FollowupID: 505269 Submitted:
Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 10:01
DIO posted:
Don't scoff, there are lots of people in the community who are strong believers that urban/city areas are unsuitable for 4 wheel drives. Their arguements may or may not be based on logic however they do manage to get into the press and often achieve headlines. What is the 4wd fraternity doing about it? For many - nothing except to perhaps add to the perception that 4wds belong in the bush, that they are often driven by idiots with an identity/ego problem, they can go anywhere, the bigger the better and therefore their size allows drivers to use their vehicle to intimidate and act aggressivly toward other road users, that they are environmentally unfriendly as they use more fuel. I say there's room
on the road for everyone if common sense and courtesy are practised by all.
So if you were to have access to the front page of your local newspaper, what are some of the positive things you would say in defense of allowing 4 wheel drives access to urban and city roads. How would you counter the claims of the anti-4wd fraternity? What evidence could/would you be able to provide to support your arguement? Do you reckon that such an arguement could be made and maintained? What if anything would/might have to change if there was need for a compromise between parties?
Unless the 4wd fraternity get's itself organised into a cohesive and credible group, eventually those anti-4wd members of the community will convince the politicians that there may be votes in it for them and to support legislation prohibiting unrestricted access by 4 wd vehicles in prescribed areas. It will happen. Then you can scoff all you like becuase it won't change a thing.
For example, smoking in a vehicle with a child under the age of 16 years is NOW an offence in SA. Became so 1st of June. Apparently other States are looking at similar legislation in fact it has already been suggested that smoking whilst driving should be completely banned as should eating, drinking or anything likelt ot distract the driver.
Supreme Court in SA found that using a Bluetooth hands free telephone whilst driving a vehicle was illegal. Contrary to what most people thought. This judgement will have nationwide ramifications for all. It might seem that at the moment the only 'legal' way you can use a mobile phone whlst driving is to have a cradle or setup that the enables the phone to automatically answers incoming calls and disconnects at the end of the call - WITHOUT ANY USER INTERVENTION.
Whilst there may or may not have been lobbying by community groups for these types of changes, you can bet that such changes will only fuel support for those who advocate extreme changes such as banning 4 wheel drives in selected areas.
What you going to do about it?
