Member - Cocka replied:

An interesting read Paul & the graphs definitely show the turn around and positive effects of safety campains. But for the implimentation of these safety measures many of us could well be one of the statistics and so might the drones who always say it's a money grabbing exercise, who knows.
I am not averse to any educational or "special" licencing for 4x4 drivers, I have nothing to fear or hide. There are many capable drivers who know the feel of driving and there are many who just point a vehicle. The "pointers" may never ever understand the feel, but at least if they are educated to know the limitations of a vehicle and educated to drive according to conditions and their own capabilities, then they may save their own, or at least someone elses, life.

This scinario applies to driving all vehicles, it's just that 4x4 driving presents additional dimensions.

Carpe Diem

goingplatinumcomau replied:

The way i see things is Volvo have gone to great lenghts to get the Toorak Market Back. Which they can have then maybe they might stop makeing car 4 wd.

Haveing seen recent a 3.5 ton truck down graded to a car lience with a 5 meter tray on it Not to sure what to think anymore.

Someone siting in Goverment office trying to justerfy there existence or a parcel of money to Polititions from Volvo flip a coin.

Shane

Willem replied:

Paul.........I was 50 once...it is a silly stage which you have to go through.

Herewith what I posted on you other thread in reply to what Truckster had to say...

I can't see it happening despite your dire predictions. The logistics behind it would be too complicated. Everyone would have to have one and to get that you would have to participate an additional test. Most 4bies are owned by families and so all family members with a car licence would have to upgrade to a 4x4 licence. This licence would have to be in a new category as we are now allowed to drive a vehicle up 4.5 tons in weight on a car licence. That means we would then need an extra licence to drive a light truck.

As Eskimo points out there are failings within the annual vehicle inspection regimes. The NT is moving away from that for the reason that annual inspections do not work as the implementation is too complicated. South Australian RAA have taken note of the data presented by NT, NSW and NZ and has come up with other ideas including Random Vehicle Inspections. I wrote a letter to them(RAA) complaining about such a silly move and I believe my letter is going to be published in their next magazine. My gripe was that such a system would be open to abuse and that people driving older vehicles would be prime targets for such a system and the possible abuse thereof

Cheers

WillemMove over Big Red..this is a dune!
320 metre sand dune, Sossusvlei,Namibia
(note myself and Suzuki in foreground)

Member - Chris (SA) replied:

It seems that this issue arises when the pollies have nothing to do. While statistics should be held and reviewed at arms length as they lend themselves to skewing by olbby groups, I've no doubt that those with a bent to remove fun from the majority of us in Oz will leap at the data presented on this website.

Interestingly, nothing was said regarding a recent program on the Discovery Channel where road safety dudes in the US proclaimed 4wd vehicles safer. Swings and roundabouts I suppose, although I don't recall seeing stats comparing how long pedestrians lived after being hit by a 2 tonne truck with/without bullbar.

The license issue should be, IMHO, only viable if the vehicle has markedly different driving skills required. We do'n't have a different license for front wheel drive vs rear, nor for 1 tonne vans vs toyota echos. A 4wd is no different. Any drive to create a 'new'category should be seen as a revenue raising event which won't remove hoons, prevent drunks driving, stop single vehicle rollovers, make 4wd crew more attentive or make car drivers think that I can stop on a penny.

This concept belongs to the domain of fancy, single issue motivated lobby groups and the looney left.Chris
<- 1996 Troopy, the best!

Truckster (Vic) replied:

As someone else mentioned, how about a license for Mobile Road Blocks (CARAVANS)

makes more sense to me...

Robert replied:

Perhaps what some would like to see is:

A special license needed before you can tow a trailer, drive a utility, country people required to obtain another license before driving in the city etc. etc.
Perhaps a licensing system whereby the license is only for the vehicle you drive, eg a person driving a Commodore would be required to obtain another license before driving a Falcon.

Amazing how some people always think another license or permit is the answer to solving everything.

I never realised that those people who drive like maniacs or do stupid things whilst driving obviously don’t have a license!