Traffic accidents and media coverage

Quote "they won't increase police patrols or speed cameras as they say 'it isn't cost effective".
Now if that isn't admitting that their main motive is dollars I don't know what is!"

That's a bit harsh. Lets say they add 20 more police to the force who's primary job is to patrol country/highway areas. What are the odds of them catching many of these? Then imagine the outcry about a "waste" of taxpayers dollars when these could be spent addressing certain other "social" issues WA is becomming infamous for.

Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

"Damned if they do and damned if they don't".

But they don't even try Whyallacookie. Their only answer to a sudden spate of deaths in the country is yet another crackdown on what is mostly minor speeding offences in the metro area!

I'm not suggesting extra cops on the roads country or metro would make an instant change in drivers performance and attitudes, but it may hep if they knew there was more out there.

As I said, inappropriate speed may kill, but stupidity kills far more.
Alan.

I don't disagree with you about the fact that the majority of the "speeding" response is about 2 things.... Being seen to be doing something and revenue.

Which also comes back a bit to what I put above. An extra 20 (which realistically is a significant investment between equipment, training and wages, realistically you would be sending more experienced officers to do this due to the fact they would have to work alone, and be able to handle whatever situation faces them from confrontations to accidents etc. Not a good idea for a green officers first posting) would hardly be noticed on WA's roads. That's not even taking account holidays, sick days, training etc.

As a former territorian I highly argue against the "speed" kills. It is proven that inatentive driving and fatigue play a much larger role, in fact I'd argue that speeding NEVER caused a single accident. Failing to slow down appropriately, certainly has. It's not the speed that kills... it's the sudden stop at the end.

Increasing the speed limits where approriate reduces driving time and therefore reduces fatigue. But of course that opens a whole nother can of worms about driver training and city drivers taking their once a year drive.

As for the teenage P platers in (mostly) commodores writting themselves off, always going to happen. And yes I lost 2 friends in 2 seperate accidents (both cars hit large gums at stupid speeds, way above the posted, let alone recommended speeds). 1 was a driver the other a rear seat passenger.

It's a hard one, they have to at least try but there is only so much they can do and be in so many places. I have twin boys (5) and I hope like hell I am able to instil in them some common sense about driving. Hopefully they take up 4x4ing and we can get a nice fast 2.4lt hilux or something for them to learn in. But I am also realistic enough to know that peer pressure and hormones (or alcohol) can sometimes make the most sensible do the most stupid. If they do I hope they are lucky enough to get away with it unscathen (and by that I include not hurting anyone else)

G'day Shane,

I think you're right. Attitude and behaviour are hard to change, and we don't seem to be able to be very clever in initiating such change when it comes to road safety.

I don't hear / see any evidence that double demerit points and double fines changes behaviour, and how could it, when the evidence is that there is no significant difference in fatality rates between holiday and non holiday periods?

It's too simple to say it's a complex issue, but it's one that needs a long term strategy from governments who tend not to think long term. In effect, we need a whole of life education and training program, and while we're at it, the same applies to health and fitness.

Fight the good fight
Cheers
John

Sorry for the grammar errors in my post.
Just re-read it and went, "Ooops.!!"
Cheers
Shane

Make that a closing speed of 200-260 kph, legally.