Safer roads and cars

[george formby]

A new Ducati would increase my personal debt about 100% which means I could not afford petrol & rego for it, so yes, I would be a lot safer sat at home crying into my bank statement.
Regarding "safer" cars & roads, the fine print from the AA & other august bodies who study things like this indicates that the consequences of accidents are less severe, NOT fewer accidents. So air bags & huge run off areas at the roadside make it safer to crash.
I see the only real advance in cars to reduce accidents are driver aids such as infra red night vision, lane control alarms, assisted breaking, proximity sensors, radar etc. These are all proactive in preventing accidents but only available in high end cars & for the first time take the onus off the driver.

[Swoop]

According to the AA, we need better roads and more modern cars to drive, then the road toll will drop.

What do you think?

Personally, the Arsehole Association needs to pull its head out from its arse and see daylight.

Driver/rider EDUCATION will be of more use. "Nice" roads may help a little bit, but the main problem is (once again) overlooked.

[Dave Lobster]

If they take the nissan micra off the road, the roads will be much safer. when you see one, you just know its either going to go 30km/h, or put you in danger. or both.

why would you want one? it looks like a scrotum

Better than a fucking Prius.

[Scootbubba]

Too many cars with sole passengers - restrict this practice, reduce bike/cage conflict. It's damn illogical, the Itais get it right matching need to tyre numbers.

[p.dath]

Personally, the Arsehole Association needs to pull its head out from its arse and see daylight.

Driver/rider EDUCATION will be of more use. "Nice" roads may help a little bit, but the main problem is (once again) overlooked.

I think you'll find the AA are very focused on improving driver education. Certainly all the contact I have had with them suggests this is so.

They also have a discussion paper out at the moment about this very subject.

[SPman]

Sort of why some people tend to speed up when they get onto the passing lanes.

The road is wider - ergo they feel safer at a higher speed

Yeah - normally after you've been stuck behind them wobbling up a windy bit of road for the last 10 miles at 70kph!

[StoneY]

Driver/rider EDUCATION will be of more use. "Nice" roads may help a little bit, but the main problem is (once again) overlooked.

I agree with you, there is still shit we can do to our roads without taking out our funky bends and corners tho

The stuff Vic Roads identified wasn't 'straightening' roads as such.
It was taking the killer curbs and roadside signposts, trees, and unsuitable crash barriers (read WRB's) out of area's with high motorcycle usage
Also taught the engineers to camber the corners better, ensure proper grade of metal/hot mix was used for conditions, and tidy up after doing work!

If the AA can get our road engineers to pay a little attention to what other road makers like Vic Roads can achieve in reduction of mayhem, all the better for us too

[hellokitty]

I agree completely! Had to laugh - some time ago I was loaned a Ford courier (i think) while having my tyres changed on the wee car; my teenage daughter took one look at the column shift and said "mum, are you sure you know how to drive this?" Ah, brought back fond memories of the Mk 2 cortina.

Ummmmm, I drive an old Ford Courier it isn't as cool as my previous truck, but I killed that one. (photos in my profile)

[EJK]

If they take the nissan micra off the road, the roads will be much safer. when you see one, you just know its either going to go 30km/h, or put you in danger. or both.

why would you want one? it looks like a scrotum

Mate, I had one. 1.4 of madness. It eats curves like a rat going up a sewer.
OK fine, it wasn't fast nor handled like a sports car but it was fun in my definition.

Because it was only 950kgs, it was really nice to drive actually. No ESP, just ABS. Good fun indeed.

[Cayman911]

Mate, I had one. 1.4 of madness. It eats curves like a rat going up a sewer.
OK fine, it wasn't fast nor handled like a sports car but it was fun in my definition.

Because it was only 950kgs, it was really nice to drive actually. No ESP, just ABS. Good fun indeed.

it still looks like a scrotum and is driven mainly by people who havnt been faster than 20km/h

[EJK]

it still looks like a scrotum and is driven mainly by people who havnt been faster than 20km/h

I understand your point.

[swbarnett]

There are some theories (maybe studies too) showing that as the safety of a situation increases, so do the risks people take.

It's called Risk Homeostasus.

In saying that though, people will always overstep the boundaries, and safer roads and cars will lower the damage to those that do.

The damage won't be less because the compensation means that accidents will be more severe (e.g. higher speed) or involve people that would not otherwise be involved (airbags may save the car's occupants but they do nothing for the pedestrain that gets hit because the driver was "safer" and could take less care).

Imo they can start by ripping up dangerous roadside furniture.

Spot on!

[swbarnett]

I see the only real advance in cars to reduce accidents are driver aids such as infra red night vision, lane control alarms, assisted breaking, proximity sensors, radar etc. These are all proactive in preventing accidents but only available in high end cars & for the first time take the onus off the driver.

This is all very well until these "assisted" drivers have to cope in a situation beyond the ability of the aids. Much better to leave them out and expect people to DRIVE rather than just taking a ride in a damn-near automated car.

[Mully]

It's called Risk Homeostasus.

Heh - Homeo...

[swbarnett]

Heh - Homeo...

Yes, I know what you're thinking.

Homeo simply means like or similar. Homo is more specific and comes from the Greek word "Homology" meaning same.

Therefore: Homeostatus menaing "simliar state" and Homosexual meaning "same sex".