I'm a bit upset at the media a.t.m ... [Archive]

Y2kGoofball

10-05-2004, 02:03 AM

Ok well why not let my frustrations out on y' all!

Just watched a segment on "Today Tonight" which is a 'current affairs' show

Now, I'm a "green" Provisional 2 driver, basically in NSW you go Learner minimum 12 months, Red minimum 12 months then green minuimum 2 years, these do change tho with age for instance if your 17 + Learner is only 6 months minimum etc

Anyway what I'm getting at is I've been a provisional driver now for 12 months, did my next test and passed to green ... all up a "P plater" for 1 and a half years almost.

Now I'm responsible. Heck Ive had to activate fire trucks to enough accidents and hear the results, as well as a description of the scene, some of which are enough to scare any young driver into not acting stupid

Now a Red P plater is restricted to 90KPH, green is 100 Kph.

Heading to work of a morning the first 20 minutes on the freeway (which is 110 kph) is smooth sailing, same coming home ... the last 20 minutes is clear traffic before you hit snails pace peak hour.

I stick to my 100 KPH spot on in the left lane. I can honestly say each day I see at least 2, usually 3 or 4 each way, Red and Green P platers going above their restricted limit, and even beyond the 110 limit!

I know when I'm doing 100, the cars in the middle lane are doing 110 and a red p plater goes flying past in the very right hand lane!

Now I admit this annoys me, but I refuse to speed. I'm more annoyed when that day I was losing plastic crates off the back of the work ute I got pulled over and warned next time I face losing my licence because I'm putting others at risk, yet these little hoons are exceeding the signposted 110 KPH limit. Surely their endangeing everyone especially if something goes wrong ... at least thats the reasoning for restricted speed limits!

Anyway just then on Today Tonight they had a feature on cutting the road toll, which I'm all for.

The point was they want to ban the power a provisional drivers car can have, I totally agree so long as its reasonable (that is max out at a 3.8 litre V6 Commodore ... the family car!)

I still use the scenareo theres nothing legally stopping Mickcals driving his parents GT-P and that things built for the track! Although most insurance places would knock you back, I know for a fact you can get 3rd party insurance on it, but you dont need to be insured to drive, its just if you hit anyone you have to cough up for it!

Another example is not far from here a little while back a 19 year old, who had just become a father, was killed in a speed related accident where he wrapped it round a tree. Sad I agree, but what they fail to mention is he was driving an AU XR8!

Ive noticed lately too the number of red P platers in SS and XR8's! Just like that day I had to drive my boss's SS Crewman, legally I was allowed, eben tho I coulda only had my licence 1 day!

Anyway on the show they said "P Platers think their invincible because it'll never happen to them"

This upsets me big time, not some P platers, or a minority of, but P platers in general

I'm more pissed because I accept the fact I could hit someone or visa versa. The day after Oran Park this year (in Sept) I was stopped in traffic and was hit by a small truck! (but no I didnt say anything here so you didnt miss out anyone, FYI it cost close to $7000 damage to our car alone in physical damage plus medical plus the guy in front I was pushed into) anyway I sure as hell didnt say "oh but it doesnt happen to P platers!"

I'm just sick of the media blaming P platers in general. Im no hoon, neithers Mickcals. We both need our licences for work, be especially being an on road technician!

I just wanted to get it off my chest and to ask what do you guys think, is it unfair the media is blaming it on P platers in general when there are some responsible drivers out there?

wello

10-05-2004, 02:19 AM

well
the sad thing is that a fair amount of p platers thing there 10 foot tall and bullet proof and because of that the ones like yourself and Mickels get through in the same boat
its no different to owners of hotted up cars because of some dickheads everyone is looked on as being the same

10-05-2004, 02:59 AM

I reckon it's stupid, I mean some p platers died this morning, in a honda civic drag racing against a Skyline, and the p plater in the civic died along with his buddy in the car, I reckon this is gonna cause another wave orf restrictions because there are ALWAYS idiots who ruin it for everyone! I mean thank god that they didn't take anyone else out with them.

I know a 18 year old with a HSV VS senator, it's gradually getting hotted up, and he does drive a bit irresponsibly, but not where you have to drive sensibly and as far as I know he doesn't drag race.

Basically, finance is easy to get nowadays and people want new cars because they are lazy, they don't want to go around fixing a old car, which I would put the hard yards in for myself. BUt then again the amount of P Platers with Vl Turbo's is amazing, ditto for Skyline T's all with copykat bodykits of GTR's, and making more niose then a VLT.

chris

10-05-2004, 04:13 AM

I go crazy when I see the young hoons driving like idiots.. No, not all young people do that, but I have no time for the jerk in the hotted up V8 Torana (I'm thinking of one in particular) pulling huge burnouts at the traffic lights.

Where are the Police when you need them??

However, I absolutely disagree with the link between powerful cars, speeding and young people dieing.

You could be driving a 962 Le Mans, the fastest production road-car in existance and capable of achieving more than 400km/hr, and you are at no more risk of an accident than any one else, and because you are driving such a powerful car (540kW) doesn't automatically mean you are going to speed and drive irresponsibly.

In fact, you are probably going to be at less chance of being in an accident because the car has driving and braking qualities of such a high standard, and also because it is far safer than the average 1980's [insert car name here].

A car, any car is only dangerous when it is driven irresponsibly, and in a way not suitable for the conditions.

Where do these idiot do-gooders get off in trying to control everyones lives.

I'd love to see some young kid driving something like a Ferrari F40, and never having an accident, and never breaking any laws, just to prove the do-gooders wrong. Am I thinking of a fairy-tale world?

No, because there are genuinely good and responsible young drivers out there, who get their reputations sullied by the actions of the minority.

10-05-2004, 04:21 AM

I'd be up for it, if I could get insurance for the thing.....

Y2kGoofball

10-06-2004, 03:30 AM

Where are the Police when you need them?? well acctually on that comment the bloke across the road hates our guts and I dont blame him!

He owns a "hotted up datsun"

They live in a cul-de-sac which is directly opposite our house. HE CANNOT pull out of that street once without at least attempting to create smoke. Out front of our street looks like eastern creek drag strip! I even refuse to let Mickcals park out the front for the fear of having dickhead lose control and plough into Mickcals car!

His father brought a new Commodore a few weeks back and stupidly lent it to his son one sunday afternoon, who, err, surprise surprise, found out how easy it is to spin the rear wheels in a Commodore and fishtailed up the road!

One day quite some time back when had Highway Patrol cops over and they had their fully marked police car in our driveway, he even "burntout" then! I spose he couldnt see the cops and felt good about running the risk!

The stupid part was one of the coppas was standing at our screen door, which is one of those you can see out but no one can see in security doors. After dickhead got up the road one of the coppas pulled out his little book and wrote up a court appearance note, and was nice enoughto drop it in their letterbox!

I felt good that day, although that still goes to show you how stupid some people are.

On another occasion a we had the same cops going to pull into our driveway where a p plater sped past them. We heard the roar of the V8 police car and the siren going as it sped down the street. The guys response? Well I saw you pulled into the driveway and didnt think you'd be able to come after me!!!

Then again Bathurst 2001 (ive told some of you guys already) me and Mickcals were being shown how the radar works, and it clocked a p plater right down the end of our 50 kph street doing 81 kph! The best bit was by the time the sriver saw the cop car and hit the brakes we watched as the speed sorta went 80, 76, 70, 57, 50, 47, 45, 40, 38, 39. 37! Then once they passed the cop car, as radar picks up both ways, 38, 40, 42, 45, 48, 50, 54!

We had to laugh tho because it was that easy to be clocked at 81 kph in a 50 zone, yet they were right up the end of the street when it happened and I'm sorry but it was that fdar down the road no one woulda seen the cop car till after they were clocked, and as we watched it wasnt till they got probably 6 or 7 car lengths away they realised cop car and hit the brakes!

I must admit I have seen some p platers pulled over on the motorway, although rarely. I do remember having a highway patrol pass me, then 1 and a bit minutes later a p plater which was speeding past. I can only assume the cop car had the radar on which clocked the p plater from behind.

Anyway it does make me feel a bit less upset that there are people who accept the fact there are responsible young drivers out there -^

I mean when I was hit from behind I know there woulda been a few smart ass remarks by passers by who woulda stopped for a good look "typical p plater, driving a Commodore and in an accident" but the truth was I was the victim and not the cause!

Anyway I still support passenger restrictions to driver + 1 passenger, limit to a 3.6 L V6 (family commodore) or even a specific KW limit to prevent 'hotting up 4 cylinders" and their talking about mandatory devensive driving courses ... heck I'd do it, they cost like $200 a go and I plan on doing one myself when ive got the money but if the government payed I'd be there tomorrow!

Y2kGoofball

10-06-2004, 03:34 AM

0h and while I'm on it

In NSW their talking about night time restrictions.

I know for a fact that wont work. Ive heard p platers say "after the 10pm cerfew I just take my P platers off" and they are right, hows a cop sposed to know the differencerbetween a fully licenced driver and a p plater breaking a cerfew? unless they pull over every single car.

Chris I do agree tho with the high performance car thing, it comes down to stereo types. In my opinion I think some restrictions are needed to at least start deterring dickheads

10-06-2004, 03:50 AM

chris

10-06-2004, 04:33 AM

I find a lot of the problem to be the V8 driving hoons, in their highly modified V8 muscle cars (highly modded as in the engine alone, while the rest seems to be left as is). Where I am, they seem to be a major problem, driving quite dangerously.

I do see Skylines and Supras quite a bit, but the drivers of them seem to drive them very quietly and carefully in contrast, and never doing burnouts, and almost never sliding around corners.

I have to wonder if the different driving styles equate to the relative costs of each car? I can't imagine a R33 Skyline GTS (rear-drive, 2.5L turbo inline-6 with about 192kW) could be very cheap, since it is a relatively new car, and not exactly a bad one at that.

Defensive/performance driver training I also think is not a very good idea, unless it is done properly. It builds some young drivers up to think they are 10 feet tall and indestructable, and that is dangerous. It has to be accompanied by the right mental preparation as well.

chris

10-06-2004, 04:43 AM

well acctually on that comment the bloke across the road hates our guts and I dont blame him!

He owns a "hotted up datsun"

They live in a cul-de-sac which is directly opposite our house. HE CANNOT pull out of that street once without at least attempting to create smoke. Out front of our street looks like eastern creek drag strip! I even refuse to let Mickcals park out the front for the fear of having dickhead lose control and plough into Mickcals car!

His father brought a new Commodore a few weeks back and stupidly lent it to his son one sunday afternoon, who, err, surprise surprise, found out how easy it is to spin the rear wheels in a Commodore and fishtailed up the road!

One day quite some time back when had Highway Patrol cops over and they had their fully marked police car in our driveway, he even "burntout" then! I spose he couldnt see the cops and felt good about running the risk!

The stupid part was one of the coppas was standing at our screen door, which is one of those you can see out but no one can see in security doors. After dickhead got up the road one of the coppas pulled out his little book and wrote up a court appearance note, and was nice enoughto drop it in their letterbox!

I felt good that day, although that still goes to show you how stupid some people are.

Hahaha, that's a good story. :) I would have been pissing myself laughing if I had seen that. :D

As you've probably guessed, I don't mind people driving quickly, but only if it is safe to do so. Like if it is a nice wide, long motorway in near perfect condition, then why not do 150-160km/hr, or even 180+ if the motorway is sufficiently open and fairly straight to allow driving at that sort of speed without having to push the to the limits of the cars capabilities.

At the same time, I'd sort of want some decent driver education so idiot drivers don't block the far right lanes, and move to the left as soon as possible after overtaking.

You also probably want some speed-limit classes too, depending on condition of the vehicles in question. Some old cars you wouldn't want doing more than 100km/hr even, while in a modern Commodore, Falcon or Magna it is no problem. I know in a Falcon, even on a wind-swept motorway, they can maintain 230km/hr and the thing is stable and surefooted. The Commodore is mostly the same as well.

wello

10-06-2004, 06:05 AM

I hope they don't do a hp or capacity limit, I want my 5 litre caprice on my p's which is legal atm!!!!

Maybe they should ban P platers from being able to own a turbocharged/supercharged car unless it's diesel, then it needs it to make it as fast as a equivilent petrol car. I mean turbocharged car owners are responsible and all, but there are the ones who get jap imports and think their invincible because the car's japanese or related to the GTR or whatever, all these gadgets we have now, more or less mean we don't need as good driver training becuause you abrely have to think to drive a new car!

High insurance rates worth more then the car don't deter dickheads, and in vic dickheads already go above the 125hp/tonne factory spec we have, so I don't know what exactly your on about.

But, instead of restricting us, why not let us use these vehicles, but have much stricter training, as far as I know, the premium goes down if your a p plater if you do an advanced driving course with an accredited company to the insurer.

VQ the way you started your post is the reason there should be restriction's Y2K hasa writen some great posts about his feelings and he understands whats going on you come out with IWANT MY 5LITRE no matter what

when I was your age it was the era of GT falcons and xu1's none of which a young bloke could aforward on less than $80 a week

we didn't have access to high speed 4 bangers and the like back then the first highway patrol I got to have a good look at was mini cooper S for christ sake

things have changed alot and what it comes down is most people are sick of seeing the Future of our country dieing in car crashes
what they should be doing is having driver ED in school from year 9 when kids are getting ready to drive I would prefer to pay for that at school for my 17 year son then have to pay for a hole in the ground .

I'm looking at this from both sides first as a parent of a teenage son and second as a lover of hotted up and fast cars I have never owned a standard car and most likely never will .

Frank N. O.

10-06-2004, 06:19 AM

I've driven since the legal age of 18 here in Denmark and have now driven over 8 years and have not even been stopped yet. No tickets, not even a parking-ticket, and I by principle do not exceed the speed limit since I don't have the need for speed in real life, but that's probablye due to the genetic difference in my head. Chris, no offence, but the 206 can barely get to 130 kph (maximum danish speed limit on the freeways outside of town areas) and the car is anything but stable and the powersteering and suspension and especially brakes is not at all made for that kind of driving. Me driving 130 kph and other cars 1 meter next to me doing 160-200 kph is simply totally and unquestionably reckless. 70% of all drivers in Denmark exceed the speed limit but it is all groups, types and ages. Denmark doesn't have as much traffic as other countries, but it's been confirmed by danish drivers driving outside of Denmark that the danish traffic-moral is rotten like a 4 year old fruit. I don't want to spend my time on this just expressing my oppinion as a car-lover that's herrased and tailgated every single day. I haven't overtaken any in days but vice versa? ROFL

But speaking of australian traffic. Outside in the country how bad is the traffic there? After all things from lack of space, planned building-projects, natural disasters, language barrier, culture, terror, crime etc. then Australia is probably the only peaceful place to move to instead of Denmark that's very crowded. But with all this then I'm looking more and more to the skyes for some cruising since cars are just too much of a problem now, especially with all the modern cars being so ugly and complicated.

Sorry if I got off-topic but best wishes for an improvement in your situations, greetings :wave:
Frank

wello

10-06-2004, 06:23 AM

the sad thing over here frank is most crashes happen less than 2 hours from were there headed and on country roads because alot the city people go to the country for holidays and because theres not as much traffic as there use to they put there foot bottom and the rest is as they sat history

Frank N. O.

10-06-2004, 07:44 AM

I'm sorry to hear that :(

Some people say that they know the road and they know the car, but they cannot be sure if the oncomming traffic will be shocked at a car flying towards them and will try an evasive manouvre that then turns out to cause the accident because the speeders sped is so great the other driver has not time to guess what will happend. This is especially true in corners.

It's like no matter who what or where there's a bad excuse people think justifies fast driving. Small country-roads: No-one drives there anyway? Bah, I've had several near-headoncollissions because people not only speed thrue blind corners but also cut over and block the whole road since they don't want to brake and turn so they stay on their side of the road, a road that can't even have a truck pas a passengercar without one having to have the whole wheel and more in the dirt. Open roads: Lots of space, good visibility. City: All others drive fast so if don't exceed the speed limit then YOU are the hazardous driver. That one there I hate.

Ok sorry, enough about that. All I can do is to drive a good car and continue my driving-style that is full concentration on traffic, calm overview and manouvres and don't drive in wild conditions (traffic, not weather). But sadly, not all people have that "luxury" :(

Sometimes I think it's because people have so little time to shop, pick-up the kids etc. and that if they had better time and maybe a better organisation of society with work and travel more optimised then they won't speed but sadly that's probably just a naive hope.

Greetings
Frank

chris

10-06-2004, 08:32 AM

Country traffic here isn't too bad, but the roads can be a real worry - some of them are in shocking condition, however others are very good, and in excellent condition.

In the right car (like an NSX for instance), and in the right conditions, with a wise driver behind the wheel you can safely travel at quite high average speeds without ever putting anyone in danger.

However you couldn't do that in many cars, because they just aren't cooperative like the NSX is. Some of them would be fighting the driver, bouncing badly over pot-holes, steering kicking back badly, oversteering and understeering at a moments notice.

The NSX is the exact opposite. It disguises speed. 160km/hr seems like it is less than 80km/hr - just because it does things so easily and without being demanding of the driver.

But the key to it all is using reasonable judgement and driving to the conditions. If it is a twisting section of road without decent long distance visibility, then you stick to the speed limits.

If it is a massive long stretch of decent quality road, near straight, or only slightly curving with good long distance visibility, and your car is safe to do it, why not go a little faster, within the limits of your cars ability, and the limits of your being able to stay easily within your lane on the road.

Of course I don't advocate going so fast that you are pushing the limits of your vehicles ability or going triple the speed limit, since that is just silly. But using reasonable judgement and common sense, I don't see why going a bit faster as I've described is going to cause a great problem.

Wazza

10-06-2004, 11:51 AM

Same stories apply here as well. Constantly being bombarded about the idiocy of some 15/16 year old drivers, who are on only Learner's Licences, and take their mates out for weekend drags and wrap themselves around a power pole. Often seems the driver survives, and the coward jumps out and runs off. Where the heck is he going??? Straight to hell! Leaving his dying mates behind, coz they're so scared they don't know what has just happened.

I'm one against speed as well. However I like controlled acceleration. Pulling onto the motorway from the lights going 0-110 in 8 seconds is always fun. But what irrates me, is the ones who start from 100km/h, and end up doing 180, and weaving in and out of the traffic! (Similar to that BMW M5 and Audi Autobahn video-- except, using less powerful cars :p)

Another thing, my neighbour is constantly telling me about how he get's his dads commodore and drifts it around corners etc. Two nights ago, he almost hit me, pulling out of his own driveway. Comes from a R.O.W down a hill, and he comes flying up it sooo fast. I was reversing out my small drive, and he comes hooning out, unable to stop, and swerves around me. Little ass%*%. There's often little kids on the pavement coming down on skateboards. The neighbours driveway is blinded because of the angle, it's only a matter of time before some kid gets hit from the hoons down the drive next door. His mates are all the same too. There's often convoys of souped up cars racing down the road in 1st and 2nd gear, going down a 4 house driveway at some ridiculous speed.. Arriving at their mates place, and then revving their Skyline GTS several times at 9pm at night... VROOM VROOM VROOM. EVERY FRIGGIN TIME they get there. Maybe his car is not burning fuel clean enough, and must clear all the crap in his exhaust? Who knows!

I've done a couple of silly things in my 5 years of driving. But never endangered anyone else, and had to deal with the consequences later... Me plus a back dirt road don't match. =[ At least I don't put other drivers at risk on the public busy roads. Anything unexpected can always happen.

The government has also announced it won't be long before it's required all cars to be monitored with a GPS system, and something connected directly to the electronics, which will restrict a car to the 100km/h speed limit every. And also 50km/h in other areas... Not too safe in my eyes. My biggest gripe is, the only time needed to speed, is when passing someone doing 90km/h. I'm expected to overtake them, but at not exceeding the speed limit. I beleive the quicker the manouvre can be done, the safer it is, as the less time you're on the wrong side of the road.. The less something can go wrong. That's why I overtake, with a short speed increase up to around 130/140km/h.. 140+km/h, I lose my licence for 28 days, and also my car... But I'm not one of the people who cruise at that speed, and make irratic lane changes, with NO INDICATOR!

Frank N. O.

10-06-2004, 01:43 PM

Sadly I think it's the whole mentality that's screwed up so it's a big task to get it changed, and like redying for the already changing climate and it's consequences and the countdown for the loss of fossil oils, then there's no money or time for it. More reasons for living outside of major urban concentrations and being self-sufficient in terms of power and water.

EU forced Denmark to allow special mopeds that have to drive on the road like a motorcycle and could be driven with a car-license, but were restricted to 45 kph. These things NEVER drive 45, 50-60-70-80 and they position themselves extremely dangerously. Either it's a older person driving on the white line on the edge of the road which makes cars squeese past them even with oncomming traffic! Or else they are tuned and drive even closer to the rear of your car, halfway on the side, and if you overtake a slower one, they roll between the cars or on the cycle-patch and then in front of you and at the green light they accelerate faster from 0-50 kph than a wildly launched GTI. And now....
EU wants to force Denmark to allow these mopeds to be driven by... guess.
16-17 year olds which now are only allowed to drive 30kph mopeds that drive a bicycle meaning on cyclepaths or on the inner corner of a road if no path is present. This is insane!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been overtaken on the inside by mopeds both going straight and at a left-turn lane. I had to do an emergency stop a few months ago in a big 4 lane intersection when a moped with a young couple drive right in front of me as I was about to turn right for a second-old green light. They then drove over the next red light without even tilting the head and then crossed the 4 lanes driving to the other side of the road without even looking at all!!!

I HATE The European Union for that alone!! Denmark is NOT comparable to France, Germany, Spain or any other country. The mantality sucks in traffic and to proove it: Not only are the 70% speeders a statistic, but the goverment has just announced a campaign to learn danes maners in traffic, all of them, bicycles, pedestrians, cars, mopeds, etc. And here's the clincher: Projected time-span for this campaign: 15 - Fifteen YEARS!!

Sorry for the rant :(

I've come to terms that this is beyond my skills and responsibility so I just want to get a small group of nice people to talk to and then live a nice calm quiet place.

My greetings and respect for your maturity and understanding of the real world of driving and it's consequences :cool: :wave:
Frank

10-07-2004, 04:26 AM

Frank N. O.

10-07-2004, 04:43 AM

Just a note: Reckless driving and speeding isn't fixed with sportscars here so I'm pointing out bad behaviour and poor judgement from the driver, not that fast cars are the problem, allthough I think ESP ads and the enormous isolation of vibrations and speed-sense from the cars the last 10 years can make a mark as well. As Chris so wisely said, you don't want to push the limits of your car, well at least some speeders won't, so if they drove a old bumpy car with a lot of wind-noise that showed them how fast they drove then maybe they wouldn't feel so safe, maybe.

I myself wanted to tune the car in the sense that I wanted better and larger brakes with a more firm and precise pedal feel and some professional tires to make sure it could have good grip in all conditions, dry and wet and some quality parts to improve the reliability of the engine. But now after tonight and this morning talking reality with my mom, I don't think I'm going to get any car, becasue I can't afford it.

I always had this insane notion that at least several sportscars, like Porsche and Corvettes could still be a pleasure to drive by the sheer great feel of finely tuned mechanical engineering of the controls even at fully safe legal speed and without wheel-spin or sliding but maybe I'm wrong. The most exotic I ever had a ride in was a 82 US-spec DMC-12.

Frank

10-07-2004, 05:30 AM

most exoctic car I've had a rid ein was a Baritone chop top 240 two door volvo from the early eiighties, fitted with a Holden v8 making almost 400kw, and it's a sleeper other then the 265 wide tyre fitted on some 17' rims, with good brakes, man, that was fun, and loud too, but worth it.

Aerodynamics play a part in how fast the car feels it goes, I mean, in our van going 100km/h feels a lot faster, yet in the golf, going 100km/h feels about 80km/h .

I want to get a DMC one day, imported from America or something, once it's 30 years old I'll be able to get one, cos then you don't need to convert to RHD.

Mickcals

10-11-2004, 07:22 PM

Well i think the problem (well in Aust anyway) is that to obtain a license is more of a money making scheme than a way to educate drivers.

To get your Learner plates all you have to do is answer 45 or so questions (all the questions and answers are on the net so if you study this about an hour before the test then you ll pass easily). These questions are radomly generated and some of them irrelvant and stupid.

Then you go for your red P plate, where you actually show that you can drive, now this is where they ll try to make money off you, particluarly if your a 16 to 18 year old male.

Now when i went for my red P's i was failed twice by the same guy with both reasons unclear and unexplained. The first time he said that i didnt check my blindspots, but when i told him i doubled checked them he changed his mind and siad that i drove through one of the four stop signs (i only saw three and apparently it was the last of the stop signs, which you couldnt miss as it was just around to corner from the RTA)

So anyway i went back and it cost me another couple of dollars, and this time he failed me becayse he gave me advise - he couldnt tell what advise that was or when it happened he just failed me.

Now that taught me nothing about driving and it doesnt tell me anything.

I think what should happen is that for you Learner License you answer the questions then they take you for a drive to see what you can do (even before you know how to drive, so then they can show you the basics)

Then to obtain your P Plates they should assess your driving and then show you how you can better youself. Also they should put you through a driving course where they test your reaction time, stopping times, etc

And then for your green P's rather then letting you play a computer game you should do an advanced driving course whether they show you how to use a car properly, eg similar to that that they would teach a police officer.

10-12-2004, 12:27 AM

Yeah, they need to make drivers aware, not just be able to handle a car.

chris

11-09-2004, 04:19 AM

I saw the results of an accident caused by young people speeding in fast cars this evening (A Monaro CV8 Series II, and a VX Commodore SS).

They decided to stop at the traffic lights, but had to decelerate so heavily that the Monaro lost the back under braking. Another witness report had the pair of them doing 180-200km/hr, on a road marked at 70km/hr speed limit.

Unfortunately the Monaro's spin meant it smacked the front fender of another car.

The SS turned around to see if his friend was okay, and stopped momentarily, and then took off as quickly as possible. At least in this case they won't get away with it.

This isn't a reason to prevent young people having fast cars, but rather it is a reason to really hammer home the driver education, and encourage responsible driving.

I sometimes wonder if the reason so many kids in fast cars are speeding on the open road is because the cars they have are not their own, but rather daddies car, and the father would probably have a fit if the kid asked if he could take it to a race-track to drive quickly. So that explains why they must feel compelled to use ordinary roads as race tracks.

11-09-2004, 02:08 PM

Yeah, people do that all the time, the most prominent accident recently down here was a R33 Skyline with his young mates in the car wrapping themselves around a pole racing against a Honda Civic, I mean we have off-street legal drags every friday night down at Calder park, it might be a bit far away for some, but the trip is worth it because it is all regulated and all.

I wouldn't mind having to do more driver education and training, anyway to drive, because so far since getting my Learner's permit I've driven all of about 2 hours!!!!

chris

11-09-2004, 03:53 PM

Fortunately with the accident I mentioned, nobody was badly hurt, and the car of the innocent person who got caught up in the accident wasn't badly damaged.

The Monaro CV8 is another story. It was quite heavily bent at the back, and the repairs will probably be very costly, on top of possible Police action for dangerous driving.

Wazza

11-09-2004, 09:01 PM

I saw some loon being chased yesterday after work, whilst heading into the city. Luckily the lights were red on our direction, and the other turning lane was green, but at those few seconds, no cars were turning. And the 4x4 went zooming through the intersection at probably 60km/h, followed by 5 police cars. After reaching the city, and picking Niki up, and heading back, the motorway was absolute mayhem. Barely moving. 5km down the motorway, and 40min later, we drove past that same 4x4, UPSIDE down, and several other vehicles, and police vehicles damaged. Driver and passenger were arrested.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3608861&thesection=news&thesubsection=general

Also at the bottom of the article, it mentions about a man stepping in front of traffic last week. Caused the worst traffic jam ever.
Had to close both lanes of the motorway. Basically, the bastard had murdered his little over a custody battle, and then taken his own life by stepping in front of a huge 40 tonne double trailer truck!
The mess spread for a hundred metres, and motorway was closed from 4-8pm!

A local show, Motorway Patrol, is hilarious to watch, as it shows the plain stupidity of many drivers.. People who pull over in the fast lane... Rubberneckers, causing many more accidents... The list goes on!

11-09-2004, 09:32 PM

Ouch, that's not good, and the 4x4 chase seems inevitable to me, cos they are so high of the ground.

chris

11-09-2004, 10:00 PM

Y2kGoofball

11-10-2004, 12:35 AM

yes I too have seen and enjoy that show

on the topic yesterday we saw what coulda almost been a serious accident.

2 lane main road through an industrial / commercial area (ie trucks a plenty) 80 KPH, light rain / wet road and RED LIGHT!

We were in the right lane until we peeled off into the right turn lane, and there was no one in front of us

The car that was behind us was a fair distance back ... anyway light went red, we stopped, waited and heard a screeech but on wet tarmac.

Next thing we saw this small Suzuki Jimni or Vitara or similar that was behind us fly past us with the wheels locked. They well and truely overshot the red light mark! The bloke driving our car said thank anyone that we were turing off, otherwise we woulda been smack bang in front of this 4x4's path.

Luckily for them too there was no one stopped at the lights, but at the same time the traffic in the intersection had already started to go, but one car had their windows down and must've heard the tyres screech so they stopped literally mid intersection because they woulda known something wasnt right, which then caused all the other traffic to :confused: and stop to "wait for this gerk to sort himself out"

Luckily for that car stopping because the 4x4 just slid between the front of the car and a massive truck that had the shites at the car stopped in the intersection, and mustve only missed both of them by a coat of paint. Once they stopped, almost on the other side of the intersection I might add, they put it onto reverse and come back to the red light. Being beside them we could see the drivers face :eek:

read it twice if it dont make sense, its one of those things too hard to explain in writing =((

chris

11-10-2004, 01:10 AM

I've seen big 4wd's do similar things on off-road tyres. They have nearly no grip at all. :eek: Worrying on something like a big heavy-duty Toyota Landcruiser 100 for instance.

11-11-2004, 04:58 AM

I think the 78 series is more dangourous, it has less absorbstion area's but is too ugly to be used for soccor mums thank god.

blackice111288

11-11-2004, 07:25 AM

Yeah what I said did seem a bit, well dickhead like, it is just, I've had my mind set on the same model since year 7, over 4 years so far, another two till I can drive one, and I want to be able to drive it too.
i did'nt see any thing wrong with what you said. im like you , vq, i want the model of car i want no matter what. all you said is you wanted a 5 liter caprice, you didn't say anything about street dragging it. i hope they dont start that sort of thing in america.if i want a Cressida with a 2jz or a built 280zx, thats what i want regardless of how old i am, know what i mean? the kind of car you own doesnt automaticly make you a reckless driver. you can be just as reckless dragging a civic as dragging a caravan

Perko_Rulz

11-30-2004, 09:11 PM

I am turning 18 in July 05 and I am going to be in the Media's scapegoat for the Road Toll. I am a responsible driver and leave my hooning on the go kart track where it belongs.

The people you have to becareful are the Dickheads who are 40-50 and think that they are 21. In my street, like most aussie streets, the limit is 50 km/h. This dickhead up the road in his series 2 ss commodore with the plates 'WYLDVT' tears up and down the street willy nilly at 80 km/h. It is daylight savings time now and we have kids playing in the street yet this cock, a parent himself, kanes the car no matter what is going on.

Also my street is between courts either side so it is used as a through road. We have people caning it down our street no matter if it is rain hail or shine but a vast majority of them don't have P Plates.

P Platers will always be blamed but as soon as we award licenses to people should not be anywhere near a set of car keys let alone driving a car, the carnage will never end.