Lucky escape

[alfa duk]

Yes Paul, it is indeed a concern with regards to your post, but things seem to be getting worse or am i getting older? Which is not as silly as it sounds. Could probably be because there is more traffic on the road, people with less time or impatent. My main gripe is not aimed at younger drivers, but at freeway users which i have seen countless near misses by not using the lanes correctly. Keep left unless overtaking, how many of us get into the middle lane and sit there so we dont have to change lanes?Doug

[edmunds]

Ken Lay's replacement, Kieran Walsh, as Victoria's top traffic cop was on Melbourne Radio this week.
Don't expect any changes as Walsh just spouted the same tired old message in the same boring insomnia-curing monotone voice, cameras, cameras and more cameras is their only answer.
Not one new idea to tackle the age-old problem of inadequate driver training and any alternatives to cameras or event the callers who provided more than enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that current road safety strategies are simply not working.
Heaven forbid that the Police would concede or even consider that a visible police present just might make a difference.
Having Lay and Walsh swap jobs is just more of the shift-the-deckchairs-on-the-Titanic mentality that will see Victoria's road toll continue to rise to unacceptable levels because the Police, the TAC and the politicians can't see the wood for the trees.
Barry

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Keep left unless overtaking, how many of us get into the middle lane and sit there so we dont have to change lanes?Doug

On a 3 or more lane freeway, I never use the left lane.  Why, you ask?  Because in the areas where there are more than 3 lanes, the drivers always seem to be incapable of reaching 100km/h on an onramp, and think its an intelligent idea to enter a freeway at 70km/h.  And then slow down to try and merge.  Using the middle lane only causes problems when people without mirrors use the right lane and just sit there regardless of whether a faster car comes up behind them.

Then again, I've seen the same behaviour at club sprints (inability to check mirrors)....

[Sheldon McIntosh]

I agree with the following quote, taken from the link regarding the MiTo given to the NSW Police Crime Prevention Officer.

Sydney police received an Alfa Romeo MiTo for a young public awareness campaign. Australians aim is to promote the road safety in the eyes of young people, who are increasingly less impressive lately.

http://www.ultimatecarblog.com/alfa-romeo-mito-for-the-australian-police/#more-740

[B_Conolly]

I traversed the western ring road from Greensborough to the Calder for almost 4 years. This issue has absolutely nothing to do with age. The level of stupidity and arrogance of the people that drive on that road is unbelievable. You honestly would not believe the stories and the amount of times I had to avoid a serious accident.

I am an IT consultant, one of our customers is a very large panel shop. At the back of the shop they store the cars involved in the fatalities before they are crushed. Remember the 2 and 3 yo kids that were killed along with their parents in a head on at 100k a couple of weeks ago ?, they had what was left of the two cars. Suffice to say that I am feeling physically Ill thinking about what I saw. This would be a good learning tool to teach those of us that need it the actual concept of consequence, which is what I believe it all comes down to.

I see similar behaviour from my 2 yo, he understands that he has a choice and he obviously wants the ability to make a decision however there is no concept of consequence which is where the parent (police) comes in. If he knows what he is about to do is stupid he wont do it and Im redundant.

There is the problem, zero education due to poor driver training and next to no penalties or consequences when you get caught doing something stupid.

Police presents is addressing the issue very much after the fact and things are most certainly getting worse.

All the best

Bret

[scuzzyGTV]

It's a funny thing, I had assumed that road safety for Gov't Departments & Police was always going to be generic "speed kills" and sticking camera's everywhere.

I know this is going to annoy the Victorians keen for these measures, but down here in little old Tassie, I saw not 1, but 2 Gov't ads targeting driver behaviour the other night. Not to mention there is a much more visible Police presence on the roads, both by updating the appearance of the cars, and the numbers on the road. It's about time that someone decided to take some initiative and start to target real issues.

Don't get me wrong, we still have our problems, as we are looking at losing the dragway & gymkhana's due to it being labelled "hooning", but I'd sure rather it in a controlled envirenment, than on the roads.

I can only hope that attitudes change towards road safety & that eventually we do get better driver training & testing, even if it means I need to resit a test!

My other comment concerns the revenue of speed cameras. It's one thing to say that they are raising money, and by having to use real police & cars that it'll cost too much money, but when compared to how much is spent on treatment of peaople & investigations of accidents, i'm sure it would pail into insignificance.

anyway just my 2c.

[alfa duk]

 I  take your point J and H but cannot agree based on cars entering at 70 km verses cars cutting you off at 110 +, however unlike you i doubt that the majority would have a plausable reason for being there.
On the flip side I have found that the left is the best lane as nobody drives in it anyway. This thread could go on forever. Doug

[redalfaracing]

thanks for the paper Paul, and i will give Tom the card when i get in to see him. Still immediate family only. 

[Alpine Chapter Inc.]

Cheers Greg,
 Hope things improve for Tom soon, we're thinking of him.
 I'll see you about this time next Sunday.

[Alpine Chapter Inc.]

Hi Greg,

How is Tom going?
l would one day like to catch up with Tom if he is up to it that is, not very often you get to talk to someone who has survived a 200k hit.
Hope he is doing well.

Cheers Paul

[redalfaracing]

Hi Greg,

How is Tom going?
l would one day like to catch up with Tom if he is up to it that is, not very often you get to talk to someone who has survived a 200k hit.
Hope he is doing well.

Cheers Paul

Tom is doing ok, now able to put weight on his repaired lower limbs, Walking around with the use of a frame. It will be a long road to recovery, but he is super positive and will get back to his previous level of mobility.
Paul, thanks for asking.

[Alpine Chapter Inc.]

Hi Greg,

That's great Tom is doing well . Being positive is surely going to help him recover.
 
Keep up the good work Tom.

Cheers Paul