CItizens against the RTA.
 

Any opinions?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/m...e#contentSwap1

I tend to agree with Devine's article.

Although we obviously need deterrents to dangerous driving, the demerit system can be very petty and harsh in its operation. When so many people fall foul of a given system of laws, it is usually a warning signal that the law does not reflect normal variations in human behaviour.

But we could theorise all day. This is primarily a revenue raising machine for a cash strapped government and you'll never get them to moderate its operation for such base reasons as common sense.

Wasn't there talk recently in NSW about reviewing the points and penalties for low range speeding offences. It was only in the last couple of weeks and I've not heard anything since but there may some glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The govt has agreed to a 'review' but if you've ever watched 'Yes Minister' you'll know the currency of that. The RTA doesn't exactly move quickly on this kind of thing.

Personally, I think there should be more of spectrum so the points match the seriousness of the infringement but the 'speed kills' safety nazis will give the govt grief and the media will delight in reporting it all - not many pollies have the guts to stare down that kind of negative reportage...and we all know our state govt doesn't need any more bad press...

Don't know about NSW, but here in SA there is a Black Market selling demerit points, all the caught driver has to do is say they were not driving the car at the time and nominates the PHONY driver who receives the fine and demerit points, and volar the actual perpetrator gets off with no loss.

They do pay the fine and "agreed" costs, have heard up to $100 per demerit point!

Having said that our state government Minister has also said they are reviewing the demerit point system too, we have many drivers close to losing their license for minor speeding breaches.

Something similar is/was happening in NSW but I think the publicity surrounding Einfeld J's massive fall from grace - convicted, silk stripped, etc - is making many people, with a lot to lose, think twice about that sort of caper. It is illegal of course and frankly a conviction isn't worth it - it can dog you for life, being a dishonesty offence (e.g. potential employers will rule you out simply because of that).

its a tuff one, the road is dangerous enough, we cant really relax the limits, demerit points seems like a good system to me, you get one or two chances, then your out, seems fair, drive within the rules everyone else has to. perhaps it should be shifted to the councils to deal with fines, not the police

just be glad we dont have GPS in our license plates that immediatly post us a letter when we stray over the speed limit

people are impatient, you see folk cross the streets and step out into traffic with little thought for the risks, people just think "they`ve got it covered", "nothing will go wrong" lack of consideration for themselves i can deal with, when that extends to lack of consideration to others (you, me,..) then thats not cool, there has to be something comparable to make them comply with the rules even if its inconvenient at the time

i get frustrated as much as everyone else with speed limits, were all "running late" sometimes, its just the way it is,

I have no sympathy for people who speed in school zones.
The worst drivers travel everywhere at 70kmh. They abuse me when I pass them on the open road then they tailgate me as I slow down at the school zone in town.

However;
Statistics from the NT show that since the 130km/h speed limit has been introduced on previously unlimited roads, fatalities on those roads have increased by 44%.

Freeways should be limited to at least a 130km/h maximum and trucks should never be allowed in the overtaking lane.

Agree with all that. In some places in the world they have removed many speed limits altogether and surprise surprise, most people drive with common sense according to the conditions. You can never legislate against the occasional idiot, no matter how many times you take away his licence...