F1 cars all doing over 300 klm and no one dies. Speed alone is not the problem, there has to be another element present. Having a camera taking a picture of a car a number of kilometers over an orbitally decided limit is obviously not a deterrent, its just a cost of driving.

 

[7777]

Please explain a drag racing car can go to over 550 klm in under 4 seconds and the driver doesn't die. Or 20 F1 cars all doing over 300 klm and no one dies. Speed alone is not the problem, there has to be another element present. Having a camera taking a picture of a car a number of kilometers over an orbitally decided limit is obviously not a deterrent, its just a cost of driving.

Dear member Macca, thankyou for your post. I agree with you. You are right, it's not just speed alone that is the cause of the problem, but a combination of speed and alcohol that causes the accidents. Wishing you a lovely day.

 

[Catherines]

Build roads better in the first place, rather than by the cheapest tenderer. And stop allowing heavier and heavier trucks on the roads. Even the average "family car" today is twice the weight he were thirty years ago.

Quite a number of years ago some ‘by-pass’ roads were built inland from the Pacific Highway. A similar system should be built outside most major towns and only heavy vehicles must use these roads or cop a fine (by camera identification). This will not stop road accidents or deaths by those flaunting the law but, if the by-pass roads are built to take the heavier traffic loads perhaps our city and town roads might last better (only if these city/town roads are also built to a better standard). Reckless, uncaring, drunk, drug impaired drivers will not stop the carnage though. For them there must be much heavier penalties with confiscation of the vehicle in the case of drugs, alcohol, speed being the cause.

 

[Luckyus]

It's no good just saying you lost a loved through a fatal car incident? you want to tout laws but lets be genuine here. We don't know no does she explain what her daughter was up to? So before we know I'm in the over seventy five and I take exception at being into a one size fits all scenario.