Re - Mr Scruby

John, that is gold... Just copy/pasted it to Harold and asked very nicely for a response. I didn't identify my motives, will post the response if it comes.

Hi John, if you email me I can give you some interesting background to the said member. Not relavant, but interesting :))

G'day John,

I posted that link the other day in response to iMusty's "Pro 4wd Group" post 23056. I have met Jon briefly and he does impress me. The website is very good and I encourage people to subscribe to his newsletter.

Jeremy.

Yes the good Prof Jenkins is a somewhat lonely voice who doesn't seem to be able to get much media time. He is the Outdoor Recreation Party rep in the NSW upper house. Interestingly he also responded to Miranda Devine's quite vitriolic article about 4WDs and Drivers in the SMH the other day (copy below). What's the bet this doesn't make it into print in the SMH.

From: Dr Jon Jenkins [mailto:jon@trac.org.au]
Sent: Thursday, 19 May 2005 8:00 AM
To: 'devinemiranda@hotmail.com'
Subject: 4WD issue

Hi Miranda



I saw your article in the Herald this morning and was disappointed. I realise if I make this too long it will not get read so I have tried to summarise point form:



1: What is it about 4WDs that seem to make people think they can magically break the laws of physics. What is the difference between a 2 tonne four-wheel-drive and a 2 tonne sedan or people mover?



2: You describe four-wheel-drive is as being big did you realise that the average Commodore and Falcon are larger than a Nissan Patrol?



3: Our culture seems to be one of transferring blame: it's society's fault, it's the parents fault, its the schools fault, it's the government's fault. In this particular case nobody seemed to ask the really important questions:



a) Where was the parent and why weren't they holding this child's hand?

b) Where was the school supervision which allowed a child to occupy the same space as vehicles

c) The driver had owned this vehicle for some considerable time and had in fact undergone training, how is it possible that she did not understand the visual characteristics of this vehicle?



Its easy to blame the vehicle!



4: Neither I nor any of those that I represent have any reservations about a special licensing system for 4WD in fact all members of all 4WD clubs have to undergo a highly specialised and rigorous training before they can become a full member of the club. However while the situation on our roads exist where any idiot can get a licence regardless of their lack of skill or ability there will continue to have tragedies on the road.



5: North Sydney Council did not impose a levy on 4WDs, the levy was based upon the emission of greenhouse gases. Unlike the obsessed anti-four-wheel-drive lobby the laws of physics simply determine that four-wheel drives are no different to any other vehicle.



6: the anti-four-wheel-drive lobby is extremely good at twisting the statistics on four-wheel drives. If you are really interested in facts and figures on four-wheel drives you can get most of them from my web site. If you have the time please go to my web site www.trac.org.au and have a quick look at the questions that I would have liked to have asked the coroner and the anti-four-wheel-drive lives section on the left-hand side.



thanks



jon







Prof Jon Jenkins MLC www.trac.org.au

Outdoor Recreation Party

Parliament House

Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000

Ph/Fax 02-9230-2752/2205

jon@trac.org.au

we had a hammering on radio here in adelaide yesterday...presenter Nicole Haack was good as she actually likes them (4wd's)...but the opposition made sure they had their say and were heard...

I have sent the link to the presenter and hopefully she will air these stats

Excellent, good to see! I just emailed him with praise and offers for help in anyway I can.