Author Topic: SPEED KILLS!!!! Proof Inside!! (Read 5509 times)

Dundee · « **on:** November 02, 2006, 07:37:45 AM »

The Government, so helpful, they keep helping me whittle down my "to do" list-

Quote

Dicing with death in the NT
Lindsay Murdoch
October 25, 2006

WHERE can you plant the accelerator and speed past a police car as fast as you like? Where can you run a red light and get away with it? Where can you drink and drive and keep your licence even though you repeatedly get caught exceeding .05?

Answer: the Northern Territory, one of the few places in the world where there is no speed limit on open roads.

Most drivers you speak to in pubs here will say that having the slackest road laws in the country is part of the "uniqueness" of living at the edge of the vast outback. But they are in for a shock.

A study released yesterday shows that territorians are at greater risk of being killed in a road crash than people in the rest of the developed world. Road fatality figures in the territory are three times greater than elsewhere in Australia.

The territory's Chief Minister, Clare Martin, who admits she likes to drive at speeds of up to 130kmh, says her Government will not back away from recommendations that include imposing a 110kmh speed limit.

"We have a shocking and appalling record," Martin says. "We do need to change the rules and we need to change the culture."

Territory drivers have begun a campaign to protect what they say is their right to travel at whatever speed they like on open roads. They are also protesting against the almost certain introduction of a demerit point system. Their propaganda unit (www.no-speedlimit.com) says taking away "unique" driving will bring down the Government.

But an NT road safety taskforce, set up eight months ago, has given the Government overwhelming evidence to back 21 recommendations to overhaul traffic laws. Its report reveals that one person is killed and nine seriously hurt on territory roads every week, costing the NT $210 million a year.

It also reveals that:

- 48 per cent of fatal crashes in the territory are alcohol-related.

- One driver in every 42 tested in the NT is over .05, compared with one in 314 in Victoria.

- Of all drink drivers, 28 per cent are repeat offenders (drivers caught with readings between .05 and .08 are only issued a $100 traffic infringement notice and can keep their licences no matter how many times they are caught).

- The NT has Australia's highest level of use of cannabis, amphetamines and opiates but police have no powers to test drivers for drugs.

- The number of road deaths was reduced by 37 per cent on an NT highway where a 110kmh limit was imposed in 2001. Serious injuries were reduced by 44 per cent.
- The NT has the lowest traffic fines in the country.

- Half the people killed in traffic accidents in the territory were not wearing seatbelts.

- Most NT crashes are single-vehicle accidents, with fatigue a factor in as many as 30 per cent of fatal crashes.

*emphasis mine

This is from the Sydney Morning Herald, guys. Our American friends should note this is the largest, most respected newpaper in the country.

Can you believe this rubbish? I'm almost speechless just how bad this country is getting. I believe a country is only as good as its media (to keep the powerful in check), and on that count I've just about given up.

On a happier note, did anyone see a suspiciously crocodile-ey bandit on the Today show yesterday?

aussiebandit · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2006, 06:55:06 AM »

I believe that the total number of deaths on NT roads for the 2006 year to October is 30.

So on that score

48% of Alcohol related accidents is actually 14.4 people

28% are repeat offenders is actually 8.4 people

30% are fatigue related is actually 9 people and

and half the people weren't wearing seat belts - so thats actually 15 people.

NT has a total population of 169,298 (1993 census), that's 30 deaths in 169,298 people or .017% of the population in an area of 1.35million sq km. Or if you like an area equal to the combined areas of France, Spain and Italy.

As someone once said there are three kinds of lies, there's lies, damn lies and statistics.

The thing that really gets up my nose is that politicians use crap like this to lower speed limits, increase fines, legislate motorcycles and performance vehicles off the road and generally make life extremely difficult for the average person to simply live.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2006, 07:00:41 AM »

To sum up that article in one word BULLSHIT.

"It has been proven on every race track in the world

SPEED DOES NOT KILL.

However inappropriate speed for the prevailing conditions can lead to the driver losing control of the vehicle possibly causing someone to die."

that little quote came from our local Highway Patrol Sgt......oh he's also a motorcyclist....

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2006, 09:09:48 AM »

Quote from: aussiebandit

I believe that the total number of deaths on NT roads for the 2006 year to October is 30.

So on that score

48% of Alcohol related accidents is actually 14.4 people

28% are repeat offenders is actually 8.4 people

30% are fatigue related is actually 9 people and

and half the people weren't wearing seat belts - so thats actually 15 people.

NT has a total population of 169,298 (1993 census), that's 30 deaths in 169,298 people or .017% of the population in an area of 1.35million sq km. Or if you like an area equal to the combined areas of France, Spain and Italy.

As someone once said there are three kinds of lies, there's lies, damn lies and statistics.

The thing that really gets up my nose is that politicians use crap like this to lower speed limits, increase fines, legislate motorcycles and performance vehicles off the road and generally make life extremely difficult for the average person to simply live.

You ought to write up a short letter to that effect and send it in to the paper. If they have any honor, they'll post it in the editorial section in big print.

Are you guys sure you aren't an American State? That's the sort of dumb sh!t that goes on here all the time for decades.

Dundee · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2006, 11:38:19 PM »

But aussie, what's the odds every HP in his station still books people for the usual garbage, and does the same (hardly any) k's on the road?
And I completely disagree with "oh, the pollies made us", bullsh*t. If they need more tickets at the end of the month, they could sit outside a school for a week- which they bloody well should be doing anyway. And yesterday we're now getting more fixed cameras, "harder to see", outside schools.

Desolation Angel, they won't print anything bad about the government, and certainly not when it comes to cars & bikes.
Just last week they reported "motorbike fatalities (australia-wide) were up 33%"- OVER SEVEN YEARS!! For cars, you guessed it, since '05 only. Not to mention scooter sales up 60%+, female rider fatalities down 40%+ since last year etc etc.

Road safety is the thing I feel most strongly about. Hundreds of lives could be instantly saved, the first year alone. Upsetting.

Dundee · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2006, 11:44:30 PM »

Don't forget, Britain has just admitted speed causes only 5% of crashes. But here, apparently its 35%, according to our non-journalists. My calculator says of 35% x 20% "excessive speed" only, not "follow too close"(!) etc makes - TA DAA about 5%.

B6mick · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2006, 04:08:45 AM »

Quote from: "aussiebandit"

To sum up that article in one word BULLSHIT.

"It has been proven on every race track in the world

SPEED DOES NOT KILL.

However inappropriate speed for the prevailing conditions can lead to the driver losing control of the vehicle possibly causing someone to die."

that little quote came from our local Highway Patrol Sgt......oh he's also a motorcyclist....

Hear hear. An honest cop, that knows the truth and is not afraid to tell it. Unlike most brain washed fools of the Highway.
And go ask someone who has lived in the NT.
Even better ask an ex cop who lived in the NT.
Why is there no speed limit on SOME of NT's Highways?
Answer: Bordom kills, so get there quicker, and survive.
German theory of the autobarns. Drivers who drive fast or faster are generally more aware of the goings on around them, than their counterparts, sitting on 100kph bored out of their silly little minds. So my reckoning would be that most of the accidents that peoples was killed where in fact, bord to death, so they had a drink or had a wee cat nap.

But don't let the truth get in the way bullshyte.
Hey lets start up on the loud pipes one again Bazza.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2006, 06:47:48 AM »

Most of the cops I know around my neck of the woods reckon that even if they clocked me at 120-130 on a country road they wouldn't bother with me, providing.

1. I had 'proper' riding gear on, and
2. I wasn't riding like an idiot.

However, there are a few I've come across that will wave 5 cars through a 'random' breath test just to pull me in...bstrds.....

B6mick · « **Reply #8 on:** November 06, 2006, 03:45:10 AM »

For the most part, cops and common sence, don't work together.( As Aussie said, they will and do wave 5 cars past a breath o test just to pull up a bike, meanwhile 3 of those car drivers where talking on their hand held phones, telling all their mates about the road side breath o tests.)

But in the NT, I know people who have been riding at speeds above 100 mph and the cops have overtaken them, with not so much as a sideways glance.

Now if they had been riding old worn out bikes, well past there used by date the cops would have with a doubt pulled them up and booked them.
A few blokes I know drove up through the middle at speeds over 100mph, with no hassles, a couple of their mates tried keeping up in an old beat up heap of shyte 64 holden, (a) had f all hope of keeping up anyway, (b) the cops stopped them in their tracks and threw the book at them. Common sence at work, hey and they reckon the NT is all a bit backward, my reckoning along with some euro countries, would be miles ahead.

banditoverde · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:13:16 AM »

Speed never killed anyone. Deceleration, on the other hand, is a bloody butcher.

Ban brakes now! Ban brakes now!

B6mick · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2006, 04:48:59 AM »

Quote from: "banditoverde"

Speed never killed anyone. Deceleration, on the other hand, is a bloody butcher.

Ban brakes now! Ban brakes now!

Yep thats sort of like what they used to teach us in my first trade, electrial distribution linesman. when ya fall from a pole or tower, the fall almost never hurts you. Its the bloody quick stop at the end that gets ya.

Dundee · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2006, 09:07:08 AM »

haha Mick that Tom Cruise movie - "You killed him" "No, I shot him- the bullets & the fall killed him"

So I emailed the Herald about that article, and they emailed back saying "if you can tell us more about these gross inaccuracies, we'll investigate further." I was referring to that entire 1st paragraph of course, so I told 'em so. But you know what will happen (ie nothing).

Did you hear about the new cameras outside schools they've just ordered- they're "harder to see"!! Unbelievable. Maybe they'll get the ticket in the time between hitting the kiddie, and the kid hitting the windscreen. At least they'll know next time

aussiebandit · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2006, 07:02:02 AM »

You know what really sucks?????

Cost of KLR650 - $2500.00
Cost of XL Motard Rims - $1200.00

Ok, I can hear you all saying "So, what the phuck is Mick smoking....that seems pretty fair"

But wait there's more,

Cost of Blue Slip (un-registered vehicle) - well let's just say that where the Treasurer works just happens to do Blue Slips.

Again I hear you all saying "Mick has lost his phucking mind..so far it's a good deal"

Cost of Registration $200.00 (including plates)
Cost of Full Comprehensive insurance - with a 17yr old listed as a regular rider - $290.00....

Now I imagine you're all thinking "Mick has absolutely lost his mind, what an unbelievable deal"

Here's the bit that sucks

NSW has Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP) - this is supposed to cover other people for damage done to them by YOUR vehicle - ok remember, I'm talking about a KLR650 (registered in the Treasurers name - not 'the boys').

Cost of CTP - $400.00 - $50.00 of that is an extra levy for long term suffering, ambulance etc - what I want to know is what the phuck the $350.00 is supposed to be for...

wizud · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2006, 03:20:33 AM »

Coz they can Mick. It's the gummint remember! They don't have to tell you what its for.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2006, 07:40:26 AM »

You know, your right....

When we first moved the NSW the price of a CTP was between $500 and $700. Bloody Liberal Party

In '95 the liberals got chucked and the Labour party took over. One of they're many broken promises was lower CTP costs. Well they were right, the cost of a CTP dropped to around $250.00. But over the last couple of years it's been steadily increasing to the point where it's now between $400.00 and $600.00. Bloody Labour party......

Is it any wonder I why the 'informal' vote is so high.....

I wonder how many people would vote if it wasn't compulsory....