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05/11/2007
By EWAN KENNEDY
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There was a great fuss in our local media on the Gold Coast this morning. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but I suspect that either the police must have employed an excellent public relations manager, or it was slow news day.
Because a disguised Toyota LandCruiser had just automatically booked hundreds of motorists for speeding on one of the busy through roads. Thus raising tens of thousands of dollars.
The staff at the local newspapers and radio stations went into overdrive in denouncing the crazy speed maniacs on our roads and congratulated the police force on its fine work.
Because we all ‘know’ that exceeding the speed limit is the number one crime that a driver can commit in Australia. A ‘fact’ that has been proven wrong by genuine research time after time. In reality, only about one crash in 20 is caused by a driver exceeding the speed limit.
Yet brilliant brainwashing by governments over recent years has convinced many – probably most – people that they exceed the speed limit they are dangerous maniacs and should be instantly punished for their anti-social activity.
To the amusing extent that we have recently seen a couple of politicians who have been booked for going over the speed limit losing their jobs. Now there's poetic justice for you!
There are only a tiny number of genuinely crazy drivers on our roads, perhaps one in a thousand, maybe even less. The chances of them all being in the same place at the same time is infinitesimal.
May it suggest that if hundreds of motorists get pinged in the one place in only a few hours, that it is not the drivers who are wrong, but the speed limit? Remember that old saying, that a law that is ignored by a lot of people is a bad law? And therefore should be revised or repealed.
Instead of the police gloating that they have earned tens of thousands of dollars in speeding fines, wouldn’t they be better off suggesting that an inquiry be raised as to why so many people were exceeding the limit? And have the speed limit increased if necessary?
By the way, keep an eye open for these revenue-raising LandCruisers on Queensland roads, (we understand other States may be getting them as well). Most are Troop Carriers, though there’s the odd ute as well.
There are few more innocent looking sights beside country roads than a white Toyota wagon or ute parked on the grass, often in a driveway or beside a gate in a fence. They usually have no distinguishing sign-writing on them, certainly none on the back, but are easy to spot by their large, dummy air-intake snorkels that, on closer investigation, have a pair of small windows for the radar and camera.
Having passed one of these Toyotas you will then see a small sign placed in a partially hidden spot in the grass to let you know that you have just been photographed as a dangerous maniac. Expect a notice in the mail six to eight weeks later, long after you have forgotten being in that location.
Wouldn’t it make a lot more sense for police vehicles to have luminous paint, huge signs and flashing lights if their real purpose is to make you drive slowly? |
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