Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Speedy Solution

Been busy - shut up...

Now I have to admit when I began thinking about doing a blog I had visions of the funniest most irreverent blog in the bloggersphere... not a psuedo current affairs 'I have all the answers' type blog. Problem is I can't help myself...

I caught a bit of Australian story last night. Not sure if you did but if you didn't here's a short précis: Group of mates in car. Car speeding. Car crashes. One kid dies. Driver sent to jail. Dead kid's dad loses plot and murders driver's mum before killing himself.
An awful story. Tragic. Sad. But, unfortunately, apart from the subsequent murder not uncommon.

In this case the driver was drunk and speeding. You're never going to be able to legislate to prevent people doing stupid things. But what I don't understand is why nothing is done to stop putting in young people's hands things that are designed to break the law.

In NSW the top speed by law anywhere in the state is 110kph. Even my gutless Toyota echo has a top speed far in excess of that. Why, when we legislate that the top speed is 110kph do we allow vehicles on the roads capable of exceeding these speed limits without breaking sweat?

I am by no means advocating a nanny state. By all means I agree that people should be responsible for their own actions. BUT ONLY when those actions don't have the capacity to harm innocent people.

When a dog mauls a small kid there is outcry. When it happens a couple of times the entire breed of dog is banned. Fireworks were fun but a couple of idiots blow off their hands so they're forbidden. Yet HUNDREDS of people keep dying each year due to excessive speed yet there is no discussion about limiting the top speed of vehicles on our roads. I am sure it is possible to not inhibit the performance of the car by limiting the top speed. By all means set it 10kmph over the speed limit 'just in case', I don't care. But you want to stop a p-plater travelling at 180kph? Don't give him a car that goes 180 kph. Simple really.

If you want to speed then set up race days where people can go and speed in a controlled environment not on the roads where you put your life, the lives of your passengers and the lives of other road users at risk.

Anyway - that's what I reckon.

Rant over.

p.s God I miss fireworks. How good were throw downs and jumping jacks...??? or those parachute men...