Police charge woman stranded for two days after crash

[spudchucka]

I may be wrong Spud but I was under the impression that their is some legal responsibilty for farmers to ensure that their stock, does not/can not, wander on the road. What's the law on this??

Skyryder

Not 100% sure sorry.

As I understand it they have to take reasonable steps to ensure animals don't wander onto roads, (maintain fencing etc to a reasonable standard, cattle stops at open gateways etc).

From a drivers perspective though you need to be aware that stock on roads isn't uncommon on rural roads and drive to those conditions.

There may be some liability for vehicle damage on a farmer that allows stock to wander on a road but it wouldn't necessarily excuse the driver from a careless driving charge if they crashed as a result of livestock wandering on a road.

[Patrick]

I have never heard of anyone being fined for tailgating. Is there any way to find out whether any tickets are ever given out for this?

It happens... $150 fine "Follows too closely at .... kmph."

[Patrick]

I know where yah coming from, just my way of thinking is that it is the intention, like you know you are driving in a careless manner and continue as oppose to human error..............

The difference is the intention to continue makes it dangerous or reckless.
Careless is simply "not the actions of a prudent driver"... ie:... everyone else makes it around that corner, why didn't you?

[Patrick]

Intresting point..what would the Police do in that situation?

Run the vermin over... bloody rabbits!!!

[Patrick]

I heard of research the other day which suggests that a warning from the Police has a greater impact on road safety than ticketing. You get a ticket and you slow down for a short while whilst the shock sinks in, but shortly thereafter think screw it and are back speeding. If you get a warning you think, damn that was lucky and respect it rather than resent it.

Depends on who you speak to... others think it is the other way around...

[SPman]

Yep. In fact if I could only see 10 feet in front of me I'd slow to less than 15kph.

Never can figure why people have so much of a problem with this. Is very simple really. What you can't see is dangerous. Works for me.

Had this problem on the Desert Road once - clagged down,wet, slippery - I was going 60-70k and thinking it was as dangerous as all hell and should slow down even more.....the cars were still sitting on 120 plus ...appearing from the mist 20m behind the bike and vanishing into the ethereal tendrils 20m ahead.........

Scary.......

[Patrick]

Had this problem on the Desert Road once - clagged down,wet, slippery - I was going 60-70k and thinking it was as dangerous as all hell and should slow down even more.....the cars were still sitting on 120 plus ...appearing from the mist 20m behind the bike and vanishing into the ethereal tendrils 20m ahead.........

Scary.......

Thats where I am working at the moment (just an 8 week stint...) you should see them in the sleet and snow... can't see for shit but still roaring through at 120 plus.

I'm the one that shakes the "tut tut" finger (not the middle one!) at the bikers speeding through there... up to 7 at last count. Spoke to a few, just to check out the bikes before sending em on their way... Colleagues may not be so "obliging" though..

[Lou Girardin]

There may be some liability for vehicle damage on a farmer that allows stock to wander on a road but it wouldn't necessarily excuse the driver from a careless driving charge if they crashed as a result of livestock wandering on a road.

That's a bit of a stretch Spudly.
Does it also apply if you hit a bunny and binned your bike? Or if a pheasant flew into your face?
Why shouldn't we just call it an accident and then you guys can concentrate on catching criminals.

[spudchucka]

That's a bit of a stretch Spudly.
Does it also apply if you hit a bunny and binned your bike? Or if a pheasant flew into your face?
Why shouldn't we just call it an accident and then you guys can concentrate on catching criminals.

I hit a dead wombat in Aussie once at about 120 k's, nearly ended up spiked on a farm fence, but all I was talking about there was defences for a careless charge.

Shit happens and there is plenty of shit on our roads, its just a matter of time before most folk have an "accident".