4WD Driver to be charged over Deaths on Fraser Island.

How about individual responsibility, why try to put the blame onto someone else for what was sheer stupidity on the part of the driver.

There is too much blaming the state of the roads, someone else for not doing something, when if people were to just use the brains nature gave em and followed speed limits, drove to the conditions and had some consideration for other people using the roads, we would have a whole lot less accidents like this one.

Notso,

The immediate responsibility rests with the driver, but putting an overloaded Troopy in the hands of anyone without checking on their competence is highly irresponsible. Very few backpackers from overseas will ever have driven such a large vehicle, and on sand. It isn't all sheer stupidity - stupidity is knowing the risks and ignoring them. Many of these people are just plain ignorant. They haven't been told how to use these machines in these conditions and don't know the risks.

I agree that far too many blame anything but themselves for mishaps, and a general lack of consideration for others lies behind many "accidents".

In the present cases though, the hire companies know that many young drivers from overseas lack the experience and knowledge needed to use the vehicles safely. Yet they still hire them out and in doing so are negligent in their duty of care to the driver, the passengers, and others on the tracks.

John

It is interesting that the Coroner made no comment on the culpability of the Hire Company. I would hope that this remains the case and that we don't travel down the path of the US and other Litigious societies where everyone tries to find someone else to blame for their own failings.

Young inexperienced drivers are well established as a high risk group. This in itself is a 'failing'. Those who hire out know about it.

If you hand a sharp knife to a 2 year old they will hurt themselves.

Okay.... even a 7 or 8 year old will need supervision with a sharp knife.

A big 4wd on sand near waves in the hands of a 20 and bit year old... deadly.

Interesting that people here are willing to impose a blanket training/or ban on foreign backpackers driving 4wd's but would (and do) rile up at the suggestion of any such thing for Aus 4wd'ers.

No matter who is behind the wheel it can and will kill. However the companies (any hire company for that matter) have an expectation that if a person presents a valid and full drivers licence (foreign or local) then they are competent to make judgements on the limits of their abilities. (different from BEING competent with that vehicle).

Not sure what the answer really is but anything along those lines is likely to end up imposed on all of us.

perhaps a compulsory induction/orientation lasting a couple of hours for ANYONE before they can drive on Fraser, valid for a couple of years? Run by the relevant Government Dept not the hire companies who have a vested interest in everyone getting thru as fast as poss.
Maybe along the lines of what everyone must do before arriving on Barrow, Varanus and Thevenard islands in the west, though that covers OHS also as well as environment, driving and flora/fauna.

Good point! OHS. No mine site would let you drive a 4wd around without training and induction..

Training and induction courses achieve one thing and that is cover the backside of the mining company in the event of an accident. The responsibility to behave in a responsible manner and use a little common sense still rests with the individual.
Forget 4wd's for a minute. A person fronts up to a licence centre, answers some questions and passes a rudimentry practical driving test and is immediately able to legally drive on public roads. Obeying speed limits, courtesy and common sense is still very much up to that particular individual and no amount of regulation is going to replace these.

Cheers
Pop

Pop I agree with you 100%

But people are advocating all sorts of blame shifting and regulation that of course only affects other people, and that was an answer for it.

But do you think training courses for 4wd handling only "achieve one thing and that is cover the backside"??

There are all sorts of complaints it appears about Fraser Island and they relate to 4wd handling and protection of flora/fauna etc.
Personally Im happy to do my own learning in my 4x4 using it for surfing and hunting, and learning as I go.
Guess we are lucky in the West to have more space and less congestion.