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Road Safety - it is up to you |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 29 June 2005 |
Much has been made in the media over the last short period about the safety of some of our roads, especially some of the Bruce Highway between Yandina and Gympie.
This section is now a wide two-lane highway with a smooth bitumen surface.
I travel this section of road on a regular basis and have yet to find anything that causes me any problems.
Our roads today are safer than they have ever been. Our cars today are built safer than they ever were before. Yet we still have some horrific accidents that cause an appalling loss of life.
We discuss the problems with the surface of the roads, especially the section that was resurfaced with stone mastic bitumen a couple of years ago. Maybe there are some problems with that type of surface. No one is disputing that but we do have to beg the question, "What are we doing as the driver of the vehicle to drive to the conditions of the road?"
Clearly, as the driver of a vehicle, which is in itself a dangerous object we have a responsibility not only for ourselves but also for other road users, including any passengers in our vehicle.
Often when I am travelling on that section of road and other roads it amazes me at the number of cars where the driver not only is exceeding the speed limit, and not just over but excessively nor do they obey road markings. I do not believe that the condition of the road causes these problems. Travelling between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast one is amazed at the number of car travelling at speeds that are estimated as being in excess of 140kph. This is in spite of the ever presence of the touted scourge of the motorist, the speed camera.
Unfortunately there is no real continuing test for the most important safety aspect of any vehicle, the "nut that holds the wheel". Perhaps we should have a closer look at this weak link when it comes to road safety and not merely blame the condition of the road. After all the rules of the road state that we all should "drive to take the conditions of the road into account".
Wet weather make driving conditions require more skill and more concentration but still do we see cars travelling at excessive speed and close to vehicles travelling in front of them thus leaving no room for any errors or untoward incidents.
It is too easy to blame the condition of the road. Whilst they do have a bearing on the overall safety of travellers the most important is the driver's attitude to the task at hand. Until we as individuals take real responsibility for our own actions and the task at hand horrific accidents will continue to happen.
We need to work together to stop this dreadful carnage on the road. Let us all stop blaming the road conditions and anything else we can think of. May we place the blame where it should rightfully be placed.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 August 2006 )
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