What do we do?

[SueDonim]

Motorsport legend Greg Murphy fed up with Government's lack of action after horror week on roads
Critisise sure but he doesnt say what the answer is.
Better roads?
Tougher driving tests?
Bring back the old traffic cops?

What do you think?

https://tinyurl.com/2jou5cmm

Better roads where necessary – and reduce the speed limit on the sub-standard ones. The universal limit used to be 80kph then was raised. Maybe the modern highways should be 100 and minor highways 80. That's if – IF – accidents are happening when cars are driving at or below the 100kph limit. If accidents only happen to speedsters, then stop the speedsters. We hear a lot about it, but people are still speeding and crashing.


Tougher driving tests. Definitely. Test whether drivers have some understanding of the mechanics of how the car actually travels on the road, eg cornering, not just whether they know the rules. That's important too, but with the majority of our fleet now SUVs with a higher centre of balance, drivers need to understand the impact of that. Etc.


Old traffic cops? Probably not. Current police just need to be able to more actively police full stop. From the TV programmes it appears that traffic stops often pick up other non-traffic infringements. Let the two remain combined and get the delinquents off the road.


Drink/drugged driving. Get them off the roads. Somehow – SOMEHOW - get people to STOP drinking and taking illicit drugs. It's a huge societal problem, not just a road safety issue.


Defensive driving courses at least for everyone getting a licence and anyone convicted of a driving offence. Just because some think it doesn't teach them anything doesn't mean that that applies to everyone. And being reminded of things you "already" know does have value. The DD course could be where the dynamics of weight distribution and other technical things could be taught. Also compulsory tuition from a professional driving instructor for learners. Costs could be met by WINZ for beneficiaries. 10 year refreshers would be ideal but I fear would cost too much.


Accidents can happen at low speeds too so the power of cars isn't an issue. Some of our 70s cars went like hell – it's not just modern cars that go fast. Just because cars CAN go fast doesn't mean they should be driven at full speed. Having a powerful car trundling along at low revs is more efficient than something with no power screaming in pain the whole time.


Driving age needs to stay as is, or even go back to 15. Kids need to learn the technical skills and practical coordination when their brains are at the peak of learning ability. And also have those skills ingrained before they hit the late-teen party culture and start getting alcohol into the mix.


Make penalties real. For anything such as cellphone use that is a blatant disregard of the law, take the car away, and in that case the cellphone too. Teach people that actions have consequences.


Above all do something about attitude and ego. Hit the people who simply won't do the right thing for the right reason. The people that don't understand that the rules get everyone doing the same thing in the same way when that is necessary for safety. Get people to take driving seriously and treat it as something that must be done well or not at all. How I hate the people who claim "I'm not a good driver". If you think you aren't then get some tuition or get off the road.


Make sure legislation changes are either educational or only apply to the guilty. We have too many laws that punish the innocent and have no effect on the guilty. Let's not make it worse.